The Curse of the Tower is a tale shrouded in mystery and dread. Legends depict a grand tower that once stood tall and lofty, reaching towards the heavens. It was said to be a place of great power and knowledge and was home to a wise and powerful sorcerer. However, as the story goes, the sorcerer grew greedy and sought to attain even greater power. In a moment of desperation, he delved into dark magic and invoked a curse upon himself and his tower. The curse manifested in a sinister manner.
The Witches of Eastwick - Well, when a bunch of witches decided to summon the devil, and then they have to deal with the consequences. It’s classic. It’s the crux of so many dramas. And a few comedies.
And so, while I may - like a good Wiccan - prefer my dates written as if Halloween were the beginning of the year, or have crystals for protection beside my cat s water bowl, I loved putting it all on its head for our 2018 show The Witching Hour. Throw in the troubles of adolescence, the problems with public education, and a mandate the save the world from demons and vampires and you have a cultural hit.
The curse manifested in a sinister manner. The tower became a prison, trapping the sorcerer and all who dared to enter within its walls. Its once majestic halls became haunted by dark spirits, and its architecture twisted and distorted.
CK2 Dev Diary #36: The Witching Hour
I hope you all had a good time during the Holidays. I know I did, but now it’s time to don the crown, strap on the sword and get back to work on Crusader Kings II (and my other game, of course. ) Now, what better way to start off the new year than with a bit of harmless witchery? In the terribly long eras before the great thinkers of the Age of Reason would have us replace magic with science, the “occult” was of course seen as a normal part of life, and society lived in fear of curses and evil spells. But… just because you’re superstitious does not mean the witches aren’t out to get you! Just like today, the desperate and the unscrupulous would seek power by any means necessary, including the worship of demons and evil spirits.
This brings us to my favorite Society in the upcoming expansion Monks and Mystics; the Demon Worshippers. These brothers and sisters of the left-hand path come in several varieties: Abrahamics get “Lucifer’s Own”, Tengri pagans get the “Plaguebringers”, the Indian faiths are afflicted with a particularly nasty type of Kali worship, Baltic, Slavic and Finnic pagans get “The Cold Ones” (evil shamans) and Germanic Pagans have those who curry the favor of Hel and of powerful jotuns. Regardless of religious context, they are all united in their self-serving, utterly ruthless quest for power in the world of the living, and care little for their fate in the afterlife. As they advance through the ranks, Demon Worshippers get powers like “Dark Divorce”, “Summon Familiar” and “Tainted Touch” (a health curse.) Through their network of agents, they can also attempt to abduct relatively low ranking characters. Now, a lot of the content for the Demon Worshippers is hard to explain in terms of placebo effects and natural phenomena, so if you don’t care for the supernatural I suggest simply not joining those Societies (because rooting out their covens and persecuting them through your Court Chaplain is reasonably historical and adds flavor to the game.) However, if you really don’t want them around, you can turn them off through a Game Rule.
Next up are the infamous Assassins, a Shiite Muslim Society that - unsurprisingly - specializes in murder. The elusive Assassins consider themselves the true followers of Allah, and will do anything to further the advances of Shia Islam and protect their fellow believers. Consisting of loyal warriors as well as competent spies, wielding manipulation and social skills as expertly as a dagger, they specialize in asymmetrical warfare, striking hard at the heart of their enemies. Their special powers include intimidation and murder. For example, they can get a Favor with someone (if you have the Conclave expansion) by leaving a dagger on their pillow. At higher ranks, they can also mark someone for death, so that lower ranked members will get that murder as a mission. Since this Society is also a political entity and a Holy Order of sorts, the Grandmaster gets the power to raise special troops.
There is more to say about these Societies; their other powers, missions and semi-random events, but I don’t want to spoil it all. Oh, and if you have the Way of Life expansion, you can use “Spy On” to find out if a character is a member of a secret Society like the above.
There won’t be a CK2 stream today, but stay tuned for something next week (and a new dev diary, of course)!
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We sailed through the night in our favourite forms, owl and nightjar. We could take any shape we conjured, but the more time in one form, the more powerful we grew within it. I led the way, swerving to avoid a copse of trees — a coven’s meeting place, surrounded by a haze cloaking the coven’s activities from other creatures and night users — prophets, healers, even worshippers of the white Christ. They each followed their gods or god, and drew power from the other side. Just power. Like a knife, it was what you did with it that mattered. But I knew what many did with their power.
Anyone who entered the tower became rooted to its cursed grounds, unable to escape the clutches of its wicked enchantment. Over time, the cursed tower became isolated and forgotten, hidden away in a remote and desolate land. It became a place of forbidden lore, where only the bravest or most foolhardy would venture. Many legends and cautionary tales were told of those who ignored the warning signs and set foot within the bounds of the tower. Some stories told of explorers who vanished without a trace, while others spoke of the horrid fate that awaited them. It was said that those who dared to enter the tower would be tormented by the vengeful spirits and forced to confront their deepest fears and darkest secrets. The curse was said to feed on their souls, trapping them in an eternal torment within its walls. As the years went by, the curse of the tower became a cautionary tale, a warning whispered among those who still remembered its existence. Its dark history only added to its allure, drawing in those curious enough to seek its secrets but wise enough to know the consequences. But despite the curse and the dire warnings, there were always those who sought to challenge fate and defy the odds. Some believed that hidden within the cursed tower lay unimaginable treasures or ancient knowledge that could grant them power and riches beyond their wildest dreams. Whether these stories were true or merely the product of imagination and superstition, the curse of the tower continued to cast a shadow of fear and intrigue over all who heard its tale. And so, the cursed tower remained a foreboding symbol, a reminder of the dangers of indulging in greed and dabbling in dark magic..
Reviews for "The Curse of Isqc Tower: Reflections on Fate and Free Will"
- Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Curse of the Tower Isle". The plot was very predictable, and the characters felt one-dimensional and lacking depth. The dialogue also felt forced and unnatural. Moreover, I found the writing style to be mediocre at best, with excessive use of cliches and poor editing. Overall, the book failed to engage me, and I would not recommend it to others looking for an exciting and well-written story.
- John - 1 star - "Curse of the Tower Isle" was a complete waste of time. The storyline was unoriginal and filled with plot holes. The plot twists were predictable and lacked any real surprise or excitement. The characters were flat and unrelatable, and I found it difficult to care about what happened to them. Furthermore, the writing itself was uninspiring, with repetitive descriptions and a lack of vivid imagery. I cannot understand why this book has received any positive reviews.
- Lisa - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to reading "Curse of the Tower Isle," but I was ultimately left disappointed. The pacing was off, with slow and uneventful sections that made it difficult to stay engaged. The author relied too heavily on telling rather than showing, which made the reading experience feel detached and unemotional. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Overall, the book had potential, but it fell short in multiple areas. I would not recommend it to others.