This is the infamous 'wall of fame' for those extra-credit projects worthy of being on display for all to admire; my own personal gallery, if you will. Enjoy!!
Lesson One Extra Credit
By: Rhiannon Brennan
By: Prof. Rorey Padfoot
Out of all of the different types of superhuman powers, I think I would like shape-shifting the best. I think it would be amazing to be able to shape-shift into another animal. For example, shape-shifting into the classic wolf would be interesting because then I'd be able to travel long distances without even thinking and rather quickly too! Or being able to fly as a bat on a night where the moon is full. It would be amazing to simply shape-shift and fly. One of the examples that come to mind is when in the anime Hellsing, Alucard (who is actually Dracula) gets "killed" and comes back as a large group of bats that merge together into his human form. That would also be another reason why I think it would be cool. If it were possible to simply come back to life (or un-life) as a group of bats, that would be simply amazing. If the limit of shape-shifting wasn't just to bats or wolves, but included many other animals, the limits would be endless. Imagine moving through the seas as a dolphin or whale one moment and then flying through the sky as a hawk or bat, and then running through the woods as a mountain lion or wolf! It would be very interesting and amazing to shape-shift, I think.
By: Xavia Wynters
By: Xavia Wynters
Lesson Two Extra Credit
By: Rhiannon Brennan
Documentation of the Killing of Vayna DeRolf by the Vampire Hunter Xavia Wynters:
It started out as what would be a textbook example of a vampire killing. Fresh out of the Academy, I decided to hunt for a vampire that was known to be old, but very unsociable. I figured the quiet nature and not interacting with others for a while would dull DeRolf's senses.
I found DeRolf's hiding place a little later in the day than I planned on. It was approximately an hour before sunset when I entered what seemed like a nondescript old farm house. It was a bit peculiar in that none of the windows were covered up to protect from the sunlight. Seeing this, I figured the likely choice for a vampire to be hiding out during the day would be the basement.
Moving as very carefully and quietly as I could, I made my way down the stairs and into the pitch black basement. It took me several moments to find the light switch, and I flicked it on. After looking around, I took note of the exits and saw how the basement was broken up into two rooms. A hunter can never be too careful when it comes to exits. Walking into another, smaller room, I found the coffin described in the add. To my surprise, there was also another smaller coffin next to DeRolf's.
I consulted my watch and saw that there was exactly a half an hour left before the sun when down. I quickly got to work. I set my kit down and pulled out a stake and a small hammer. Figuring it would be easier to deal with the vampire in the smaller coffin, I opened that one first. A beautiful red haired vampire lay within, "sleeping." I ignored the seeming beauty of this vampire and quickly drove the stake into heart of the young woman.
The scream she issued pierced my ears and I almost staggered from it, but I refused. I kept hammering the stake in until she died completely. I was surprised the noise she made did not wake up DeRolf. Moving back over to my kit, I grabbed another stake and was about to open DeRolf's coffin when the lid slammed open. A very angry looking black haired vampire leaped out and snarled at me.
I knew I wouldn't have a chance of staking her with her awake now, so I quickly grabbed a vial of holy water and threw it at her. The vial smashed and the holy liquid seared into her skin, causing her to scream rather loudly. While she writhed at the pain, I took the opportunity to grab a bit larger bottle, this one filled with gasoline. Flinging it at the wooden pillar holding the ceiling up, I quickly flicked a match to life and set the pillar on fire.
DeRolf was still howling in pain as I grabbed my kit as quick as possible and fled up the stairs. Before I fled completely, I turned around to see if DeRolf was following me and I saw her leaning next to the smaller vampire's coffin, pulling the dead vampire into her arms, heedless of the fire starting to rage around her. Knowing I couldn't stay any longer, I ran as quickly out of the house as I could.
As the fire started to consume the house, I stood back away from it, watching to see if DeRolf tried to make any escape. It wasn't too much longer when I heard a loud shriek that ended with the house collapsing. DeRolf died in the fire and I was left standing there, feeling awed and proud that I killed two vampires on my first try out of the Academy.
It would seem, though, that I have a lot to learn. I may have planned to use the stakes because they were my favorite weapon at the Academy, and my quick thinking with the fire did save my life, but next time I may not be so lucky...
By: Xavia Wynters
Lesson Three Extra Credit
I decided to research a country that wasn’t talked about in the lesson and I stumbled upon this little interesting bit. In Africa, the Ewe people have a vampire like creature called an adze that is very interesting. It takes the form of a firefly and is able to transform into a human if captured. When in human form, it can possess another human being and bring misfortune to the person who is possessed. The people who are possessed are considered “witches” to the people around them. If one is possessed, it could be because of several reasons. The first being if it is a woman who has a brother and most especially if the brother’s kids are doing better than the woman’s. The second is if older people stay alive while the younger ones begin to die off. Finally, if the poor begin to envy the rich they are thought to have encountered the adze. In the form of a firefly, they are said to pass through doors and drink the blood of people who sleep there. It is thought they were created to explain malaria and mosquitoes. There is no way to fight against the adze. I find it a bit interesting that this vampire like creature takes the form of a firefly. We always consider the firefly to be a harmless creature that brings light and joy to children. Here, a firefly actually is a frightening creature that actually harms. This is quite the opposite of what the majority of people thing in today’s world. It is an interesting concept, however, that a firefly could actually be a bad thing. To many it is a harmless glow bug, but to the Ewe it is an adze which drinks the blood of the innocent while they’re asleep.
By: Xavia Wynters
By: Xavia Wynters
Lesson Six Extra Credit
By Kim Alting
Story Choice: Varney the Vampire – James Malcolm Rymer
Music Choice: The Sandy Badlands (Final Fantasy 7 Soundtrack) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wGS8_HXTas
I picked the story because for me it’s one of the more interesting ones in the lesson, particularly for this task, since you need to find the balance between the creepyness but it not being a soulless creature where only pure horror needs to be conveyed, if that makes sense. The primary feeling that I think this music suits is that it’s so eerie and it makes me think of discord (in this case the discord between being a vampire and the loathing of it and what has to happen). It sets the scene creepily, there are background noises that remind me of creeping around outside at night time and breaking in. It’s not traditionally sad music (though I find it conveys sadness), but it’s also not cheerful, it’s sort of… dreamlike, as if something’s happening that can’t actually be happening. The music also loops sections, so it seems as if it’s happening over and over again… one victim, but then it doesn’t stop, later there’s another victim and on the circle goes.
By Lila Rook
Music Choice: The Sandy Badlands (Final Fantasy 7 Soundtrack) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wGS8_HXTas
I picked the story because for me it’s one of the more interesting ones in the lesson, particularly for this task, since you need to find the balance between the creepyness but it not being a soulless creature where only pure horror needs to be conveyed, if that makes sense. The primary feeling that I think this music suits is that it’s so eerie and it makes me think of discord (in this case the discord between being a vampire and the loathing of it and what has to happen). It sets the scene creepily, there are background noises that remind me of creeping around outside at night time and breaking in. It’s not traditionally sad music (though I find it conveys sadness), but it’s also not cheerful, it’s sort of… dreamlike, as if something’s happening that can’t actually be happening. The music also loops sections, so it seems as if it’s happening over and over again… one victim, but then it doesn’t stop, later there’s another victim and on the circle goes.
By Lila Rook