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FrankStone New user South Africa/Taiwan 74 Posts |
Spirit of the Necronomicon
This has probably been done before but here goes anyway:- At a recent public auction of the Miskatonic University, I was walking through the lots that was to be auctioned off. My eyes scanned over the numerous out dated scientific equipment and bottled specimens of unknown origin. Then my eyes caught a small ornate box tucked away in a corner. The content of the box was just a bunch of old photographs and newspaper clippings probably all dating back to the late 1920’s. I dumped out the junk and then my eyes lit up, for at the very bottom of the box was a fragment of an old page. It was burned on the edges and looked as if someone yanked it out of a fire once. What was left of the page was all covered in strange rune signs. I immediately recognized it as being written in the Cthulhu language. Then it dawned on me that this must be a fragment from the original Necronomicon. One of the most powerful grymores written by a mad poet of Sanaá, in Yemen, who is said to have flourished during the period of the Ommiade caliphs, circa 700 A.D. Modern Scholars all agreed that the original was destroyed after being stolen from the Bibliothèque Nationale at Paris in the late 17th century. Needless to say I immediately bought the box for a mere ten bucks. Obviously I haven't told them what I found inside. I hurried on home and could not wait to start to decipher the glyphs or what was left of them. It read:- NOMINE ET DEUS MAL. NUNC MALIFICORUM IAVO. K. CUM SED NECRO OIA MALIFICORUM IAKU INFUR. IAO SUM VIT. And every time I read that the strangest thing happens. Watch! As the piece of paper takes on a life of its own and folds itself up into a small bundle. I think we better not dabble in things we don’t understand. Acrunum:- You are probably way ahead of me! This is the old self-folding dollar bill dressed up as a piece of paper torn from a book. All tied into a Lovecraftian tale. Need I say more. |
Magickman Elite user St.Petersburg, Fl. 402 Posts |
Bravo Frank!
One of the things I love about this art is, you can take something so simple and make it into a....well monster! Sometimes it amazes me how little effects I use to throw away, only come back to haunt me! Presentation is everything! that's a great story! that's a great effect! Magickman
What man knows he calls Science
What he has yet to learn he calls Magick Both are real! _Tony Andruzzi_ |
Necromancer Inner circle Chicago 3076 Posts |
Hi there, Frank --
I am a big fan of strengthening tricks by giving them bizarre presentations. Nice idea, to give the self–folding bill a bizarre treatment. May I offer one suggestion? It may need to be made clear, for the sake of the story and the dramatic action, as to why the paper reacts the way it does -- why does it fold itself up? Is it protected by a charm to keep it from being read by the unworthy? Possibly. But whatever reason you arrive at, I would make sure it is part of the story. Nice work, Neil
Creator of The Xpert (20 PAGES of reviews!), Cut & Color, Hands-Off Multiple ESP (HOME) System, Rider-Waite Readers book, Zoom Pendulum ebook ...
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BLAZE New user london ,England 13 Posts |
I do a similar set up with flash paper.
that is not dead which can eternal lie
yet with strange eons even death may die H.P.Lovecraft |
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
Hi Frank,
I liked some of the story and suspect it has greater potential. There is also the making of a great but unstated joke there if you go with the Latin and speak the words... "sacred paper hide these words from unbelievers" or something to that effect in Latin . Just a small suggestion here: have an inscription on the paper on both sides. Read the outer one to have the paper fold. Read the inner one and have the paper ignite and vanish. That is say the inscription was copied from the original and ... Great premise though. Congratulations! Jonathan
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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Doug Byrd Veteran user VA 361 Posts |
Brother Stone,
This is a perfect example of less is more. The story is the ultimate focal point and the S.F.B. is almost an after thought that puts the added willies in your spectators. Kudos! Doug
"Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc"
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the levitator Special user Spellbound Productions 546 Posts |
Magic "along the way" can have greater impact than a full frontal magical assault. Great story, and bravo for taking something simple and making it creepy!
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mforteath New user Tasmania, Australia 62 Posts |
I think you are on a winner there! The story really captured my attention, and I could visualize the effect. It really is great! I can really see any audience getting in to that one. Well done!
Mark |
Dr Mage Veteran user Southern California 332 Posts |
I like the version of the story as written. I think leaving it unclear (as to why it does what it does) is more realistic. It's just this wierd thing you found in the box. Let them imagine their own explanation. It's creepier that way.
Good job!
What is the color of magic?
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Necromancer Inner circle Chicago 3076 Posts |
Forgive me, Dr. Mage, but I disagree.
Consider the effect -- a paper that folds itself up. Now, free-associate some metaphors that are closely allied with this action, that can be used to make sense of this action and wrap it in a story that makes a kind of sense and may even affect people in some way. Making it "just a weird thing that acts in a weird way" strikes me as the first steps toward a bizarre routine (what magical artifact isn't a weird thing that acts in a weird way?), but left at that it seems, in my opinion, undeveloped storytelling. Some possibilities: Is this piece of paper an occult device, an instrument of the devil that poises motionless, like a Venus flytrap,until an innocent soul flits by -- and then it visibly closes to trap it? Or is it the picture of a long-departed girl who, in life, could not bear to be looked at? Or a page from her diary, which, while you try to read it aloud, folds itself up defiantly? These are solutions that come organically from the root effect: a piece of paper that folds itself. In my experience, that is the best way to clothe an effect in an interesting plot.
Creator of The Xpert (20 PAGES of reviews!), Cut & Color, Hands-Off Multiple ESP (HOME) System, Rider-Waite Readers book, Zoom Pendulum ebook ...
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ptbeast Special user Oregon 831 Posts |
Neil,
I understand what you are saying, and as a general principle, I agree. On the other hand, I don't think that Frank's story needs that much work. I think that if when he begins to read the spell, the paper folds itself, followed by his line that "I think we better not dabble in things we don’t understand" leads to the implied idea that the spell is folding itself because the Mage should not be reading it. To me, that subtle message is enough to make for a strong effect. Just my two cents worth, Dave |
Dr Mage Veteran user Southern California 332 Posts |
Neil,
Good suggestions, I particularly like the idea of the photo of the girl. Both your suggestions will make nice routines, but so would Frank's story. While the "wierd item that cannot be explained" is done quite a bit...it can be effectively creepy. As long as each effect doesn't rely on the same plot device, I think it could play as is.
What is the color of magic?
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StrangeMagick Special user 635 Posts |
Frank:
Being one who enjoys the stories of Lovecraft and the Mythos, I enjoyed this piece. You and the others might also enjoy an effect sold by Dragon Skull using the folding bill method using a piece of papyrus and an Egyptian theme. I don't own this, but saw it last year when I attend the Charles Cameron Memorial Gathering in Edinburgh. see: http://www.dragonskull.co.uk/sphinx1.htm http://www.dragonskull.co.uk/sphinx2.htm Magickally, Dave Birtwell |
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