Let me tell you a little story about a man nicknamed "Stingy Jack." According to the story, Stingy Jack invited a Demon to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn't want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Demon to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Demon did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver witchmark, which prevented the Demon from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Demon, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and a day and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Demon into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of Kael into the tree's bark so that the Demon could not come down until the Demon promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.
Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, The Gods of Light would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Demon, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved out turnip and has been roaming the land with it ever since. The Duvains began to refer to this ghostly figure as "Jack of the Lantern," or simply "Jack O'Lantern." It is said that Jack still wanders the land to this day, and with him a host of tormented spirits follow. It's said as these spirits come to him, he sends them out to torment and murder the innocent. To ward against these spirits the peasantry have been known to carve their own pumpkins or "Jack O'Lanterns", tricking them away from their true dark master.
This is just a myth of course, but any help to ward off evil spirits, especially on a night like All Hallows Eve, will be welcomed. So, to brighten our mood in these coming days, I'd like to hold a contest. I have in my possession an potion which will imbue the users spirit with a life spell that will wait until the users dies to activate. I'm willing to give this potion to whoever can carve the best "Jack O'Lantern"
Bring you're own pumpkins, and carve into them any design you wish. The judging will take place the day before All Hallows Eve. We'll then take all the Jack O'Lanterns and place them around Jericho. Lets ward ourselves off some spirits!
Good luck!
