Introduction

The great temporal struggle continues...

On this occasion, it is the start of the twentieth century. On this occasion, the stakes are higher. Not just a single village, but the whole island of Santa Barbaro in the Caribbean. On this occasion, there will definitely be more "casualties" on both sides. This time around lessons have been learnt and new tactics adopted. This time around, it will not be enough to simply banish the demon ... it must be destroyed.

As per usual, an opening is created in the space-time continuum and through it spew the depraved demons of the Primal Darkness. Through the dark vastness of space they spew forth in vast numbers, their very presence threatening the fabric of life itself. Within hours their beach-head is secure and they relax, knowing that resistance from the poor unfortunate souls who inhabit the island is virtually non-existent and that soon they will be joined by even greater numbers from the other side.

If Finvarra was hard, then the insidious incursion on Santa Barbaro may prove impossible for just *one* of the brethren of Time Crusaders to overcome, so Chronos has no option other than to send *two* of his best champions and hope that their combined force will be sufficient to destroy the demons.

Thus once more Chronos dispatches Phoenix, the Traveller in Black, to do battle with the forces of the Primal Darkness. This time Phoenix must go forth and do battle on the island because the demon at Finvarra was only banished... not destroyed .

It has returned.

Notes

Voodoo is one of the world's most exotic yet misunderstood religions. To the uninitiated it symbolises black magic in the West Indies, when actually it is a very complex and complicated religion, with involved rituals and ceremonies that have been developed over thousands of years. Some useful words are ...

LOAS (gods), OUM'PHOR (temple), HOUN'GAN (priest), MAMBO (priestess) and POTEAU-MITAN (the solar support).

Voodoo

Voodoo, Vodun, Voudoun and Vudu are different spellings of what is one of the world's most exotic yet misunderstood religions. To the uninitiated, it symbolises black magic in the West Indies, when actually it is a very complex religion with complicated rituals and symbols that has developed over thousands of years. Today there are millions of people who practise it and centre their hopes/fears on it as strongly as any follower of other religions.

The Voodoo Pantheon of gods are composed of Loas (gods), many of which originate from various African tribes, with its rituals resulting from the commingling of various cultures during the period when slavery was acceptable. So it was that in order for certain aspects of their religion to survive, sometimes other parts had to be adapted. Some islands with large percentages of Nago slaves would retain most of the pure Nago religion, while islands with slaves of mixed races would develop a hybrid version.

In nearly all cases though, the important points have survived. The Oum'Phor (temple) has at its centre a Poteau-Mitan (the solar support). Around it is the Peristyle (courtyard) where most of the rites are viewed. The Houn'Gan (priest) and Mambo (priestess) are the most important people in the community and are assisted by numerous others, each of which is responsible for a certain part of the proceedings.

Because of its nature, voodoo has many symbols to interpret the wishes and messages of the Loas as well as with its magic.

Veves are ritual designs representing Loas and are sometimes painted on surfaces but frequently done with rice flour. There are calabrese rattles known as Assons, and iron rods surmounted by a metal plate known as Assens.

Candle-burning is an integral part of most rituals, with the actual candles usually anointed with specific oils first from the centre to the top and then from the centre to the bottom.

Most botanical items are considered to be of assistance; eg. peppermint added to Rama dream incense increases the chances of prophetic dreams but must be burnt in the early evening. Incense, by the way, is used more intensively than in most other religions, and scores of powders and sprays find their way into rites.

Creatures are sacrificed to Loas in the belief that the chances of super- natural intervention will be increased, but the practice of human sacrifice has almost died(!) out. There are sects that still shed human blood, believing themselves to be the actual animal when "mounted" by animal Loas, but their numbers are minute in comparison to the millions who follow the true path.

Overall, a fascinating, complex religion that has millions of followers and millions who are ignorant of its very nature.