#a bible and a necronomicon

[anonymocha]

Did the thing a moot did with their arcanist OC :3 But with Lamont!!!

[jasper-pagan-witch]

There are some things I learned from my biological father (yes, the one that got me possessed) early on that I still use in my craft. A short list includes:

Circles are for keeping things out, triangles are for keeping things in.

If you can't visualize your energy as light, imagine it as water or air, like a spinning little wizard orb.

One hand is input and one is output. My right hand is input and my left is output, which according to what he taught me is hella backwards from other magical practitioners (or at least the ones he knew?) - this is the only thing about magic that he and my mom have ever agreed on.

One's own energy is pretty powerful and one of the most adept tools they can use. (I don't use my own energy very often in magic anymore though, so take that, sperm donor!)

If you wanna curse someone, while you're building up your energy, you should think of as many bad things happening to them as possible.

Overall, some very strange and overly specific things. I have to wonder where he ever learned them from...

[spongebob-connoisseur]

He seems like the type to aggressively make his dolls smooch one another

[theliterarywolf]

"Shub Niggurath" is in the Bible if your Bible is the Necronomicon

No one's Bible should be the Necronomicon!

Even if you're in some kind of death-cult, you should be creating your own sacred literature!

[jbm04]

I was going through GtN and was looking for a particular scene when I noticed something else completely.

For context: Abigail is talking to Palamedes about Lyctoral records. Says that being at Canaan House almost meant more to her than serving the emporer (which is a whole other thing to get into).

At some point, she says, "Canaan House is a holy grail!"

Wouldn't this suggest some knowledge of catholicism?

Did John rewrite the bible to stuff him and his lyctors into old/new testament stories?

Or maybe the only understanding of a holy grail comes from having taught the Arthur legend at some point?

Do you think John calls the bible of the Nine House the Necronomicon?

[ahdor]

I think the funniest thing I unironically did was placing a Bible on top of my copies of the Necronomicon and the Satanic Bible

[thewapolls]

I already sorta mentioned it in relation to the Adult Mag entry in the boss fight tournament, but it's fun to go over again,

BLUE BOOK is a fun reference to old English almanacs that implies a comprehensive collection of information, suitable for a magical autonomous book of magic.

NECRONOMIOCN taken famously from Lovecraftian lore, and a natural pick for a magical book enemy. Oddly despite the source material, it's not an especially threatening enemy in any of its appearances. Also it does not appear to be bound in human flesh, which is a shame because it could have made for a cool striking enemy model; although the pages of the WA1 model do have giant eyes in them.

TARGUM however is a much more obscure kind of reference. It's the term used to refer to the early translations of the Tanakh from their original Hebrew into Aramaic. I like the idea of it being used here to evoke a kind of ancient foreign magic of which this is the first comprehensible version of it written down for Filgaians. Also it's bound with a Japanese style sidestich rather than with a spine, giving a distinctly antique impression.

APOCRYPHA is a another fun one. Apocrypha can refer to a wide range of things in opposition to "canonical" texts. Probably most notable, or at least most familiar to people, would be the idea of biblical apocrypha; those biblical texts by subject and/or historical era not included in the bible itself, and considered by some to be heretical. It's neat as a magic tome as it implies something more secret, or rejected, or even forbidden.

DE RE METALLICA first appears not as an enemy at all but as the erroneously transliterated "De Le Metalica" dungeon, hidden within a magic book in Wild Arms 1, and subsequently Alter Code F. The real world De Re Metallica was a 16th century text written by Georg Bauer, cataloguing in 12 books all the details of how to find, mine, purify, smelt, and craft metal --a literally earth shattering development in mining and metalwork as it not only aggregated a long history of otherwise disparate and unwritten knowledge but also ventured into the then cutting edge of metallurgy and alchemy that would provide a groundwork for future developments in actual chemistry.

Then of course we have the ADULT MAG. Rather self explanatory, really. SUKEBEBONN[スケベ本]: "Lewd Book" in Japanese, it's a phrase that tends to refer to erotic manga more than the sort of adult photo collections we might think of in the west. In fact the first Dirty Mag model in WA3 actually has "ERO COM," as in "erotic comic", written on its cover. In fact something more in line with Hustler or Playboy would actually be referred to as a "Gravure" magazine.

The COMICBOOK which is again straight forward enough. It's just called MANGA in the original Japanese. If you're not familiar, Japanese serial manga are printed in magazine format, larger size, generally lower quality paper and print, but proportionally lower in cost as well(as little as the equivalent of 5.00USD for ~500 pages), but dozens of titles to an issue. Back when the Japanese and global economy were a little better, and when people still used phonebooks, they were often compared in size, although they tend to be a bit slimmer in recent years. In case it was odd to anyone why the comic book enemy was the size of a regular book. It's a shame this enemy didn't show up in other games.

and finally, STRATEGY GUIDE, which is a fun one. With Virginia and the title "WILD ARMS 3" on the cover. Another fun gag enemy with some 4th wall breaking fun for good measure. Again shame we never saw it make a comeback in any other games.

[creature-wizard]

Yes, there are ways to confirm the age of an old text without having the original text itself.

I’ve seen people basically claim that it’s impossible to know when, say, certain books of the Bible first emerged because we don’t have the original texts. They often use this to argue for a later date in their composition, often to make the argument that their own favored form of Christianity is the older one.

However, there are ways to know that a text goes back pretty far even if you don’t have the original. I’m going to list a few here:

Quotations and references: If a text is quoted or mentioned in documents you actually can date, then you can be pretty sure that the text existed (at least in some form) prior to these documents.

Language: Language is always changing, and it’s often possible to date the contexts of a text based on the language its author used. If the language in a text is consistent with the time and place it was claimed to have been written in, then that’s probably when and where it was written.

Historical accuracy: If an ancient text accurately describes historical events in detail, then there’s a good chance it was written around the same time as these events; or at least not too long afterward.

Of course there are exceptions. Just because horror writers quoted the Necronomicon, doesn’t mean the Necronomicon was a real grimoire that existed prior to the 20th century. But in this case, the fact that nobody mentions or quotes the Necronomicon before the 20th century (even if just to condemn it), plus the fact that there are no copies of the book that date before the 20th century, nor any old books that contain even parts of the Necronomicon, tell us it’s a 20th century invention.

Someone who is well-studied in an ancient language might be able to fake an ancient text, but once again we can look at what other evidence is or isn’t there. Does anyone throughout history actually quote or mention the book, even if just to argue against it or condemn its ideas? (Remember, Christians spilled a lot of ink to argue against their opponents - just take Irenaeus for one example.)

Someone with access to accurate historical documents might be able to write a passable historical fiction. However, if the book proclaims extraordinary and sensational events that somehow nobody else who lived in the same time and place saw fit to record, that somehow nobody throughout history found interesting enough to cite or mention, then that’s a pretty good indication that the book is a recent fabrication. But yeah, even without the existence of an original text, there are ways we can be reasonably certain that a book dates back to a certain time period.

[sspacegodd]

The Codex Gigas, also known as The Devil’s Bible, is the world's largest and the most mysterious medieval manuscript since the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis. Once considered the eighth wonder of the world, the pages are allegedly made from the skins of 160 maladjusted donkeys.

According to the Codex legend, the single scribe was a monk who had breached his monastic code by playing loud music and going out on school nights. So he was sentenced to be walled up ALIVE --- with no chance of escape. There was only one way the monk could avoid his excruciating death --- if he promised to create a beautiful and fascinating book to glorify the monastery forever, that would also include all human knowledge plus a Sudoku.

There was one catch: the monk was given only twenty-four hours to complete the task, but if he did --- he'd be free to live.

The monk began to compose a bible written on animal skins peeled off all the fastfood he'd had delivered that week, using colored inks and detailed illustrations; it was completely illuminated with decorated initials and miniature border artwork in the manuscript style made during that era. Legend has it that near midnight the monk became sure that he could not complete this task alone, so he ordered pizza before they closed, and sold his soul to the devil for help.

The devil's design skills and hourly affirmations helped complete the manuscript --- so that the monk added the devil's picture out of gratitude. It's because of this unique illustration plus English is easier to pronounce and remember, that the Codex Gigas is also known as The Devil's Bible.

[spacecowboywhit]

Deeply-Scary-Sorcerer's Song

[Sung by DSS James "TEAPOT" Angleton from The Laundry Files by Charles Stross, to the tune of "Major-General's Song" by Gilbert and Sullivan]

I am the very model of a Deeply Scary Sorcerer

I've information mystical, secret, and full of horror-or,

I know the Plateau of Leng, and I quote the texts historical:

From Necronomicon to Schiller's Bible, in order categorical;

I'm extremely well acquainted, too, with matters mathematical,

I understand equations, both the Dho Na and pentacle,

About Turing's Theorem I'm teeming with a lot o' news, (bothered for a rhyme)

With many cheerful facts about those cults and dreams of Cthul-hu's.

I'm very good at banishing and multidimensional calculus;

I know the scientific names of beings rugose and squamulous:

In short, in matters magical, political, or covert operator-or,

I am the very model of a Deeply Scary Sorcerer.

I know our mythic history, from Benthic pledge to Archive of Atrocity;

I answer many a hard audit query, I've learned a pretty taste for deniability,

I quote in elegiacs all the times of strife and fuss,

In conics, I can scrawl wards parabolous;

I can tell undoubted unicorns from deep ones and beings like a phallus,

I know the croaking chorus from that violin of malice!

Then I can hum a fugue of which I've heard the music's din afore, (bothered for a rhyme)

And whistle all the bars from that instrument of terror-or.

Then I can write a simple spell in Babylonic cuneiform,

And tell you ev'ry detail of the King in Yellow's truer form:

In short, in matters magical, political, or covert operator-or,

I am the very model of a Deeply Scary Sorcerer.

In fact, when I know what is meant by "eldritch" and "cyclopean",

When I can tell at sight a human Hand of Glory from one of pigeon,

When such affairs as summonings and surprises I'm more wary at,

And when I know precisely what is meant by "calculations multivariate",

When I have learnt what progress has been made in modern sorcery,

When I know more of tactics than a novice in arcanery –

In short, when I've a smattering of interdimensional strategy – (bothered for a rhyme)

You'll say a better dark and evil being has never been set a-free!

For my metaphysical knowledge, though I'm an ancient entity,

Has only been brought down to the beginning of the century;

But still, in matters magical, political, or covert operator-or,

I remain the very model of a Deeply Scary Sorcerer!

------------

Inspired by @stainlesssteellocust 's idea of a Laundry Files musical curse story. I didn't spend long and am not music-inclined, but had to.

[catzclaw]

“ welcome to bible study, we’re all children of jesus. “ Alice

Vine a entrance starters || Accepting

Thomas looked at the state of his room. It was like a bomb had gone off. His clothes were strewn about, his DVDs knocked to the floor and his bed covered in Cheetos. The dog had been evicted from his normal spot on the bed and replaced with Ragdoll and Alice sat in the center of destruction, her eyes glowing and with what only Thomas could assume was some kind of necronomicon in her lap. He didn’t really want to question what was going on in here but it certainly wasn’t Bible study. All he knew was that Alice could do what ever weird shit she wanted in her room.

“Get out. The two of you, out. Leave the dog. No weird magic in my room. Thanks.”

[hplovecraftmuseum]

Prior to his discovery of the Greco/Roman world at age 6 Lovecraft was enthralled with the 'Thousand and One Nights' stories. From this childhood facination with the tales of the ancient Near East he took the playful identity of 'Abdul Alhazred'. It's not exactly certain where he got the name from, but an uncle has been suggested as the actual inventor. This childhood personality would later be utilized in his ever-evolving mythology to be the so called 'Mad Arab' Abdul Alhazred. Alhazred would become author of the Necronomicon, the most famous of all Lovecraft's mythic tomes. Along with the influence of author, Lord Dunsany and the lyrical language of the King James Bible, the Arabian Nights influence is obvious and very powerful in Lovecraft's 'Dreamland Stories'. HPL blamed the Christian faith for usurping the gods of Olympus that he discovered after his Arabian Nights stage. Of all the religions on earth Christianity offended him most because of that. Although he proclaimed himself a non-believer by age 8 and cast off all faith in the supernatural when he was gifted with his first telescope, Lovecraft's childhood memories were precious for him till the day he died. Pictured at bottom right is actress Theda Bara whose stage name was an anagram for the words 'Arab Death'. Bara was often cast in costume movies of an 'Oriental type' and was known as the ultimate personification of the term, VAMP. (Exhibit 177)

[spongebob-connoisseur]

Slappy would officiate a wedding with a copy of the necronomicon instead of a bible <3

[thepete77]

The very simple reason I focus on tarot is because tarot actually provides answers and guidance to questions I have. When I was involved in the Christian faith a common question was how do I know what god wants me to do? I was already avoidant of the typical scripted Sunday answers about the Bible telling me so, and what would Jesus do remarks, I was really believing the horse shit and wondering what was going on with my place in the world. I wasn’t all there, and going psycho in a lot of ways, so I had my own issues. In matters of devil worship I find much more clarity on this answer of how to interact with deity. For simple teenage kicks and giggles the tarot is popular for an occult focus, but they can be a very spiritual guide for advice on future directions as well as internal reflective awareness. I keep the rider-Waite deck for readings on other people, and the necronomicon deck for my own interpretations and personal readings.

[wyrmfedgrave]

Pics: Lovecraft's Lingering Legacies.

1 & 2. The titles really say it all. HPL's works have achieved their own creepy immortality.

Modern creators are expanding & growing Howard's brand into new forms that are more relevant for all of today's multiversal needs...

3 & 4. All Lovecraft, all the time?

Nope.

Expand pic #4 & see what's been added to Howard's output...

Are the additions any good?

Only you can judge!!

Let me know in the comments...

5. Just what we've long needed, a way to introduce our children to the rich religious experience that comes from being eaten by The Ruler of the World.

And done in the style of Dr. Seuss's beloved easy reading 'bibles' to weird behavior!

6. More Lovecraftian cat tales! Is this a growing niche genre? Or, just a fad?

That cover kitty seems so surprised at those tentacles! It makes me wonder what the cat is thinking about at this moment.

"Oops! Wrong Necronomicon chant!!"

7. Role Playing Games rock! Put on a Lovecraftian personality & kick some Elder God rumps!!

You know they have more than 1 butt, right?

Yes! I do have to remind you...

8. Wait a minute?

You mean that this is what the Future Quest storyline was all about?!

How could I have missed it?!!

Okay...

Who's job was it to keep me informed?

9. Now this is a real world resource & grimoire that any 'normal' person can be proud of.

So, what are we having for dinner?!

10. Finally, a story about HPL's final days...

Enough said!

1914: Notes on "A Modern Lothario."

1. United & UAPA describe the United Amateur Press Association, which Howard joined on April of 1914.

This type of 'journalism' produced fanzine-like journals, not news reporting.

All this started out as a hobby during the late 1800s. And, by 1914, there were 2 major nationwide groups: the UAPA & the National Amateur Press Association.

They both organized their members into groups that sent their homemade publications to each other.

And, who wrote articles, stories, etc for the official, central journal of their community.

These general writing clubs weren't immune to internal bickering or politics. Which resulted in emotional disputes as to what to publish.

Yet, these groups were 'steps' in the development of genre fandom & other amateur organizations.

In 1937, Don Wollheim (a Lovecraft correspondent) formed the Fantasy Amateur Press Association.

This was the 1st known singular genre group.

Choosing specific subjects to obsess about soon focused all of these early clubs into the genre communities of the late 1900s.

Today, the Internet has become a more efficient platform for publishing personal & official blogs - on any subject possible...

2. Sadly, specific details about W.E. Griffin's life & works are still not readily available online.

For the moment, he remains a foot- note in Lovecraftian history...

3. The Circleville (Ohio) mystery letter writer terrorized this town for nearly 2 decades!

Sending out missives threatening to reveal people's secrets (like: affairs, embezzlement, domestic violence & murder)!!

Whoever 'it' was seemed to know everything about everybody.

And, whoever 'they' were, a female school bus driver was their main tar- get!

She also got offensive phone calls & crude signs appeared along her bus route!!

But, nobody was off limits to having their lives 'poisoned' by these evil accusations.

Newspapers, elected officials & other private citizens were also receiving their own threats...

In fact, 100s of these messages kept coming. Most were postmarked from Columbus, Ohio - almost 30 miles northward...

They wanted certain folk to loose their jobs, to be exposed - even urged some people to kill others!

Then, a threatened man died trying to confront the letter writer!!

His death is considered a murder, as a fired gun was found under his body...

Other folk also got their once quiet lives destroyed...

And, investigatiors found no obvious clues.

Then, the dead man's surviving wife started getting letters threatening her daughters!

A particularly obscene sign on her bus route, was set up with a booby trap...

The gun in the trap was traced back to a close 'friend!'

One who was in the middle of a bad divorce - & was mad at the bus driver!!

Unsent letters had been found hidden in the divorcee's home.

He freely revealed that the gun was his.

Worse, he had taken a day off the same day the booby trap was found.

Plus, the booby trapped box was used at his work site.

An analyst stated that his handwriting used the same block letters, cadence of words & the same message as the threatening letters!

A 2nd expert, for the defense, agreed!!

And this maddened divorcee failed a polygraph...

Though this man was found guilty & received the maximum sentence - the letters never stopped!!

Even though the prisoner was strip searched & kept in isolation...

He served 10 years for attempted murder. And got regular letters claiming that he had been "set up" - by the unknown letter writer!!

For a time after that, an FBI analyst thought the writer was a female.

Strangely, when the ex-husband got out of prison (in 1994), the letters finally stopped...

Then, this ex-prisoner's fingerprints were found on prison envelopes that carried his threats out to his targets.

4. Lothario was an unfeeling seducer who sleeps with his friend's wife - to 'test' her purity & chastity!

But, what makes this worse, is that the wife's husband wanted to see if she was capable of adultery!!

And, asked his friend to test her...

This all happens in Nicholas Rowe's "The Fair Penitent," a play from 1703.

Yet, Lothario is German for "soldier of the people."

And, it traces back to the Old High German Hlothari, "famous warrior."

Lothario appears in chapter 23 of Don Quixote, where a 'priest' tells of his temptation, seduction & betrayal...

5. All of these books were examined when I 1st started writing this blog.

So, you might want to check them out, separately & online.

I don't recommend looking for my blog entry - as it's more than 100 entries down & inwards...

Heh.

6. A basilisk, Harry Potter fans know, is the Serpent King & can kill those unwary enough to look into its eyes!!

Its breath could also wither the surrounding landscape...

The real basilisk is a species of lizard - not serpents! It is common to Central & South America.

7. Don Quixote is a Spanish epic novel written by Michael of Cervantes.

It's about a minor noble from La Mancha, who looses his mind from reading too many chivalric romances!

He 'becomes' a knight-errant & sets out to revive chivalry (the ancient Code of the Knights) & thus, serve his country...

This book is considered 1 of the 1st works of Western literature & the 1st known modern novel!!

8. (Paul) Gustave (Louis Christophe) Dore was a French printmaker, painter, illustrator, comics artist, sculptor & caricaturist.

Illustrated 200+ books - some with 400+ printing plates.

Mostly known for his work on The Inferno, Don Quixote, Rime of the Ancient Mariner & The Raven.

He primarily used wood engravings to illustrate his works.

And achieved world renown for print- making, though he was actually more of a designer.

He had 40 wood cutters who cut his drawings into printing blocks. And they also signed his works for him!

9. Magic Grown - Though Lovecraft could never know it, his question was duly answered by Austin Powers's ideas on the sensual mojo.

Mojo Joe Joe you say?

Nope.

Mojo, which once meant "magic" & "power," now describes "life's sexual energy!"

Thank you, Mike Myers - you magnificent bastard!!

10. Seduction - At the time, Lovecraft (being a virgin) had little idea of the art of seduction...

Howard wrote "On a Modern Lothario" in 1914. He wouldn't marry until March of 1924 - 10 years later!

Strange Spell - It could certainly have seemed that way to HPL.

In 1914, he had little experience talking with any women. And, had yet to kiss someone who wasn't family...

Modesty - This section reads as if Lovecraft was channeling what he learned about knightly behavior in Bullfinch's Age of Chivalry!

11. Willing Fair - In this case, Howard is writing about women in general (Fair) & an adulteress (Willing) in particular.

It can even be read as "beautiful but, too sensual women" & "all women are too sexual."

Well, HPL was also a misogynist... One that even his wife couldn't change.

12. Eternal Love Oath - Since this is a sarcastic work, I'd say Lovecraft is having 'fun' with the 'divine sacrament of marriage.'

HPL seems to be blaming women for marrying rich, old men. Then, taking a younger scoundrel to bed.

Did Howard never learn that, at this time, it was usually the lothario who tempted the fair maiden?

13. __?!

It took me some time to think this empty spot over.

Damn you, Lovecraft.

For making me think...

At 1st, I thought that "the maid, teacher" or "best friend's wife" would fill that emptiness.

I was sure Howard had a specific 'target' in mind. Some woman that would fit that blank spot the best...

Then, it came to me!

Thanks, MCU!!

"Easy to find (out): He's 'kissed' the Friendly Neighborhood Gossip?"

[pro-ag-gressive-church]

DIRTY SECRET The Necronomicon Ex Mortis and the Chistian Bible are the SAME BOOK!!