The Vault – TrueBlood-Online.com

As season five of HBO’s True Blood fast approaches, fans of the Sookie Stackhouse novels are left speculating over who will play the most integral role of John Quinn.  Key characters within the books have emerged over the first four seasons of the hit television series however True Blood creators have remained tight lipped about Quinn, leaving fans to question whether it is essential to have him included in the on screen storyline.

Depiction of John Quinn the Weretiger from the Southern Vampire Mysteries
aka the Sookie Stackhouse novels. by Cogdis - cogdis.deviantart.com 

John Quinn first meets Sookie in Dead as a Doornail, book five of the series. Quinn co-owns the Extremely Elegant Events Company or EEE that focuses specifically on weddings, rituals, competitions and the likes for the supernatural community. It is during one of these events that Sookie observes a profound ire of respect centering on Quinn which has her intrigued. Quinn’s torturous past enviably catches up with him in Altogether Dead, book 7, and Sookie finds herself again having to make heartbreaking choices that would seal their fate as a couple. Author and creator Charlaine Harris devoted five out of 12 books in the series towards the ebbs and flows of the somewhat condemned relationship. Harris describes Quinn as a large 6ft5, olive skinned, purple eyed, bald headed man with a strong resemblance to a wrestler, sounds dreamy. But is this relationship of value to the writers of True Blood the Show as much as it is for the storyline in the books?

It is widely agreed amongst fans of the books that Sookies relationship with Quinn wasn’t their most memorable. A close friend of mine stated that Quinn is quite “annoying” especially the constant usage of the word “Babe”. The fact that he is a Were does not seem to pacify the ‘anti-Quinn’ crowd because it is more than likely they have already allied themselves with one of Stackhouse’s other suitors, namely Eric, Bill, Sam or Alcide. This kind of fandom allegiance is not easy to embark on when you are the Director of a high ranking show where by on screen relationships will either work for or against ratings.

The simple truth remains that television writers of True Blood will evidently use what they feel necessary to enhance and empower the lead characters they have presently on screen, regardless of who is or is not in the books. Characters such as Jessica and Jesus are not in the novels however make for interesting viewing on screen. Actor Stephen Moyer who plays Bill Compton in the series explains in a 2009 interview with EW reporter Michael Ausiello, “It’s important that fans of the books will always be taken into consideration but I was told that only 5% of readers are the actual television audience” This statistic is somewhat alarming considering the reason for the show even coming to light was due to the novels popularity on a global scale. Undeniably fans of the books want to see Charlaine’s work displayed in epic proportion and in 2009 Director Alan Ball explained during a panel interview at the Paley Fest how he is “compelled to the spirit of [Charlaine’s] books” and is trying to “balance between the fans of the books and parts of the story that really works and giving some surprises” and let’s face it if we already knew what was ahead would we really be as interested as Ball would hope?

It is easy to condemn a character like Quinn based on eligibility however when adhering to the “spirit” of the novels it cannot be denied that John Quinn is indeed a strong contender in Sookies world of True blood based on his supernatural abilities. It is more natural for Sookie to be in a relationship with a Supe than human because she is unable to hear their thoughts. Another factor is that the mere presence of Quinn commands respect, loyalty amongst his counterparts which has not yet been touched by any other character on the television show. It could be argued that Eric Northman dominated as a cool collector of respect amongst his minions of area five however in the books Quinn was admired for his distinctive courage and talent more so than feared. There is also the reoccurring fact that Sookie has had a bad run of relationships, Bill, Eric, Sam, Alcide which could allow for the respectable Mr Quinn and Sookie to build an on screen chemistry.

Alan Ball has continuously looked for an element of surprise for the fans of both the books and TV show wanting to steer it into the unknown. Quinn is well known amongst fans of the books therefore I believe he will appear at some stage on screen. The element of surprise will be how much attention and affection Ball will show to this particular character, casting, scripting etc. the simple techniques that pull us all in and leave us captivated as the story unravels. The perfect time for Quinn to appear is season five because at the end of season four we saw a heart broken but determined Sookie this is a perfect opening for John Quinn to make a quintessential entrance. I believe Ball is keeping Quinn hidden so that the audience will remain ever hopeful for Eric, Bill or Alcide to be paired with Sookie, and to twist a frenzy amongst fans of the books, then when you least expect it BANG! In True Blood style we are faced with the illustrious purple eyed wrestler.

In the Sookie Stackhouse novels, John Quinn is perfectly placed amongst four other suitors aiming for Sookies heart, how lucky she is! And to say he is nothing more than eye candy for the storyline you are misinformed, he has a place and a purpose it’s whether or not True Blood creators feel it necessary to embark on such a risk. I hope they do, I feel if they choose to omit Quinn then they are doing a huge injustice to five of the 12 books. Sookie needs to progress and develop and Quinn provides her with so much more than topless moments of joy hidden underneath shiny outfits. In times of uncertainty I soak in the words of Charlaine Harris for comfort, guidance, “I chose Alan Ball to bring the Sookie books to the screen because I trust his vision, and I am sure he will be true to the spirit of the books. I am delighted with the talented cast, Alan’s scripts and direction, and the look and feel of the production.”

As season five release date draws near, fingers, fangs and paws are crossed that it is everything we would ever hope for, well, another seven seasons would be excellent, here’s to hope!

 What do you think? Should Quinn be a part of True Blood? Post your opinion in the comments.

Lisa Eden is a mother of four from the beautiful country New Zealand. She is a big fan of the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris and her favorite sups are the werewolves. Lisa is currently working on her first paranormal urban romance novel.

Resources for Quotes
• The Southern Vampire Mysteries Character List – Wikipedia
• Entertainment Weekly- Michael Ausiello – Comic Con interview 2009 – True Blood cast love triangle
• True Blood Panel at Paley Fest 2009
• Charlaine Harris Quote

The articles of our guest writers represent only the opinion of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the owners of TrueBlood-Online.com. We find it important to give space to the different points of view of the great variety of True Blood fans and the editorials of the guest writers are the perfect tool for that. We safeguard that the articles are in agreement with our policy.

Despite the efforts of Bill and Eric to get rid of Russell Edgington once and for all, the ex-king of Mississippi will be back in season 5 and mostly likely with a vengeance.

Considering the bad physical condition Russell was in and the fact that he was silvered when he was buried in concrete, makes it highly improbably that he managed to escape without any outside help. Even Eric needed Pam’s help to be freed from the fresh concrete because the silver handcuffs had left him completely powerless.

But who released Russell from his grave?

The only person who knew what was buried underneath the construction site was Alcide, but I think we can exclude him as an accomplice unless he hopes that Russell finishes off both Eric and Bill so he can make his move on Sookie.

From the construction worker who discovered the hole in the parking garage we learned that a vampire was involved, because the man was glamoured.

It could be that Russell has another progeny besides his late husband Talbot, Russell is an ancient vampire and it’s very likely that he turned several humans over the years. He could have used vampire telepathy to summon his progeny. The question remains why it took the progeny so long to get there? Russell remained buried for a year, maybe the messages sent that way have a limited radius and the progeny has to be close by to receive the signal.

Russell’s vampire child could be a new character or possibly someone we already know: Reverend Steve Newlin. Steve was missing for quite a while and he did sport a nice pair of vampire teeth when he showed up at Jason’s doorstep.

Or maybe the progeny is a member of the Authority. Nan Flanagan revealed last season that there are fractions within the Authority that don’t agree with the agenda and Russell has no respect at all for the Authority, so there might be a link there. Or the Authority itself freed Russell to use him as a tool to hunt down Bill and Eric in exchange for amnesty.

Bill and Eric seem the least possible candidates for setting Russell free, but they are in deep trouble now that the Authority has issued death sentences for the both of them and Russell could prove to be a powerful ally in the battle against the Authority.

Who do you think released Russell Edgington? Post it in the comments below.

Lisafemmeacadienne has written a review of Jace Everett’s latest album, “Mr. Good Times” for The Vault. As all True Blood fans know, Jace is the writer of True Blood’s title song, “Bad Things”.

Below is her review:

Jace Everett’s new album, “Mr. Good Times” can be summed up in one word: evolution. The singer/writer of True Blood’s “Bad Things” has created a dynamic artist repertoire full of wit, philosophy and charm. He once again crosses musical boundaries through his ability to vocalize emotions in his not-quite-country music style.

This album encompasses a wide variety of styles: he captures the Beatles’ sound in “The Drugs Aren’t Getting It Done”, and an anthem style similar to U-2 in “Autumn.” You can hear the regret in his voice with “Let’s Begin Again,” “Nothing” and “Don’t Look Down”.

As an artist and writer, Jace has matured into more complex compositions with the assistance of his co-writers and talented band members. The more you listen, the more you glean from the album. Is he commenting on other people, or on himself? Listen for yourself to see!

This album has already been released in the UK, and is available in the U.S. on Amazon.com as a download. Below is a link to purchase both UK and US versions where you can also listen to samples of the songs:

Visit the Jace Everett Fan Page

Personally, I have officially decided that the Emmy’s are not worthy of my interest anymore.

To have snubbed the entire cast  of True Blood (with the exception of the wonderful, Alfre Woodard) makes my blood boil.

I think that just because True Blood is campy, fun and oftentimes outrageous that the Emmy voters don’t take it seriously. I just don’t get it. Whether the show is in a “supernatural” genre or not, the acting, writing, producing, in addition to the technical work should be rewarded for it’s excellence.

However, I take some comfort in the fact that many times, real true art doesn’t get recognized because it goes out on the edge and pushes the envelope. In my opinion, True Blood is one of the shows that does just that and am not alone in this opinion.

At Watch with Kristin, she writes in her article entitled, “Five Biggest Emmy Nomination Snubs” about True Blood’ saying: “Last year, it crashed the Outstanding Drama Series race. Today, it just crashed, dropping out out of the glamour category, despite picking up four nominations overall. On the upside, Alfre Woodard, a longtime Emmy favorite, nabbed the series’ first-ever acting nod, for Guest Drama Series Actress. On the downside, that means Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer were denied again.”

I agree that Anna and Stephen both deserved Emmy nods, but the biggest travesty is the most noticable omission of Denis O’Hare and his exceptional performance of Russell Edgington; I find it unforgivable.

I am done with the Emmy’s until they start to recognize the excellent work done on True Blood!  So, for me, The Emmy’s have jumped the shark!

Please show HBO you love True Blood and think it deserved better by leaving a comment by clicking on ADD COMMENTS above!

~lynnpd

The Enigmatic Queen Mab: Benevolent or Malevolent? by Cheryl Durst

In the sneak peek of the first few minutes of Season Four we find ourselves in the faerie realm and it is here that we observe Sookie’s first encounter with Queen Mab. As any of you who are familiar with my articles know, I do research, and lots of it, in order to provide you, the reader, the most information on whatever subject matter I bring to you.  I have done more research on Queen Mab than any other subject I’ve written about thus far and additionally have found the most conflicting information concerning Queen Mab than any other subject. I have attempted to sort it all out and put it together piece by piece so you, as well as I, am able to have an understanding of  her beginnings and her character attributes. I also found information concerning a family tie between Queen Mab and Sookie that will surprise you as it did me.

First 8 minutes of True Blood Season 4 Episode 1

Etymology of Fairy
The Middle English word faierie (also fayerye, feirie and fairie)  is the original word from which the word fairy was born.  In addition to the Middle English words, there is an Old French word, faerie (Modern French feerie) that means the land, the realm, the characteristic activity of “enchantment” of the legendary people of folklore and romance called (in Old French) faie or fee.  The above words were derived from Latin fata which is one of the personified Fates which means guardian or tutelary spirit, hence a spirit in general.  Since we find different spellings of the word fairy throughout literature you now should have a better understanding as to why so many versions of the word exist.  I promise, this is the deepest I will pull you into the etymology of the word fairy.

Fae Characteristics
From my recollections of earliest childhood, any faeries that I read about in my beloved children’s books were tiny wee beings that had either butterfly wings or the ethereal gossamer type.  The fairies were benevolent and beautiful and were simply fluttering about for the enjoyment of those who could see them. Everything I read about them was magical and as a child I was always looking about in my grandmother’s flower gardens to catch a glimpse of the delightful creatures I had read about in my books. As I grew into adulthood I saw lots garden statuary in the form of  faeries and gnomes and all sorts of wee folk.  As various movies were produced about magical lands and other ethereal planes I got to see that the fae were sometimes as tall as humans. There are also many pieces of artwork hanging in museums around the world depicting faeries in all sizes and proportions with and without wings.

In researching this article I found that faeries are usually described as human in their appearance and of course, they have magical powers.  Some folk tales describe them as being the dead, or a form of demon, or a genus totally unconnected to humans or angels.  Some folk experts suggest that the faerie origin lies in a conquered race that live in hiding or in a religious belief system that lost popularity with the onslaught of Christianity. As I stated above, there is a large amount of conflicting information   concerning their origins, especially in folklore.

Folklore does suggest that the faeries can be malicious and therefore remedies of protection such as iron (any object made from iron), charms of rowan and herbs as well as slices or chunks of  bread will offer insurance of safeguard from their spite. Wearing clothing inside out, running water, bells, St. John’s wart and four leaf clovers are additional means of protection against the faeries according to folklore.

A common practice of the faeries is the use of magic to disguise the appearance of objects.  One example that I read was that the substance faerie gold is notoriously unreliable because it looks like real gold when given but soon after will turn into leaves, gorse blossoms (a type of plant with yellow flowers), gingerbread cakes or several other useless objects.  Disguising objects through the use of faerie magic reminds me of the S4 sneak-peak video of Sookie in the faerie realm.  The light fruit is disguised as a beautiful golden glowing orb that the faeries are offering their guests (to eat).  When the orbs are thrown on the ground they turn dark and dank looking. Eating the light fruit appeared to make the visitors become compliant and willing to stay in the faerie realm while Queen Mab prepares to close the portal that would allow escape back to the human plane.  We see Barry (the bellboy) in the faerie realm and who knew that he was fae?  I surely hope he didn’t fall for the trickery and eat the “glowing orbs”.

Queen Mab
Queen Mab or Maeve is the magnificent Faerie Warrior Queen and according to Irish legend, no King was allowed to reign in the mortal world unless married to this Queen Maeve of the Otherworld.  The King must have one foot in this world and one in the other.

From all I have read concerning Queen Mab, she possesses a multifaceted personality and is capable of extreme tenderness as well as ferociousness.  Queen Mab is known as Queen Wolf in Celtic folklore.  Her name is also connected with “mead” and she is considered be part of  the Mother aspect of The Triple Goddess that expresses love, protection, physical sexuality and fertility but she has a dark side where fierceness, revenge and war (against her enemies) is prevalent.

Queen Mab has had numerous names and manifestations over many, many years. Some of the names she has been associated with are Mab, Medb, (meev) Medhbh, Maeve (maive or mayv) and she is sometimes linked with Morrigan through Celtic mythology and legend. Queen Mab is also associated with a ‘godlike race’ of people called the Tuatha De Danaan who migrated into Erin from the northern islands of Greece around 4000 years ago. Queen Mab was known as Queen Maeve in the Celtic tradition.  “Meave” means mead and mead is a honey wine, an alcoholic beverage that is produced by fermenting a solution of honey and water. It was said that Queen Mab gave blood red mead to all of her consorts. The mead wine was representative of menstral blood which was considered “the wine of women’s wisdom”.

In Irish mythology Mab was very promiscuous and that promiscuity marked her as a goddess symbolic of the fertility of Ireland.  Other indications of her divinity include her ability to shape-shift between a young maiden and old hag.  In a story of Niall of the Nine Hostages, Mab appears to Niall as an old crone guarding a well.  She gives him water and Niall agrees to mate with her and she immediately transforms herself into a beautiful young woman who grants him the kingship of Ireland. Mab is said to have other powers and supra-natural traits; she can run very fast and is able to deprive men of their strength simply by her very presence. She also has animal attributes in the form of a bird and a squirrel that perch on her shoulder.

Sookie’s Fae Connection
I find it most interesting, through researching Queen Mab, that Niall supposedly mated with Queen Mab.  Niall Brigant is a faerie and he is Sookie and Jason’s great-grandfather and Claude and Claudine’s grandfather. Niall has a son named Fintan.  Fintan and Adele Stackhouse had two children together: Sookie and Jason’s father, Corbett, and their aunt, Linda.  Linda is the mother of Hadley.

Niall is a faerie prince who has powerful enemies and wants to keep his great-grand daughter a secret and protected from his enemies. Niall has a nephew whose name is Breandan.  Breandan is out to kill all humans having faerie blood.  I’ll end my article right here so as not to get to “spoilerish”.  I have a feeling that the future seasons of True Blood will reveal much more about the fae world and how our heroine, Sookie Stackhouse, will continue to fight off the evil forces that are ever present in her life using powers that she has yet to discover.

Sources: http://www.mabjohn.supanet.com/index2.html , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Mab

Jace Everett, writer/performer of True Blood’s theme song, Bad Things, appeared at Baton Rouge’s annual Fest for All on April 30, sponsored by the Baton Rouge Arts Council. Lisafemmeacadienne had a chance to attend the concert, and to ask Jace a few questions about his upcoming album and tour.

Jace brought his wife, Stephany Delray, who played guitar and did back-up vocals; Dan Cohen played electric guitar; and Derek Mixon, drums. The acoustics were excellent, and the audience seemed to really enjoy the music, dancing while they played. It threatened to rain during the concert, which kept the temperatures in the 70′s. I was able to sit up by the elevated stage, in front of the good-size crowd of festival goers.

Jace was in full humor, using the French pronunciation of “Baton Rouge” repeatedly (we pronounce it “batten rooj” here.) A drunk lady decided to bother the band during the concert, but he handled it with his usual wit and charm. He played for an hour and a half non-stop, doing a selection of his songs and a few “cover” songs.

Set list:
1. Burn For You
2. Possession
3. More to Life
4. The Good Life
5. Business is Booming
6. Tricky Thing
7. One of Them
8. Let’s Begin Again
9. Good Times
10. Bad Things
11. Little Black Dress
12. Your Man
13. Ride Me Down Easy
14. Angel Loved the Devil Outta Me
15. What It Is
16. Not Fade Away

As we posted on an earlier article on The Vault, Jace’s next album will be released in download form on ITunes, Amazon.com, and www.jaceeverett.com. It will have 11 songs; no release date has been set yet. He will be heading for Holland and the UK at the end of May. Jace also told me that he will be heading to Australia; you heard it here first!

Jace always continues to amaze me with his charm, wit, and intelligence. A Parisian was speaking with him after the concert while buying a CD, and Jace was conversing in French with a pretty decent accent. Pas mal, cher, pas mal du tout!

If you get a chance to catch Jace in concert, it will be time well spent. His songs, which reflect his life experiences, are worth a listen. His melodies are diverse, playful, and philosophical; there’s something for everyone!

Cheryl Durst, one of The Vault’s featured guest writers, has written an account about Witchcraft and what we might expect in Season 4 of True Blood. Below is her article where she not only schools us on witches, but provides some of her own Season 4 speculation:

Wiccan Pentagram

The premiere of True Blood S4 is drawing nigh and we know that it will be “the season of the witch”. When I think about witches I can’t help but conjure up an image of an old ugly hag dressed in a black floor length hooded garment. The hooded garments, I found out, were once used to protect the identities of those of old, who were practicing witches, because condemnation and death would be the price a practicing witch would pay for their beliefs. Much has changed in modern society concerning witches and their freedom to practice their rituals as well as the way they dress.

In preparation of True Blood S4, for those of us who might not be very familiar with witchcraft, I’ve done a bit of research on the subject. I hope this crash course will provide enlightenment for those of us unfamiliar with the finer points of casting circles and incantations and other witchery.

Wicca: “spirit over flesh”

After our departure from Bon Temps in True Blood S3, we know of one person in town who is a professed Wiccan: Holly Cleary. There could be more sinister intentions lurking within our Wiccan woman but until that would be reveled we have to assume, for now, that Holly is what she professes to be; a fairly benign, herbal using Wiccan.

Holly in the circle helping Arlene

The Wicca practice is a pagan religion that is centuries older that Judaism. The core of the Wicca belief is that nature and all the forces of nature can be called upon to do their bidding. The Wiccans do not believe in manipulation of the universal forces but rather tend to ask, pray or perform ceremonies to plead their requests. If you recall, Holly told Arlene that if the spirit in her unborn baby wanted to be born, it would be so and the ritual that Holly performed might not cause spontaneous abortion of Arlene’s unborn.

Wiccans sometimes employ Gods and Goddesses in their ceremonies simply to show the balance in nature. The practice is symbolic rather than actually believing that the Gods and Goddesses exist. Authentic witchcraft is not Satanic because witches don’t believe in the devil, let alone invoke him. In one segment of information that I read while researching this article, I found that Wiccans believe Satan is simply an entity that a guilty Christian made up after they had committed a sin. The Old Horned God of the witches is not the Satan of Christianity, he is actually the oldest deity known to humanity, the phallic God of Fertility. If an evil entity such as Satan does exist, to a Wiccan, it would probably be bad karma returning to them for something they did to someone else. Wiccans have rituals similar to “Satanic” rituals only because the early Satanists mimicked or borrowed rituals from the pagans. As far as sacrifices, very few Wiccans perform sacrificial ceremonies because it is in direct opposition to their respect for nature.

Wicca is a socially and ecologically responsible religion and Wiccan ethics are positive rather than prohibitive: ‘Do as you will, and harm ye none’. That is, you must not use magic for anything which will cause harm to anyone on any level for any reason. You do so at your own risk.

Satanic Pentagram

Wiccans use the pentagram as their symbol with the star turned right side up to symbolize “spirit over flesh” as opposed to Satanists who are symbolized by a pentagram turned right side down believing in “flesh over the spirit”.

The Law of The Threefold Return: “Any energy you send out shall return to you threefold.”

Milla Dietrich, who is the author of the book, WitchCraft Book of Happiness, explains: “There is only one law in witchcraft resembling anything like a commandment. It states that if a witch does harm, it returns to her/him threefold”.

The number three symbolizes one of the magical processes involved in spell casting; the spell is invoked and thus sent out into the energy of the universe. This energy then comes back into the world to manifest in the desired way before reverberating in the life of the person working the magic to the power of three. The Threefold Law is the basic working philosophy of witchcraft. This is a natural law, but also an obvious incentive for witches to keep their magic positive, life-affirming and harmful to none. Performing witchcraft is taking a great responsibility upon yourself and it calls for rules – rules which are all the more important because often it is only you who will know if you are honestly obeying them. The observance, or not, of these rules is what distinguishes white from black magic. All of these rules can be summed up in the phrase, ‘Harm ye none’.

Circles, Salt, Candles and Spells

Creating a magic circle is commonly known as “casting” a circle. In Wicca ritual the diameter of a magic circle is usually nine feet in diameter and there are several techniques in which circles are cast. The common feature of circle casting is that a boundary is traced around the working area and may or may not be physically marked on the ground. Some circles might have detailed patterns that can be found in magical manuals and grimoires (a book of instructions in the use of magic or alchemy especially for summoning demons). Elaborate patterns or a simple unadorned circle can be drawn in salt or chalk or designated by other means. An “athame” (a double-bladed black handled dagger used for ritual magic) is sometimes used to cast and dissolve the circle. If the “athame” is ever used to cut organic matter it is considered unfit to be used in a ritual; it is never used to cut anything in the physical plane. The four cardinal directions (north, east, south and west) are often conspicuously marked with four candles. Almost always, an incantation is spoken to state the purpose and nature of the magic circle.

Wiccan Athame

The most common practice of a witch is the casting of spells or incantations. A spell is basically the tool used to effect a change and accomplish a magical action. The spell can be used to bewitch someone or something, influence a certain course or event or to infuse magic into healing potions or objects. Spells can be spoken over an herbal concoction but it is said that the best spells are enacted through conducting an elaborate and mysterious ceremony of ritual magic.

Once the ritual is completed, the circle is closed. Closing the circle is the reverse of the casting procedure. The deities that were called upon during the ritual are thanked for their help and then the four directions/quarters are relinquished. Taking down the circle is performed by walking in the opposite direction around the perimeter of the circle with the athame pointing out from the center of the circle.

Black Magic,Voodoo and Brujas

“Black Magic” is simply the term for sorcery that is practiced for evil purposes most often using and/or evoking the help and aid of evil spirits. It is demonic witchcraft using negative power to do harm. I suppose one could say it is the opposite of the practice of Wicca which professes to harm none. Although witches practicing “black magic” might call upon evil entities to do their bidding, they are not considered Satanists unless, of course, they do indeed worship Satan. As stated above, overall, witches do not believe in Satan.

The word “voodoo” comes from the word “vudu” which is a Dahomean word meaning “spirit”. Dahomeans are a sect of people living in a certain area of West Africa. This “spirit” is a mysterious and intangible force thought to have the power to influence human affairs. Voodoo was brought to Louisiana around 1720 through the slave trade when Louisiana was, at that time, a French colony. Most all of the African slaves came from Benin, West Africa, and they (for the most part) practiced ancestor worship. The West Africans had great knowledge of how to use herbs and poisons and they created charms and amulets that had the potential to protect or to harm; out of these elements was born Louisiana voodoo.

Voodoo is still practiced today in Louisiana and the worship of spirits remains a vital part of the practice. Those who follow Louisiana voodoo believe in only one God but also believe that numerous other powerful spirits preside over their daily lives in matters of family, forces of nature and other life situations. Dancing and singing is thought to keep a strong connection with the spirits. Even the use of snakes is sometimes incorporated in their rituals due to the belief that the snake represents “Legba”, Voodoo’s main spirit, which is an intermediary and a conduit to all other spirits. Followers of Voodoo believe that the snake represents “healing knowledge and the connection between Heaven and Earth” and also believe that their deceased ancestors have the ability to arbitrate their lives.

There is nothing very mysterious concerning the word “bruja”. A “bruja” is simply a Mexican witch. From researching “bruja” I found many articles indicating that even though the Mexican people are steeped in Christianity, mostly Catholicism, they are still very superstitious and tied strongly to the old ways of shamans, Voodoo type rituals and witchcraft.

Necromancy

Necromancy is a form of divination. Divination is the practice of attempting to uncover future events or revealing hidden knowledge by using occult or supernatural means. Any spirits that are conjured for this purpose are called spirits of divination.

In order to practice necromancy the necromancer must have the ability to conjure up the dead by using powerful spirits for both the conjurer’s protection as well as making the corpse or ghost of the dead submissive to the will of the conjurer. Powerful spirits are bound to the dead by using an ancient spell that requires two crucial elements; a burnt sacrifice and a blood drenched altar. In addition to the burnt sacrifice and blood drenched altar, other detailed preparations go into place which include studying the planets (especially the influence of Saturn) as well as the moon.

The place where the ritual will be performed must be chosen with care. Some of the most favorable places are crossroads, vaults, ruins or a deserted forest. After the site has been chosen, the planets must be in proper alignment and, at that time, a concentric circle is drawn on the ground. Within this particular circle there will be certain crosses and other symbols inscribed.

In conclusion:

After researching information and writing this article I am left questioning the integrity of a few already known True Blood characters. Holly asked Arlene to grab up the box of salt at Merlotte’s before they left the bar the night that Holly performed a ritual, a ritual that was supposed to rid Arlene of the fetus growing within her womb. Obviously the salt was used to purify the circle and/or designate the boundaries of the circle. If the athame is not supposed to be used to “cut” in the physical plane and sacrifices are not supposed to be required in Wiccan ritual, why then was the athame used to pierce Arlene’s finger and moreover, why was a “sacrifice” of Arlene’s blood required? I noticed that Holly made certain to end her incantation with “blessed be” and I have to wonder if she did that simply to protect herself. Certainly Holly is aware of the “Threefold Law” and it shall be most interesting to discover what comes back on Holly if her intentions all along are evil.

You fans have most likely been aware of Ruby Jean’s mutterings concerning all sorts of “things” coming to get her baby, Lafayette. Those mutterings might have gone unnoticed by some or simply thought to be the ridiculous jabber of a mentally ill woman but I find it very interesting that Ruby Jean warns Lafayette on occasion about all the “things” that are out to get her baby boy. And, is it simply sheer coincidence that Jesus is the nurse taking care of Ruby Jean? Aren’t we all just a tiny bit suspicious of sexy, good looking Jesus with his heritage of bruja family members and his involvement with Lafayette? We have no way of knowing, quite yet, what Ruby Jean Reynolds revealed to Jesus about her son. I have a feeling that Ruby Jean might have unknowingly told Jesus things about Lafayette that might have been best kept to herself. Jesus and Lafayette’s “V” trip revealed witchcraft that was performed for various reasons by both of their ancestors. Seems like Jesus had an especially evil grandfather. And what is up with all those Voodoo dolls and religious icons in Lafayette’s house? I have been curious as well as suspicious of them from the beginning of the series. Voodoo dolls are used in some witchcraft rituals.

Somewhere along the way I thought I read or heard that Jesus is somehow related to Calvin Norris. Yes, Calvin Norris from Hot Shot who was shot in the head and died. Can’t wait to see if there is any truth to that bit of scuttlebutt. Jesus certainly was anxious to help Calvin the night that Calvin got badly injured at Merlotte’s Bar and Grill. Was his desire to help Calvin simply due to Jesus being a nurse or is it because Calvin is somehow related to Jesus? If I recall, Jesus does have a tattoo of a magnificent panther on his body and he was a bit vague as to why he has that tattoo when Lafayette questioned him about it.

Jesus panther tattoo

My friend, Judy Minghini, is thinking that Rene Lenier is going to be summoned back from the dead to do some evil deed(s). Just the thought of it gives me chills. I have a vision of Rene sauntering the streets and back roads of Renard Parish holding his head in his hands while he is in a semi state of decay and rot and he still hates fang bangers. Rene’s unholy spirit is most likely what the necromancers will be conjuring rather than his corpse but this is True Blood we’re talking about so who knows! Let’s face it, anyone who has died on the show or is among the “walking dead” (vampires) will be defenseless against the necromancers. With the witches having their way with the vampires as well as summoning up the really dead folks, True Blood S4 is undoubtedly going to be quite interesting and intense and full of surprises.

Ah, yes, have we seen the last of Yvetta? If it turns out that Yvetta is a witch or even related to a witch, I would hate to be Eric Northman because his last words to Yvetta were: “You gold digging whore.” Now that would be enough to make any stripper worth her G-string angry enough, at the very least, to erase Mr. Northman’s memory!

Now you know a little bit about witchcraft and other forms of unnatural manipulation through the use of spirits both real and imagined, benign and evil. Unless you are a practicing witch you don’t have much defense against any evil spells cast your way so grab your family and friends and draw a circle using salt. Make certain you’re inside that circle and get those white candles lit to represent purity and goodness and hope for the best. Blessed be!

Everyone seems to love the character of Godric and even though we have no idea of what to expect, it’s great to know that he will be returning to Season 4. Cheryl Durst, one of The Vault’s featured guest writers, has written a testament to the much loved maker of Eric; below is her article:

Enter the Man-child

We first meet Godric in a flashback (True Blood, S2E5, “Never Let Me Go”) when he enters Eric Northman’s Viking encampment. It is approximately 1000 AD and Eric is human, mortal, and is in process of dying from fatal wounds he received during battle. Eric’s men have laid him down upon a bed and they are standing guard to give him an uninterrupted and peaceful death. The two men hear or sense a presence and the inevitable takes place; a blurred whirl of “something” attacks the men guarding the dying Viking. We then see blood flying and spurting from their necks and Eric’s comrades fall dead. Enter Godric, looking like a minion of Satan, complete with fangs and blood dripping from all around his mouth and down his chin. Godric is shirtless giving us clear view of his interestingly tattooed body and his hair is unkempt; he truly mimics a wild and savage beast. He crouches over Eric like a predator over his prey and Eric stares him fearlessly and directly in the face and asks: “Are you death?”

Godric appears to be young; in fact, so young that after Godric confirms that he is indeed “death”, Eric says, “But you’re just a little boy.” The red hues from the campfire dance across Godric’s chiseled face making him look healthy and robust which is quite a contrast from the way he appears the next time we see him in a modern day church basement. As we know, Godric “makes” Eric a vampire and our first encounter with Godric is exciting, a bit horrific and leaves us wanting more information about him. I am hoping that in Season Four we will come to know the extent of the sinful and lewd life that this proficient killer once lead that finally brought him to a place of wisdom. It seems as though his 2,000 years of being “undead” allowed him the ability to feel shame and remorse for his past actions and he developed understanding and compassion for humans.

Etymology

I almost always do research prior to writing. I want to know a bit more than the obvious because if I am going to take time to write something and you are going to grace me with your time to read it, I hope it to be not only interesting, but also an opportunity to learn something that we might normally not know. Etymology is not a definition of a word but rather an explanation of how words sounded hundreds of years ago as well as what the word itself meant. Upon researching the etymology of the name “Godric”, I found that the name itself is considered to be masculine, in English the name is pronounced GAHD-rik and is of Anglo-Saxon origin. The name “Godric” means “power of God” and is derived from Old English “god” combined with “ric”. The “ric” part means “power” or “rule”. Several centuries after the Norman Conquest (around 1070 AD) the name “Godric” died out.

The Tattoos
As stated above, the name “Godric” is of Anglo-Saxon origin and from the research that others have undertaken concerning the tattoos, they are representative of Anglo-Saxon design. The tattoo around Godric’s chest/neck area is a traditional Anglo-Saxon symbol of protection and was normally given to the higher-ranking of the society such as warriors, hunters, chiefs and shamanic types. The tattoo on his right arm is written in Elder Futhark, an ancient runic language, and is thought to be some sort of message. It is believed that the tattoo on Godric’s left arm symbolizes water which would compliment his spinal tattoo that appears to be a sea serpent. The red tattoo above his right shoulder blade is a “sigil” which is a symbol for magical or cultural purposes. Runic magic among the Germanic tribes was exemplified by the use of sigils. We can only assume that all of the tattoos were acquired prior to his becoming a vampire because a tattoo would simply fade away or “not take” in permanency after Godric was “turned”. It is thought that Godric was approximately 15 years old when he was made vampire and he was a barbarian.

Goodness

The word “goodness” is a euphemism for god which, in a way, intertwines with the origins and meaning of the name “Godric”. It appears as though the words “God” and “good” are synonymous throughout history.Looking like a minion of the devil himself when we first meet him, Godric looks dramatically different the next time we see him. Our second encounter finds Godric in the basement of the Fellowship of The Sun Church appearing more like a choirboy whose skin has the shiny pallor of one who knows only moonlight and darkness; skin that is hued in palest pink and textured of marble. Godric is meticulously clean with neatly cropped hair and yet, one can tell, he is still most powerful and in control of the situation at hand. As he snaps Gabe’s neck and ends Gabe’s life we see a proficient killer. When we hear Godric speak in English, he has an obvious charming accent which lends appeal and mystery to his character. Enter a ghastly faced Eric, falling to his knees in front of Godric in adoration and worship. At that very moment I am smitten with Godric’s demeanor and expressionless face. What a striking difference between the once beastly Godic of a millennium ago to what we encounter in the present day.

We next see Godric in the inner sanctum of the church where his symbolic execution was supposed to take place. Chaos abounds with threats of a bloodbath and, as we know, little harm comes to any that are present. After the skirmish at the church, Godric, the vampires and human sympathizers convene at Godric’s house for an impromptu gathering. It is here that we start to understand the psyche of Godric at this moment in time. We find Godric sitting in a chair, appearing to be subdued and pensive. Eric, with a gleeful look on his face, fails at his attempt to entice Godric to feed on an AB negative human. Godric tells Eric he is not hungry and we see Eric’s demeanor turn to sadness and confusion. At this point we recall the wisdom that Godric spoke as he sadly tells Eric that vampires, in general, are frightening and un-evolved. Eric becomes disparaged as he realizes Godric is no longer thinking or acting like a vampire. We watch Godric, a once savage vampire, show mercy to his foes and offers others gratitude for their help rescuing him. As this scene is taking place I am struck by the fact, a millennium later, that shadowed hues from a fire are once again dancing across Godric’s face; only this time the flames reveal a creature transcendent and far removed from his former rapacious self.

Enter Luke, the human bomb, and chaos descends on Godric’s home. After tallying the damage, Godric instructs the survivors to make their way to Hotel Carmilla. Hotel Carmilla turns out to be the venue for healing relationships, sexually charged dreams, Nan Flanagan’s wrath and the official resignation of Godric as Sheriff of Area 9. We also find out that Godric offered himself to the FOTSC and was not abducted as everyone had first feared. The most significant and deeply emotionally charged scene takes place on the roof top of the hotel when it becomes all too clear to Eric that Godric is determined to end his two thousand year existence; for Eric, it is simply an unthinkable and unspeakable act of thankless martyrdom. The interaction between Eric and Godric, in those last few moments before sunrise, is beautifully played and immensely satisfying to me as I had been hoping to find some extraordinary emotional feelings of love buried within Eric. I was not disappointed.

We then witness a most amazing conversation and interaction between Godric and Sookie concerning love, God, forgiveness and fear. In the last moments of Godric’s existence he claims to be full of joy and is amazed that a human chose to be with him as he waits for the sun to rise. Godric also finds great solace in the the fact that Sookie is brought to tears by the immensity of what is about to take place. To date, this is to me, one of the most beautifully directed scenes in the series. The melodiously sad cello music in the background adds yet another layer to the profound sadness of the scene. We are left feeling as though Godric is totally repentant of his crimes against humanity and full of goodness as he allows his immortal life to end and prepares to meet a God unknown to him.

I am mentally preparing myself for Season Four for what could hold a freakish display of “Godric horror”. I have a feeling that we are going to see glimpses of the monstrous acts of violence that eventually bring our beautiful man-child to a place of repentance. I savor the redemptive Godric with his wisdom and goodness and gentile demeanor. As I hold an image of the benevolent Godric in my thoughts, I can’t help but visualize the first time I saw him with that confident demonic smirk on his blood spattered face. And his words resound in my memory: “Could you be a companion of death? Could you walk with me through the world? Through dark? I’ll teach you all I know. I’ll be your father, your brother, your child.” I can’t even imagine what horrors were brought forth while walking through the dark as a companion to Godric. Perhaps Season Four will allow us a glimpse into the past, long, long ago.

Cheryl Durst, one of The Vault’s guest writers, has written about Dr. Ludwig who was in Season 2 of True Blood played by Marcia DeRousse.  Below is her story:

“Ever heard of Komodo Dragons?” Dr. Amy Ludwig saves the show!

Enter The Savior

She makes her debut seven minutes into Episode 3 (“Scratches”) of Season 2 and this pint size dynamo of a doctor literally saves the entire future of the True Blood series. Enter Dr. Amy Ludwig (pronounced LOOD-VIG) donned in blue hospital scrubs, blonde hair pulled back in a long ponytail, the rest of her hair covered with a surgical doctor’s cap. A dying, fatally wounded Sookie Stackhouse asks, “What kind of a doctor are you?” And the first three words we hear Dr. Ludwig say, with forceful assurance, are, “The healing kind.” What an entrance! Not even Bill Compton’s vampire blood can save Sookie from the dire consequences of the wounds she sustains from a maenad attack; but our Dr. Ludwig can. This is the person who is going to save the True Blood heroine, Sookie Stackhouse, and by doing so will allow the series to continue. I wonder if any of you ever thought of that angle? Leave it to me, the consummate True Blood aficionado, to give thought to such things.

This scene takes place at Fangtasia where a makeshift examination table has been made out of some piece of the nightclub’s lounge furniture. We find Doctor Amy Ludwig dipping latex gloved fingers into the deep and bacteria laden wounds in Sookie Stackhouse’s back. Sookie received the life threatening injuries when she was attacked by a maenad named Maryann Forrester.

As most of you recall, Dr. Ludwig is the doctor to supernatural beings on the True Blood series and also in the Charlaine Harris novels. Dr. Ludwig is a no frills who-cares-about-a-bedside-manner personality who is fearless in the face of supernatural emergencies. Our sassy little doctor seems totally unimpressed with the physical stature of Eric Northman towering over her nor does she give much credence to the panic stricken demands being made by Bill Compton concerning her patient. Dr. Ludwig is direct, to the point and unaffected by the emotional ties that those around her seem to have to Sookie. Isn’t that, after all, exactly the person we would want taking care of us if we are close to death, one who can focus solely on the task at hand; saving the life of the patient? I find it interesting that Dr. Ludwig has herself bedecked in a silver necklace and bracelet as well as silver earrings – perhaps a little “life insurance” is a wise thing in which to invest when dealing with vampires. Only in Bon Temps would you purchase life insurance at the local jewelry store!

The Hippocratic Oath? It’s in the bag!

We don’t know if our “healing” doctor ever took the Hippocratic Oath or if she ever attended the traditional medical schools needed to become an attendant or resident at a hospital or medical center. If Dr. Ludwig did swear upon a version of the Hippocratic Oath, it was probably the Greek version of the oath (orkos) that required the ancients to swear upon a number of healing gods and goddesses charging them to uphold professional ethical standards implemented centuries ago. The Hippocratic Oath was written in the 4th century B.C. by Hippocrates but various forms of the oath have been used over the centuries.

Motivated by money or madness (or both), Dr. Ludwig meets her medical challenges head on with the fierce determination of a tenacious Pit Bull and yet she goes about her tasks quietly, without much fuss. I often wonder what is in that little black doctor’s bag that Amy Ludwig totes about. Does she have modern medical supplies in that bag? Magic potions? Homeopathic remedies, leeches or a mixture of all the above? Dr. Ludwig has a stethoscope around her neck but she did pull a pair of exam gloves out of her medical bag because her hands were gloved in protective latex prior to touching Sookie’s back. She also displays a magnifying glass with which she examines the bloody slime she removes from Sookie’s wounds. Dr. Ludwig diagnosed the slimy substance as bacteria that was similar, but way more efficient (deadly), than that of a Komodo Dragon! Then there is that cobalt blue bottle full of “what”? The fluid in that blue bottle must have been one hell of a topical remedy in order to counteract and destroy the poisonous bacteria. When potion met poison we see all sorts of bubbling and steaming coming up out of those nasty wounds. At that very moment the only sound that echoes through Fangtasia is Sookie’s screaming as she endures the painful procedure. After Dr. Ludwig uses her secret concoction to clean Sookie’s wounds, the medicinal libation of choice is vampire blood. I bet there are a few vials of “V” in that little black bag along with many other “unmentionables”. With my curiosity, I would certainly enjoy rummaging through the bag carried by a doctor of the
“healing kind” who attends to the messy matters of the “supernatural kind”.

Marcia DeRousse; the perfect choice for Dr. Ludwig.

Not only is Marcia DeRousse an accomplished actor, playing several different roles in television, movies, radio and theater, but she is, in real life, a healer. Combined with an acting career that spans many years, Ms. DeRousse works as a medium, psychic and energy healer as well. Marcia told me that she possesses all the clairs (clearly); audient (essentially the ability to hear in a paranormal manner), sentient (ability to hold an object or touch someone and sense the energy surrounding that person), prescient (forecasting future events) and voyant (seeing beyond the five senses).

Her psychic healing ability is aided by “medical guides” who give her advice on people’s health issues and she often finds things overlooked by traditional medical means. Assuring me that she cannot and does not “diagnose”, Marcia said that she will advise people to go to their medical doctors for tests and confirmation if she suspects there is a physical problem needing medical attention. Marcia is educated in the field of homeopathic and natural methods of healing. Her favorite psychic ability is that of an animal communicator.

When I asked Marcia to elaborate a bit more about her career she told me that she has a college degree in theater and worked a great deal in that area. She moved to Los Angeles in 1980 and started work in television and film right away. Marcia said, “I loved playing “mom” to Matthew McConoughey and Gary Oldman in the film Tiptoes (had Kate Beckinsale for a daughter in law, too!). That sort of helped set the stage for working with more mega stars like Stephen Moyer, Anna Paquin and Alexander Skarsgard on True Blood.”

True Blood fans adore Dr. Ludwig and are hoping to see her again in future episodes. I know that in the Sookie Stackhouse novels there is a time when someone Sookie knows needs Dr. Ludwig’s expertise. Surely there will be some sort of supernatural medical dilemma for which she will be needed in the television series. I, for one, am curious to see what else she might pull up out of that black medical bag to aid in the healing and life saving of some character on True Blood. And, by the way, Marcia informed me she likes her character’s name to be pronounced with a more southern drawl, therefore it would be pronounced Luhd-wig. We all know that Bill Compton is the only one that could give that pronunciation the southern charm it deserves.

Marcia DeRousse is the perfect choice for Dr. Ludwig given her years as an accomplished actor as well as her real life psychic and healing abilities. Even though Dr. Ludwig is on screen for only two minutes and twenty five seconds, she will remain in our hearts forever. You simply have to love someone who is just about half as tall as Eric Northman yet tells him to “fuck off” as they walk confidently out of Fangtasia, knowing full well that they are the only person possessing the magic prowess to save Sookie Stackhouse, and in turn, keeps the series, True Blood, alive.

Billsbabe Cheryl Durst, one of The Vault’s guest writers, has written about Shape shifter, Sam Merlotte.

True Blood Dreams

My home is located in the middle of thickly wooded acreage that would be a perfect setting for some of the creepy and mysterious scenes we see while watching True Blood, especially scenes where shape-shifters and weres might be hiding or simply up to no bloody good. I don’t know about the rest of you, but since watching True Blood and becoming an avid fan, occasionally I have dreams woven with bits and pieces of fantasy that are directly related to True Blood characters. For example: “Shape-shifter, shape-shifter. Where art thou shape-shifter?” I am standing at the edge of the woods, it is dusk and my dog is at my side. My dog is snarling as he stares into the shadowy thickets. The evening has become damp and foggy. I listen to the sounds of all the woodland creatures – those settling in for the night and those who are nocturnal and awakening for their time of hunting. I wonder which of those sounds is coming from a therianthropic and I whisper with a fearful voice, “Sam, is that you?” I really want it to be Sam because Sam Merlotte is the most benign of the supernaturals on the show. I don’t mean to imply that Sam is totally harmless, I simply mean that I find him to be the most humane; a shape-shifter who only at certain times acts outside his normal human protocol. Who would ever suspect that this bar keeper with the delightfully charming and somewhat “needy” demeanor is capable of magically shape-shifting, committing murder, stealing and other nefarious acts?

Science, Myth or Magic

After doing some research I found that there are many terms used for those considered shape-shifters; metamorphs, theriomorphs, therianthropes, mimics, skin-walkers and probably others that I have failed to mention. In every sense of the word, shape-shifters are more unique than weres because shape-shifters can morph into any animal they desire. The zoological DNA and RNA needed to perform such a feat is beyond comprehension so, magic is, indeed, what allows the transformation to take place for the shape-shifters. There simply is no scientific explanation.

Therianthropy also has more specific branches. Lycanthropy which encompasses werewolves and all other versions of wolf-men, cyanthropy which refers to men who can change into dogs is commonly found in Chinese myths, and ailuranthropy which pertains to shape-shifting humans who can take on feline appearances, are all forms of therianthropy.

Creatures that are considered “weres” have only one distinct animal form of which they can become. The prefix “were” originated from an Old English word for “man” which is masculine rather than generic but it is used to indicate both male and female. “Weres” are considered to be shape-shifters too however, “weres” can only shift into one specific designated animal form. Thus the werewolf, werepanther, werebear and so forth are each able to be just that particular animal. As many of us know, from reading Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse novels, we encounter many supernaturals and among them some of the most interesting to me are the “weres” and “shape-shifters”. The reason I find them so interesting is because they can be either human or animal form at their will. I think the witches, faes and vampires are unique but they cannot change, at will, into another form; they are what they are.

Shifting His Way Into Our Hearts

Because Sam Merlotte was able to shape-shift into a bull he was able to save the town of Bon Temps by killing the maenad while he was in the animal form of that bull. Prior to destroying the maenad, Sam was able to escape her twice. The first time by shifting into a common house fly, while being held at the jail, and then another time he shifted into an owl, flying out of her grasp, away into the night. And, for any snooping about, he simply shifts into adorable “Dean” the Collie. In True Blood, Season Three, we see Sam morph into a Pit Bull in order to make his way into a local dog fighting ring to save his brother, Tommy. And although the above is most unique and impressive, my favorite form in which to see Sam Merlotte is human. Sam has that sort of scruffy, handsome look about him that exudes his animal sexiness. He loves his town folks and wants desperately to be part of a family. His boyish good looks and those bright blue eyes simply invite us to want to know more about him. Be it Beagle, bull, Collie, Pit Bull, house fly or owl, Sam Merlotte remains a magical zoological garden of delight.