April Den Challenge

[Guest St.John Aloisius Sloots]

April Den Challenge

PARACELSUS' ELEMENTALS

Introduction: One of the more colorful and historical characters to bestride both the Wizarding and Muggle worlds was Philippus von Hohenheim, AKA Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, AKA Paracelsus. This amazing physician and early Renaissance scientist was also at one time a budding alchemist. Some of you may remember him as the subject of one of Harry’s first Chocolate Frog Cards. His effigy was preserved as a bust which, before Peeves decided to use it as a missile, was located in one of Hogwarts’ many corridors.

Paracelsus lived from 11 November or 17 December, 1493 to the 24 September, 1541. He was a child prodigy entering university at the age of 16 to study medicine, surgery and alchemy. He was able to produce many near miraculous cures using his own particular approach to medicine which endeared him to those he cured but made enemies of those professionals whose theories and reputations he both repudiated and challenged. He would eventually traveled the length and breadth of the known world including a visit to China where he supposedly made many alchemical and occult discoveries. It is he, in fact, who coined the term “elemental†referring to spirits which embodied an element’s particular essence.

From the realm of fire came the Salamanders: mythical creatures that could endure fire and shape it without harm. The kingdom of earth belonged to the Gnomes—and I’m NOT talking your run of the mill lawn gnomes or travel agency mascots here. These were dour creatures able to move through earth, rock and stone as easily as you and I move in our world. They too could command their element to do their bidding. The principality of the Air was ruled by the Sylphs. From a gentle breath of air to the raging cyclone, in whatever form these wind-elementals took they were far from the vain peevish creatures depicted by A. Pope in his poetry. Finally there were the Undines who inhabited a watery world of waterfall, forest tarn and tidal pool, whose voices were beautiful and who as the essence of water could control it.

Background: What most folk do not know is that Professor Paracelsus was at one time in his colorful career a Hogwarts’ professor of alchemy. Little of his legacy, besides his bust, remains at Hogwarts. He did, however, captured and put on display a wonderful collection of Elementals: a salamander, a gnome, a sylph and an undine, in an enchanted crystal case. A little less than 500 years old and created during Paracelsus' first Alchemy classes at HOL, it is the pride and joy of the potions’ department…or was until it was somehow tampered with or disturbed and all the elementals allowed to escape.

Why Gryffindor has been held accountable, who bloody knows? Maybe in a fit of insanity and rebellious rule breaking—something baby-Gryffs are so fond of noting in their post signatures and character descriptions—a group of rambunctious firsties were playing an exciting and forbidden indoor quidditch match that got out of hand; it is doubtful the true story will ever be known. What is known is that there was a bump, a slip and a crash that occurred breaking the elementals' display case and shattering the binding enchantment. By the time Professors Missa, Jenny, Miette and a few prefects arrived, the elementals were gone leaving nothing but broken crystal and a Gryffindor scarf in their wake.

Regardless of how it happened, after replacing the enchanted terrarium, Headmaster Kimil and Head of House Matz decreed: you broke it, you bought it and you’d better summon some more!

The Challenge: To that end, in its typical zany approach to life, the dens of Gryffindor have decided to make a quest of gathering the accoutrements of summoning—-tools, compounds, powers and divine magic, constructing a proper Magic Circle and re-summoning the four lost Elementals.

Four sets of four puzzles have been constructed, each dealing with a different set of implements, formulas, powers and deities associated with the elements. Each time a puzzle is solved a key word is discovered which leads to one section of the required magic circle and the summoning charm needed to conjure a particular elemental type.

Puzzle links will be posted periodically in the Gryffindor Common Room and in the dens. The next set is scheduled to be posted this weekend. You can also access the links on the quest’s website at Paracelsus' Elementals as they are posted. Some puzzles are easy, some are more difficult, but none are too awfully hard. Proof of your success will be a list of the key-word solutions to each puzzle kept in the den activity thread.

An original, co-authored and collaborative STORY written by each den regaling Gryffindor House with your amazing adventure is required to top off the quest (300 word minimum). What really happened when the elementals escaped? Was there any unforeseen incidents? How did you gather all the materials? What happened when the Magic Circle was complete and you finally summoned the Elementals?

The Rewards: In all there are 16 puzzles and four summoning charms. Each successfully solved puzzle will earn your den five rubies and a quarter of one of the four Magic Circles required to summon the elementals. All together the puzzles are worth 80 rubies.

The four final summonings are worth another ruby apiece. With a total of five rubies for those dens who successfully summon all four.

Finally, the creative tale of your adventure will be judged on its entertainment value. The winning den will receive 15 points for first place, 10 for second and five for third. Thus, a maximum 100 ruby reward awaits the bold and creative. All intrepid and budding alchemists will receive a reward badge for embarking on the daring quest and seeing it through to the end.

A Help Tool: Some puzzles, but especially the Magic Circles, are festooned with clues written in English but rendered in another of Paracelsus’ creations: The Alphabet of the Magi. This font, which might be useful, is downloadable for free from “dafont.comâ€

Good Luck!

Puzzle Set One:Earth Water Fire Air

Puzzle Set Two:Earth Water Fire Air The Earth section has the most complete instructions.

Puzzle Set Three

[Guest St.John Aloisius Sloots]

Puzzle Set Two:Earth Water Fire Air

Note: The Earth puzzle has the most complete instructions.

[Guest St.John Aloisius Sloots]

Puzzle Set Three is ready for deconstruction :D

[Guest St.John Aloisius Sloots]

Though a bit out of sync, here's the last puzzle set for those interested in pursuing it. Never fear! Dens will be awarded rubies appropriately for their efforts whether they finished the quest or only did a few of the puzzles. We'll wait another week or so and get it all wrapped up by mid May. Thanks for trying!

Your servant,