NeverWinter Nights Game Review For the October 2015 Fornax
NeverWinter Nights(NWN) was originally a snappy little game that
was developed by SSI and hosted by America Online (AOL) during the years 1991-1997.
It was the first multiplayer online game with graphics. Up to 500
players in a single game could interact in a persistent fantasy world. Every day when you logged in, you could
find some new development that affected the economic, military or political
landscape. Guilds of players rose and fell. There were Quests created
by the staff and players fought to the death. The game grew and
eventually there were numerous games of NWN being played
simultaneously totaling 115,000 players.And then, all of a sudden
and without warning, AOL shut down the game in 1997
However, while AOL failed to see the game's promise, others were
not so blind. BioWare (BW) acquired the rights to the game and in
2002 brought out a new NWN game. This was a game that could accommodate an
unlimited number of players in a single game. From a purely commercial standpoint, the new NWN
has been a success spawning many sequels.
However, while it has been a commercial success, in the eyes of
many gamers, it is just another example of a game that sets its priority on
great graphics aka "eye candy" instead of great game play. Instead of
improving the game, BW has instead made the graphics engine the
center of its advertising.
The combat system in the BW version of NWN was all screwed up.
You could use either weapons or potions but not both simultaneously.
Unlike previous games, you could only have one henchman to assist you.
Later on, BW added on the option of having a pet.
Although the BW version of NWN was a disappointment for those who
had played the original, for the great majority of players who had never
tried the original before, NWN was a pretty decent game.
Bottom Line: While the BW version of NWN does have its strong
points, it just simply does not measure up to the AOL original. This makes it
all the more unfortunate that AOL chose to ditch the original.
Friday, September 4, 2015
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Game Review: Masks of Nyarlathotep Rough Draft
Back during the years 1997-2000 when I was a member in good standing of the heavily gaming oriented Little Rock Science Fiction Society (LRSFS), they had the attitude that by the mid-1980's, all he innovation in the creation of roleplaying games (RPGs) had withered away. That being the case, they believed that chronologically, the very last RPG ever created that was worth playing was the 1986 Chaosium effort Masks of Nyarlathotep.
Although this was originally created for Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu system, it can be easily adjusted to play in other role-playing systems. This alone makes this an unusually good game. The fact that it is generally considered the single best game ever based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft makes it even better.
This game's background concerns an archaeological expedition led by a wealthy New York playboy who comes across as a slightly insane 1920's version of Hugh Hefner. The expedition discovered something big in Egypt, but the leader chose to keep ti a secret while the expedition proceeded deeper into Darkest Africa. However, the expedition was reportedly destroyed in Kenya by the natives. An author who is also a respected authority on archaeology has uncovered something about the expedition's true fate has called you up to ask for your help, but before he can tell you everything, the call is cut off.
That being the case, what you the player and your friends do is trace the path of the Carlyle expedition and find out what really happened. This game really adds a wallop to the Call of Cthulhu system. It adds 29 new magic spells, 11 new monsters, 57 supporting characters, 21 different classes of people as well as a new skill. This latter is Martial Arts. It seems strange that the Call of Cthulhu system did not have any sort of martial arts skill prior to 1986, but there you are. There are also hundreds of clues for the travelers to use in this game.
There is quite a bit of materials included in this game. It is all done with a nice 1920's period look. The same goes for the game's packaging and is very tastefully and elegantly done.
As far as RPGs go, Masks of Nyarlathotep is just about perfect. If my friends in the LRSFS were right about this being the very last RPG ever created that was worth the bother playing, then this is the very best way for a line of game development to end at.
Although this was originally created for Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu system, it can be easily adjusted to play in other role-playing systems. This alone makes this an unusually good game. The fact that it is generally considered the single best game ever based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft makes it even better.
This game's background concerns an archaeological expedition led by a wealthy New York playboy who comes across as a slightly insane 1920's version of Hugh Hefner. The expedition discovered something big in Egypt, but the leader chose to keep ti a secret while the expedition proceeded deeper into Darkest Africa. However, the expedition was reportedly destroyed in Kenya by the natives. An author who is also a respected authority on archaeology has uncovered something about the expedition's true fate has called you up to ask for your help, but before he can tell you everything, the call is cut off.
That being the case, what you the player and your friends do is trace the path of the Carlyle expedition and find out what really happened. This game really adds a wallop to the Call of Cthulhu system. It adds 29 new magic spells, 11 new monsters, 57 supporting characters, 21 different classes of people as well as a new skill. This latter is Martial Arts. It seems strange that the Call of Cthulhu system did not have any sort of martial arts skill prior to 1986, but there you are. There are also hundreds of clues for the travelers to use in this game.
There is quite a bit of materials included in this game. It is all done with a nice 1920's period look. The same goes for the game's packaging and is very tastefully and elegantly done.
As far as RPGs go, Masks of Nyarlathotep is just about perfect. If my friends in the LRSFS were right about this being the very last RPG ever created that was worth the bother playing, then this is the very best way for a line of game development to end at.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Scary Christmas Story Rough Draft
I stood outside Shepherd's Gift Store peering through the window looking at all the fine ares for sale. I gazed at the dolls inside, a skating scent, medieval pageant, the interiors of what might have been Buckingham Palace. I fantasized about changing places with ne of the dolls. Of becoming part of that fun looking set. How magical that would be instead of my dreary existence. I craved excitement and the dolls seemed to have it.
The more and more I fantasized abut it, the more that I thought that I was thinking the way that the dolls did. Seeing myself and my fellow humans the way that they did, Seeing how self-centered and oblivious to the rights and lives of others, especially the seemingly inanimate creatures that they call "dolls." Human beings can be so driven, tormented. The more I thought about it, the more that I realized what we must seem to the dolls who were standing there in the display window looking at us.
The more that I thought about it (or was it my fantasies?) , I came to realize that dolls were living beings too. However, these living beings, like their plants counterparts, were unable to communicate with us. Unable to put us inferior human beings in out proper place. The more I thought about it, the clearer it became what I must do: Become a one-man Doll Liberation Front. I must strike a heavy blow for the freedom of these little wooden beings.
The more and more I fantasized abut it, the more that I thought that I was thinking the way that the dolls did. Seeing myself and my fellow humans the way that they did, Seeing how self-centered and oblivious to the rights and lives of others, especially the seemingly inanimate creatures that they call "dolls." Human beings can be so driven, tormented. The more I thought about it, the more that I realized what we must seem to the dolls who were standing there in the display window looking at us.
The more that I thought about it (or was it my fantasies?) , I came to realize that dolls were living beings too. However, these living beings, like their plants counterparts, were unable to communicate with us. Unable to put us inferior human beings in out proper place. The more I thought about it, the clearer it became what I must do: Become a one-man Doll Liberation Front. I must strike a heavy blow for the freedom of these little wooden beings.
Monday, July 13, 2015
1st Dark Fantasy Story Rough Draft
It was the height of the Black Death in the year 1349 in the city of Buda, the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary. Rumors of a Satanic visitation had preceded the arrival of the Bubonic Plague that year giving way to panic among the ignorant masses. Terror reigned supreme. People claimed to have witnessed parades of demons and other hideous monsters who were preying upon the people.
Some of these stories of demonic possession and worse are no doubt fanciful. These are stories of the most awful horror. The story that I am about to relate has never been printed before. I have only seen it on a handwritten manuscript by the biased and superstitious monk Philip Corvinus. I will now give you the full reading of this short and strange story from the manuscript kept by the monks of the Abbey of Saint Manfred. Of its veracity, the monks had no doubt. You must remember that back in those dark and depressing days, there were all sorts of wild stories flying about the land. Of these tales, certainly the monks and the padres believed each and every one of them
In the year of our Lord, 1349,when Satan afflicted our fair city of Buda with a pestilence unheard of in its awfulness, there was an astrologer named Matthias. Some say that he came from Transylvania, others say he was from Bosnia. I myself knew not whence he came. What matters is that by means of his art, he predicted some time ago that the pestilence would come. In addition to astrology, he was also learned in alchemy. He also dabbled in magic, but kept that hidden to himself lest it provoke persecution. He was an old man, but unusually strong and in surprisingly robust health for a man of his advanced age.
Matthias was something of a hermit who stayed at home for weeks at a time venturing out for only food and and the substances with which he indulged himself in his arcane arts. Unlike most who try their hands in those scientific arts, he was an uncommonly patient man.
One day, a young man dressed in black, for that is the clothing of mourning, came to the door of Matthias's house. When the astrologer opened the door, the young man gave him a warning, "Matthias! Repent your dabbling in those foul studies for they will get you in trouble with the ecclesiastical authorities."
"Young man," replied Matthias, "I am engaged in attempting to find a cure for this dreadful pestilence that is afflicting our land and, if I'm not mistaken, it is the pestilence that is the author of your mourning."
"We both know why you seek a cure for the affliction of our age an it is not for the betterment of mankind," replied the young man.
The old man grew angry at this insult and struggled to maintain his composure. He was on the verge of rebuking the young man when the youth strangely smiled and said, "You will never discover the medicines that will cure the plague for you know not how to find them."
"Possibly," replied the alchemist.
"You are entirely too stuck on yourself for your own good," replied the black clad youth.
"In any event, I have been working on the problems afflicting mankind and feel that I have made great progress. Now if you will kindly leave, I will resume my studies," said Matthias
"Resuming your studies will do you no good. You will pursue knowledge in vain, I have discovered," replied the young man in black.
"Are you saying that you have discovered the solution to the mysteries affecting mankind?"
"Yes, I have found how to both prolong human life and to turn base metals into gold,' replied the ebony clad youth, "but I care for neither."
"If what you say is true, then you are a genius of the first rank!"
"No," replied the stranger in black, "Just a fellow with a great deal of experience.'
"Could you help me with my studies then?"
"I'd rather show you," replied the youth entering the house, walking past the alchemist. He quickly strode to the workshop as just as fat moved his hands with such speed that Matthias could hardly follow his movements. When the young stranger was finished, there was a cup that was halfway filled with ingredients from the containers in the workshop.
"Is that it?" asked Matthias.
"Not yet," said the young man, "there is one ingredient that its very existence seems oblivious to you." With that, he took a vial out of one of his pockets and with a sigh he poured some of its contents into the cup. Once done, he laid the vial on the desk right on front of the old man. As Matthias gazed at the vial, he thought that he could see the face of a young lady who was beautiful yet sinister. And then the face was gone replaced by the plain glass of the vial.
"This is a special vial," said the stranger, "for it was used by the Abbess of the Convent of Saint Sylvester before she renounced all worldly passions and entered the service of the Church. They say that she was both beautiful and a scientific genius which I have found is exceedingly rare."
The stranger then poured the contents into an iron pot and then bade the old man to melt some lead and pour it into the pot before placing the pot with all the ingredients above the fire for cooking. Once the cooking commenced, there was a purple flame which arose from the pot and once extinguished, there was nothing in the pot save for a gold nugget.
Matthias's eyes grew large with astonishment. Lead had been turned into gold! He almost could have proclaimed the stranger to be the greatest genius alive, save for the the fact that Matthias had always reserved that dignity for himself.
"Now in return for my satisfying your curiosity, please abstain from this dreadful science of greed, which is what alchemy is in essence, and turn your mind to more worthy pursuits. Take this as a warning that the wages of alchemy are sadness and melancholy," said the young man.
The old man asked, "Won't you tell me how to commute base metals into gold and produce any magical elixirs for me?"
"What you are engaged in is a dangerous occupation. I came here to warn you, not encourage you," replied the youth.
At that precise moment, there came a sound of a sharp banging on the door.
The young man cried, "That must be my friend! I have to go now!"
With that, the youth bowed and made his exit so swiftly that he was out of the house before Matthias could even get up.
"The old man cried, shedding genuine tears,"O what a fool I am! I left this young genius go and with him the secret solutions to so many of mankind's problems!"
Note: Start at the top of the 2nd column on page 37.
Some of these stories of demonic possession and worse are no doubt fanciful. These are stories of the most awful horror. The story that I am about to relate has never been printed before. I have only seen it on a handwritten manuscript by the biased and superstitious monk Philip Corvinus. I will now give you the full reading of this short and strange story from the manuscript kept by the monks of the Abbey of Saint Manfred. Of its veracity, the monks had no doubt. You must remember that back in those dark and depressing days, there were all sorts of wild stories flying about the land. Of these tales, certainly the monks and the padres believed each and every one of them
In the year of our Lord, 1349,when Satan afflicted our fair city of Buda with a pestilence unheard of in its awfulness, there was an astrologer named Matthias. Some say that he came from Transylvania, others say he was from Bosnia. I myself knew not whence he came. What matters is that by means of his art, he predicted some time ago that the pestilence would come. In addition to astrology, he was also learned in alchemy. He also dabbled in magic, but kept that hidden to himself lest it provoke persecution. He was an old man, but unusually strong and in surprisingly robust health for a man of his advanced age.
Matthias was something of a hermit who stayed at home for weeks at a time venturing out for only food and and the substances with which he indulged himself in his arcane arts. Unlike most who try their hands in those scientific arts, he was an uncommonly patient man.
One day, a young man dressed in black, for that is the clothing of mourning, came to the door of Matthias's house. When the astrologer opened the door, the young man gave him a warning, "Matthias! Repent your dabbling in those foul studies for they will get you in trouble with the ecclesiastical authorities."
"Young man," replied Matthias, "I am engaged in attempting to find a cure for this dreadful pestilence that is afflicting our land and, if I'm not mistaken, it is the pestilence that is the author of your mourning."
"We both know why you seek a cure for the affliction of our age an it is not for the betterment of mankind," replied the young man.
The old man grew angry at this insult and struggled to maintain his composure. He was on the verge of rebuking the young man when the youth strangely smiled and said, "You will never discover the medicines that will cure the plague for you know not how to find them."
"Possibly," replied the alchemist.
"You are entirely too stuck on yourself for your own good," replied the black clad youth.
"In any event, I have been working on the problems afflicting mankind and feel that I have made great progress. Now if you will kindly leave, I will resume my studies," said Matthias
"Resuming your studies will do you no good. You will pursue knowledge in vain, I have discovered," replied the young man in black.
"Are you saying that you have discovered the solution to the mysteries affecting mankind?"
"Yes, I have found how to both prolong human life and to turn base metals into gold,' replied the ebony clad youth, "but I care for neither."
"If what you say is true, then you are a genius of the first rank!"
"No," replied the stranger in black, "Just a fellow with a great deal of experience.'
"Could you help me with my studies then?"
"I'd rather show you," replied the youth entering the house, walking past the alchemist. He quickly strode to the workshop as just as fat moved his hands with such speed that Matthias could hardly follow his movements. When the young stranger was finished, there was a cup that was halfway filled with ingredients from the containers in the workshop.
"Is that it?" asked Matthias.
"Not yet," said the young man, "there is one ingredient that its very existence seems oblivious to you." With that, he took a vial out of one of his pockets and with a sigh he poured some of its contents into the cup. Once done, he laid the vial on the desk right on front of the old man. As Matthias gazed at the vial, he thought that he could see the face of a young lady who was beautiful yet sinister. And then the face was gone replaced by the plain glass of the vial.
"This is a special vial," said the stranger, "for it was used by the Abbess of the Convent of Saint Sylvester before she renounced all worldly passions and entered the service of the Church. They say that she was both beautiful and a scientific genius which I have found is exceedingly rare."
The stranger then poured the contents into an iron pot and then bade the old man to melt some lead and pour it into the pot before placing the pot with all the ingredients above the fire for cooking. Once the cooking commenced, there was a purple flame which arose from the pot and once extinguished, there was nothing in the pot save for a gold nugget.
Matthias's eyes grew large with astonishment. Lead had been turned into gold! He almost could have proclaimed the stranger to be the greatest genius alive, save for the the fact that Matthias had always reserved that dignity for himself.
"Now in return for my satisfying your curiosity, please abstain from this dreadful science of greed, which is what alchemy is in essence, and turn your mind to more worthy pursuits. Take this as a warning that the wages of alchemy are sadness and melancholy," said the young man.
The old man asked, "Won't you tell me how to commute base metals into gold and produce any magical elixirs for me?"
"What you are engaged in is a dangerous occupation. I came here to warn you, not encourage you," replied the youth.
At that precise moment, there came a sound of a sharp banging on the door.
The young man cried, "That must be my friend! I have to go now!"
With that, the youth bowed and made his exit so swiftly that he was out of the house before Matthias could even get up.
"The old man cried, shedding genuine tears,"O what a fool I am! I left this young genius go and with him the secret solutions to so many of mankind's problems!"
Note: Start at the top of the 2nd column on page 37.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Halloween Night Historical Mystery Story
When Detective Nicholas Dykstra arrived at the Imperial Hotel in Manhattan on the early morning of November 1, 1888, all the drama was over. The jewels, belonging to a member of the Hapsburg family, were missing while the thief lay dead at the bottom of the stairs of one of the lower levels of the hotel. Given the profusion of blood at the criminal's side, it was clear that he was not going to be talking to the detective. According to the hotel security guard who shot the culprit, the fiend said but one word, "Halloween" and then gave up the ghost.
Dykstra surveyed the situation and then asked to nobody in particular, "Who was the thief? Why did he commit this crime?"
Officer Stanley Ewing responded to Dykstra, "His identification showed that he was a civilian employee at the 13th Precinct station."
""One of ours? That's disappointing," Dykstra said dejectedly.
"What's worse is that he was considered the top clerical worker in the precinct, despite his unusual politics," replied Ewing.
"What kind of politics?"
"He was sympathetic to European radicals like those anarchists," he advocated the elimination of all monarchies.."
"Such as the Hapsburgs?"
"Especially the Hapsburgs."
"Well, that takes care of the motive," replied Dykstra adding, "He probably wanted to seize the jewels to finance some sort of terrorist campaign."
"I can see how the public could become alarmed over these developments," Officer Ewing relied, "the idea of anarchists running around America would be enough to scare anybody."
"We need to place an embargo on news relating to this case until we can get things sorted out," replied Dykstra.
At this ;point, Scott Patton, the director of the hotel's security staff joined the conversation."If your hoodlum had not gotten to this hotel, we would not be in this mess. You coppers messed up big time," barked Patton.
"That reminds me," replied an unruffled Detective Dykstra, "What happened to the jewels? Are they safe and secure or are they still missing?"
Officer Ewing frowned. "No, we don't. There were too many people between this hotel and the hotel where the burglary took place. Then when he got here, he evaded us all day and it was not until a hotel security guard...."
"You mean one of my men had to do it because you fuzz were too lazy to do it yourselves," Patton rudely interrupted.
"As I was saying," Officer Ewing looked at Patton defensively, "was that after he was shot, he fell down a flight of steps and his head hit the floor and that combined with the blood loss caused him to give up the ghost."
Scott Patton, the director of the Imperial Hotel security staff started to say something but Dykstra cut him off. "You conceited hotel security people have some nerve criticizing us humble public servants. You make a point of stealing our best officers with those obscene salaries and fancy uniforms and then you complain about we aren't up to your high standards and call us names like copper and fuzz," said an angry Dykstra to a chagrined Patton.
"What happened was the at the culprit had several hours to run around the hotel and hide the jewels here. We know that he hid it here since we could clearly see him carrying the jewelry box while we were pursuing him here," Ewing said.
"Do we have any idea where he hid it?" asked Dykstra "We can't take all day searching every room for them since that would make it impossible to cover things up and prevent the public from feeling terror from the fact that there are anarchists here in our fair city," he added.
"The only clue we have is what the swine said just before he died," said Ewing.
Dykstra queried him, "What was that?"
"Halloween," replied Sander.
"Halloween?" asked Dykstra.
Ewing nodded in the affirmative. "Just before he passed away, we were ableto ask him where the jewels were hidden and all he said was Halloween. Just that one word."
Detective Nicholas Dykstra asked Officer Stanley Ewing, "Do you suppose that he was trying to tell you where the jewels were hidden before he passed on, that there is some hidden significance to the word Halloween?"
Dykstra glanced at his watch. It was 4:03 AM.
Dykstra then said out loud to nobody in particular, "Halloween must have been a word of special significance to him. Yesterday was when he carried out his spectacular jewelry robbery in order to finance an anarchist terror campaign. Hmmmm.....I've got an idea. Patton, you scurvy knave of a house dick you, do you have some sort of master key for all the hotel rooms?"
The director of the Imperial Hotel security staff, Scott Patton, was surprised by Dykstra's question, "Well of course I do, why do you ask?"
"Come with me. I've got an idea," replied Dykstra
Less than half an hour later, both Dykstra and Patton returned with the missing jewelry box. The owners would confirm that all of the jewels were safely returned.
Officer Stanley Ewing asked, "How did you find the jewelry box so soon?"
"Judging from the anarchist's last word, it appeared that he had Halloween on his mind. My guess is that when he saw a certain hotel room and being cleaned, he took it as some sort of omen," Dykstra said.
"And pray tell just what hotel room you're talking about?"
"Room 1031. October 31st, Halloween."
Dykstra surveyed the situation and then asked to nobody in particular, "Who was the thief? Why did he commit this crime?"
Officer Stanley Ewing responded to Dykstra, "His identification showed that he was a civilian employee at the 13th Precinct station."
""One of ours? That's disappointing," Dykstra said dejectedly.
"What's worse is that he was considered the top clerical worker in the precinct, despite his unusual politics," replied Ewing.
"What kind of politics?"
"He was sympathetic to European radicals like those anarchists," he advocated the elimination of all monarchies.."
"Such as the Hapsburgs?"
"Especially the Hapsburgs."
"Well, that takes care of the motive," replied Dykstra adding, "He probably wanted to seize the jewels to finance some sort of terrorist campaign."
"I can see how the public could become alarmed over these developments," Officer Ewing relied, "the idea of anarchists running around America would be enough to scare anybody."
"We need to place an embargo on news relating to this case until we can get things sorted out," replied Dykstra.
At this ;point, Scott Patton, the director of the hotel's security staff joined the conversation."If your hoodlum had not gotten to this hotel, we would not be in this mess. You coppers messed up big time," barked Patton.
"That reminds me," replied an unruffled Detective Dykstra, "What happened to the jewels? Are they safe and secure or are they still missing?"
Officer Ewing frowned. "No, we don't. There were too many people between this hotel and the hotel where the burglary took place. Then when he got here, he evaded us all day and it was not until a hotel security guard...."
"You mean one of my men had to do it because you fuzz were too lazy to do it yourselves," Patton rudely interrupted.
"As I was saying," Officer Ewing looked at Patton defensively, "was that after he was shot, he fell down a flight of steps and his head hit the floor and that combined with the blood loss caused him to give up the ghost."
Scott Patton, the director of the Imperial Hotel security staff started to say something but Dykstra cut him off. "You conceited hotel security people have some nerve criticizing us humble public servants. You make a point of stealing our best officers with those obscene salaries and fancy uniforms and then you complain about we aren't up to your high standards and call us names like copper and fuzz," said an angry Dykstra to a chagrined Patton.
"What happened was the at the culprit had several hours to run around the hotel and hide the jewels here. We know that he hid it here since we could clearly see him carrying the jewelry box while we were pursuing him here," Ewing said.
"Do we have any idea where he hid it?" asked Dykstra "We can't take all day searching every room for them since that would make it impossible to cover things up and prevent the public from feeling terror from the fact that there are anarchists here in our fair city," he added.
"The only clue we have is what the swine said just before he died," said Ewing.
Dykstra queried him, "What was that?"
"Halloween," replied Sander.
"Halloween?" asked Dykstra.
Ewing nodded in the affirmative. "Just before he passed away, we were ableto ask him where the jewels were hidden and all he said was Halloween. Just that one word."
Detective Nicholas Dykstra asked Officer Stanley Ewing, "Do you suppose that he was trying to tell you where the jewels were hidden before he passed on, that there is some hidden significance to the word Halloween?"
Dykstra glanced at his watch. It was 4:03 AM.
Dykstra then said out loud to nobody in particular, "Halloween must have been a word of special significance to him. Yesterday was when he carried out his spectacular jewelry robbery in order to finance an anarchist terror campaign. Hmmmm.....I've got an idea. Patton, you scurvy knave of a house dick you, do you have some sort of master key for all the hotel rooms?"
The director of the Imperial Hotel security staff, Scott Patton, was surprised by Dykstra's question, "Well of course I do, why do you ask?"
"Come with me. I've got an idea," replied Dykstra
Less than half an hour later, both Dykstra and Patton returned with the missing jewelry box. The owners would confirm that all of the jewels were safely returned.
Officer Stanley Ewing asked, "How did you find the jewelry box so soon?"
"Judging from the anarchist's last word, it appeared that he had Halloween on his mind. My guess is that when he saw a certain hotel room and being cleaned, he took it as some sort of omen," Dykstra said.
"And pray tell just what hotel room you're talking about?"
"Room 1031. October 31st, Halloween."
Monday, July 6, 2015
Halloween: The Unique Holiday
Halloween is our unique holiday. All of our other holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Independence Day, Labor Day, New Year's Day & Thanksgiving celebrate positive things. With Halloween, however, we have a celebration of the sick and perverse. That is the day that the forces of evil are manifested in the form of children going around pretending to be devils, Frankenstein monsters, ghosts, goblins, mummies, vampires, warlocks, witches and other types of ghouls. When these children beg for treats, there is an implied thread with the use of the word "trick" of consequences if you don't comply with their wishes.
Halloween's standing among our holidays gets weirder when you consider that the day after Halloween, November 1, is All Saints' Day. Back in the olden days, it was known as "All Hallows Day" and Halloween is derived from that term. In the Catholic calendar, every saint has his/her own special day Some times these are the days of their martyrdom. If they did not become martyrs, then the day is about some other even in the life of the particular saint that is of special significance. Both Hallow and Saint come from the idea of holiness. Hallow derives from the German language and Saint derives from Latin.
During the course of ancient civilizations, the day started during sunset. By ancient standards, Christmas is supposed to start at sunset of December 24th. That is why Christmas Eve became a holiday. The same is true of New Year's Eve.
In the tradition of ancient civilization, All Saints day aka All Hallows Day would start at sunset, October 31st. That evening would be known as All Hallows Eve. This became abbreviated to "Hallows Eve" and eventually to Halloween.
All of this raises the question of just how did this come about? How did a day that was meant to celebrate the saints and all that is holy also involve supernatural evil? This leads to the question of where does the concept of evil originate and what is its purpose?
The answer to this question lies in the aforementioned ancient civilizations. Originally, in the ancient world in such civilizations, whether it be the Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Hittites or the Romans, the various and sundry gods and goddesses were capable of both good and evil. They could be beneficial to mankind or they could be responsible for floods, plagues and other sorts of natural calamities.
It was not until circa 580 B.C. when the Persian holy man Zoroaster who wrote down the foundation of the Zoroastrian religion that the concept of good and evil deities came into being. Although numbering no more than a few hundred thousand adherents today, Zorosastrians were once numerous as shown by the fact that prior to the Islamic conquest in the 7th Century A.D., Zoroastrianism was the official state religion of the Sassanid Empire.
Following the establishment of the Zoroastrian religion, the Jewish religion began to change. Originally Jehovah aka God was capable of both great good and great evil. Then His nature changed and he became a god of the good. What happened was that a new evil spiritual being named Satan came along and became the spiritual embodiment of all supernatural evil.
Among the Celtic peoples, especially in Britain, November 1 was considered to be the first day of the year. This was after the harvest was in and the food supply for the winter season was secured.
People had a reason to celebrate.
Christian missionaries believed that the Celts were thanking evil spirits for their harvests. However, in an effort to win over Celtic converts, November 1 became All Saints Day, a celebration of the saints and not evil spirits.
However, memories of worshiping the allegedly evil spirits persisted. and are today manifested in the tradition of trick or treat along with children disguised as such evil spirits as ghosts, goblins. vampires, witches & warlocks.
Truly, Halloween is our most unique holiday.
THE END
Halloween's standing among our holidays gets weirder when you consider that the day after Halloween, November 1, is All Saints' Day. Back in the olden days, it was known as "All Hallows Day" and Halloween is derived from that term. In the Catholic calendar, every saint has his/her own special day Some times these are the days of their martyrdom. If they did not become martyrs, then the day is about some other even in the life of the particular saint that is of special significance. Both Hallow and Saint come from the idea of holiness. Hallow derives from the German language and Saint derives from Latin.
During the course of ancient civilizations, the day started during sunset. By ancient standards, Christmas is supposed to start at sunset of December 24th. That is why Christmas Eve became a holiday. The same is true of New Year's Eve.
In the tradition of ancient civilization, All Saints day aka All Hallows Day would start at sunset, October 31st. That evening would be known as All Hallows Eve. This became abbreviated to "Hallows Eve" and eventually to Halloween.
All of this raises the question of just how did this come about? How did a day that was meant to celebrate the saints and all that is holy also involve supernatural evil? This leads to the question of where does the concept of evil originate and what is its purpose?
The answer to this question lies in the aforementioned ancient civilizations. Originally, in the ancient world in such civilizations, whether it be the Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Hittites or the Romans, the various and sundry gods and goddesses were capable of both good and evil. They could be beneficial to mankind or they could be responsible for floods, plagues and other sorts of natural calamities.
It was not until circa 580 B.C. when the Persian holy man Zoroaster who wrote down the foundation of the Zoroastrian religion that the concept of good and evil deities came into being. Although numbering no more than a few hundred thousand adherents today, Zorosastrians were once numerous as shown by the fact that prior to the Islamic conquest in the 7th Century A.D., Zoroastrianism was the official state religion of the Sassanid Empire.
Following the establishment of the Zoroastrian religion, the Jewish religion began to change. Originally Jehovah aka God was capable of both great good and great evil. Then His nature changed and he became a god of the good. What happened was that a new evil spiritual being named Satan came along and became the spiritual embodiment of all supernatural evil.
Among the Celtic peoples, especially in Britain, November 1 was considered to be the first day of the year. This was after the harvest was in and the food supply for the winter season was secured.
People had a reason to celebrate.
Christian missionaries believed that the Celts were thanking evil spirits for their harvests. However, in an effort to win over Celtic converts, November 1 became All Saints Day, a celebration of the saints and not evil spirits.
However, memories of worshiping the allegedly evil spirits persisted. and are today manifested in the tradition of trick or treat along with children disguised as such evil spirits as ghosts, goblins. vampires, witches & warlocks.
Truly, Halloween is our most unique holiday.
THE END
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