majesty
Added 2024-07-21 01:00:02 +0000 UTCThe 19th-century reign of the mysterious Buth Sugo was detailed only in this one ugly, bloody, regrettable record.
Music by Dave Lahn, and also by Emma Fradd of the Sibling Horror Podcast
Art by S. Patrick Brown, https://www.instagram.com/scalawagarts/
Released everywhere else next week.
Thanks to Jeffrey Walker for including me in the recording of his latest tale, “Posthuman,” for the Acephale Horror Fiction podcast!
And congratulations to Father Hall, wherever he is, for ultimately coming out on top in the Knifepoint Horror Villain playoffs. Perhaps we'll encounter him again sometime, but only if he forces his way back into the consciousness of these stories. The author feels blissfully powerless to make that call. As Kurt Russell once said to Keith David, "Why don't we just wait here a while... and see what happens?"
From artist David Montano, who has done some amazing art based on the podcast (and for my book Loft), more imagery from majesty:
Comments
I do an annual of that one too. And I usually watch the first Kurtz-Willard meetup scene about four times in a row for full brilliance overload.
Soren Narnia
2024-09-06 10:47:50 +0000 UTCthe heart of darkness in western africa. sugo has entered the canon as a kurtz-esque figure. just watched apocalypse now for my annual viewing recently, so listening to this now was perfect. absolutely brilliant & haunting story, soren!
Joshua P. Kelly
2024-09-06 03:12:57 +0000 UTCA terrific story Soren, very much a Heart of Darkness type of thing. I loved the horror elements in this one, the way they seamlessly connect with the (already scary) narrative giving them extra power. And Buth Sugo is one hell of a villain, too. That death room scene... yikes!
Alain Kapel
2024-08-01 06:03:53 +0000 UTCIt's Conan's Thulsa Doom meets Apocalypse Now. Amazing work as always Soren!
Reid J
2024-07-31 19:50:29 +0000 UTCWow! It took me a couple days to fully digest this dark tale. First, I caught a couple references to other KPH stories. Cabel, the town from “proof”. The Gy Culthu from “cult” and “house”. Also the belief that Sugo may have been a body for other evil spirits brings to mind “lockbox” and the finger bells lady (I can’t recall the name of that story!). Second, I love how you were able to weave in the supernatural and real history. When the narrator described the bodies slumped around that room, the mention of them having lost limbs made me recall the atrocities in the Congo by Leopold II of Belgium. The final conversation between Margarive and the narrator was also so impactful. The truth is the Merchant Capacity Company probably would have allowed Booth Sugo’s reign to continue as long as he continued to trade with them. How different are these imperial forces from Booth Sugo? A beast that consumes the lives of the native peoples of the land. A lot to think about with this one, incredible story yet again Soren!
Neha Lal
2024-07-28 14:01:05 +0000 UTCRuth Hugo 😉
Brennan Klensch
2024-07-27 01:56:16 +0000 UTCStraight-up trial and error mostly: sounds run through my mind and letters fall off and catch on until something clicks--though a lot of the time, the core words begin with a name I've known of from the past...
Soren Narnia
2024-07-26 19:22:03 +0000 UTCOut of curiosity how did you arrive at the names (specifically Buth Sugo which is, perhaps, the coolest villain name since Keyser Soze)
Brennan Klensch
2024-07-26 18:30:34 +0000 UTCThis is Stephen King level world building and imaginative reality - absolute banger. I thought we were going into AntiChrist territory there for a bit (which, btw, I would love to see your take on)
Brennan Klensch
2024-07-24 22:21:47 +0000 UTCA dictator is a dictator is a dictator…unless a dictator is also something far worse. It would do all dictater-hopefuls good to imagine being torn asunder by the sea of an angry mob, for power and fear can only be maintained for so long before the “human sea” is forced to break upon the shore.
Oni
2024-07-24 05:59:46 +0000 UTCSir... You are indeed Scheherazade.🙏
buddhapugz
2024-07-24 00:34:23 +0000 UTCLoved the throwback to “Cult”, including the snake of wood, sticks and leaves. Great one
Chad Talboom
2024-07-23 18:19:12 +0000 UTCHad to listen again. Really like this “actual supernatural stuff happening amidst wartime atrocities” genre.
Mike M.
2024-07-23 14:49:21 +0000 UTCWhat a great story (and all too real in feeling).
Chris Dabb
2024-07-23 00:58:50 +0000 UTCI’m going to find and watch Saloum
Lori K.
2024-07-22 23:37:03 +0000 UTCOh god, Majesty is too real. Resurrecting the Amins, the Mugabes, and as you say the Bokassas of the world (sorry Africa, not meaning to pick on you as there are many others)…love the way the giant Sugo blurs the line between reality and the supernatural, as the mythology of these people does. Great story!!
Lori K.
2024-07-22 23:05:19 +0000 UTCI'll be danged if I can find it, so I've attached it fresh to this post: https://www.patreon.com/posts/103589364
Soren Narnia
2024-07-22 22:37:26 +0000 UTCYou're the man
Jeffrey Young
2024-07-22 22:31:03 +0000 UTCLet me go hunting….
Soren Narnia
2024-07-22 22:29:54 +0000 UTCDoes anyone recall which post contains the 'possession' screenplay?
Jeffrey Young
2024-07-22 22:28:46 +0000 UTCDo we think that Father Hall splits his award with “real” Father Hall, or at least thanks him in his acceptance speech? Or is real Father Hall the “little people” from his perspective? Great work on majesty as always. I like the double layer of ambiguity (historical society comments and unreliable narrator).
Ryan Fahey
2024-07-22 12:23:19 +0000 UTCPoor Father Hall. No rest for the wicked, despite the fresh laurels. Sugo is some stiff competition.
Russell Elmore
2024-07-22 07:56:51 +0000 UTCThe description of Buth Sugo's eyes are chilling. They resemble some real life monsters. Congratulations to Father Hall. That story made me feel like my first year of sobriety.
Hilde Marciniak
2024-07-22 03:35:01 +0000 UTCGy Chulthu, I believe……
Soren Narnia
2024-07-21 23:02:39 +0000 UTCNew to me!
Soren Narnia
2024-07-21 23:01:51 +0000 UTCAlthough, Soren, you penned it…maybe you’d help us out with the spelling if we ask really really nicely
Lori K.
2024-07-21 23:01:14 +0000 UTCWe nerds must stick together ;)
Lori K.
2024-07-21 22:53:45 +0000 UTCThis story also reminded me of Saloum, a great African horror film. If you haven’t seen it, highly recommend.
Emily T
2024-07-21 22:47:46 +0000 UTCI thought so! Thank you. I was also too embarrassed to attempt spelling it.
Emily T
2024-07-21 22:46:00 +0000 UTCIf I may answer, Emily, the tribe (won’t dare try to spell it) was mentioned in Cult and House, I believe!
Lori K.
2024-07-21 22:45:15 +0000 UTCAlso a book I read once called Talk of the Devil: Encounters with Seven Dictators
Soren Narnia
2024-07-21 17:37:39 +0000 UTCJust slightly tinged by the story of a dictator named Jean-Bedel Bokassa—a situation I thought it might be interesting to reimagine in the extreme
Soren Narnia
2024-07-21 17:34:12 +0000 UTCWow, you went to some pretty dark (literally) places with this one. Was there a particular irl conflict/battle/war that inspired this one?
Mike M.
2024-07-21 17:12:50 +0000 UTCCongrats to Father Hall. Stubbornly, I won’t concede that he is more evil than some of his forgotten foes, but I will be gracious in defeat, ffs… Can’t wait to listen to Majesty and ty for the nod to one of the greatest horror flicks of all time.
Lori K.
2024-07-21 15:16:53 +0000 UTCI've just received word that Father Hall was made aware of his victory just as he was taking the stage at the one karaoke bar in Whittier, Alaska. Sources from the Whittier Outreach Men's Shelter, Bait & Tackle say he performed a rendition of Spoonman, described as "haunting" and "bothersome".
Jeffrey Young
2024-07-21 14:17:12 +0000 UTCI haven't listened yet, but I'm very familiar with Elden Ring. I'm excited to see what you're referring to.
Jeffrey Young
2024-07-21 13:49:39 +0000 UTCNo, I don’t know that one!
Soren Narnia
2024-07-21 12:35:13 +0000 UTCWhat a great story! Are you familiar with Elden Ring Soren? One of your characters reminded me of a boss in the game.
James Solis
2024-07-21 12:34:12 +0000 UTCI don’t see Tarpy taking this lying down.
Michael Fallon
2024-07-21 07:33:55 +0000 UTCCan't wait to listen to this ASAP! The Acephale collaboration too, that was a really nice surprise.
Alain Kapel
2024-07-21 06:32:13 +0000 UTCCan’t wait to listen to this story and your voice on Acephale! The collaboration I didn’t know I needed!
Alexandra Paul
2024-07-21 04:38:01 +0000 UTCAnd a special thank you to Tarpy! For being a good sport and an oh-so-cute contestant!! Maybe next time, Tiger!
Thorne Russell
2024-07-21 02:35:21 +0000 UTCAs a nerd, I’d like to thank you for giving me something to listen to on a Saturday night. Am I wrong or does this have a callback to a tribe mentioned in…is it… Cult? (Look, like I said, I’m a big old nerd.) As always, a great dang story and it definitely beats staring into the abyss, I tell you what.
Emily T
2024-07-21 02:13:22 +0000 UTCNo way, Soren and Jeffery from Acephale have collaborated. My 2 favorite podcasts? THIS IS AWESOME
Kelly V
2024-07-21 01:36:57 +0000 UTC*vibrates into dust from excitement*
Jeffrey Young
2024-07-21 01:14:03 +0000 UTC
