Phobomancy: Fear-based Magick part 2

[Gregory Paul Stolze]

At 12:07 PM 2/4/99 -0600, Carl L. Congdon wrote:

><sarcasm>
>Thanks for the deluge of e-mail about Phobomancy. Your constructive
>criticism and enthusiasm was an inspiration to me.
><sarcasm off>
>
>Also, someone asked me what the central paradox/tension was in the
>school of Phobomancy. It seemed so obvious to me at the time I first
>thought of it: in order to rid themselves of demons, Phobomancers
>embrace their demons (and usually become demons, as well). Or, they
>descend into inhumanity in order to triumph over their human qualities,
>one of which is the capacity to be vulnerable.
>
>Now I'm not so sure. Comments, questions? Flames will be ignored.

If I was running the zoo, I'd almost be tempted to go with the central
paradox being that phobomancers have to SCARE themselves in order ot scare
others.  (The whole paranoid horror writer scene.)  To get a minor charge,
put yourself in a dangerous, unpredictable or unpleasant situation - maybe
something as simple as watching a horror flick by yourself at home at night
with the door wide open.  

Get a sig. charge by failing a stress check.  Get a major charge by going
insane...

-G.
1899 Phrenologist: Your son has the sloping forehead of a sexual deviant:
better put him in an asylum.
1999 Gene Therapist: Your fetus has the "date rape" gene.  Better abort.