Rasputin Barxotka

Bahktale “Lucky” Strikes Tenoriovich Vasquez has been haunted rather mercilessly  by the ghost of King Camello Basma.  He probably deserves it, but that’s neither here nor there.  This is not a about value judgments.  This is about being up on your mythology.  Right now, I feel the urge to send print comics and chocolates to one lucky winner. All I ask for is a revelation about the true nature of Camello’s ghost.

In modern Russian lore, ghosts normally just show up during dreams.  Waking terrors are usually the job of upirs like Dmitri and other freaky reanimated corpses.  Camello is obviously not physical because only Lucky seems to see him.  However, the ghost has been breaking through the veil of reality, so he’s most likely something special.  The first person to correctly guess what type of spooky being Camello is will win the prize.  I will leave this post as a front page sticky, until the correct answer is announced.  New clues will be added on the @velvetrasputin Twitter feed as the days pass.  So with all of this said, what is Camello?  Be specific and feel free to pick out more than one answer.

Respond via Twitter or by commenting on this post with your email address.  (Don’t worry, I will not add you to a mailing list or share your address with anyone.)

Some Ideas

• A ghost (specify the type.)
• An angel (specify the type.)
• A demonic being (specify the type.)
• Satan in disguise.
• The supreme being is just having a difficult time trying to keep track of everything, and is just making it up as the story goes along.
• A dream monster of some sort (specify the type.)
• A curse. Speculate on what it was and why.
• A guilt-induced hallucination.
• Lucky’s apparent drug and alcohol problem.
• A mental illness (specify the type.)
• Someone is somehow messing with Lucky’s mind.  If so, how?
• Some other insanity causing entity.

Clues Thus Far

• Camello’s ghost has more power in his home, but is not restricted to his home.
• Camello’s ghost claims to be retribution and his face is turning into that of a Lion.
• Camello’s ghost tells Lucky that he is there to help, and asks him to admit that he is powerless over life.
• Lucky is Roman Catholic and Spanish (Catalonian,) but kind of half-assed about it.
• These characters live in a Slavic country.
• Camello was a devout Christian who was very much anti-religion and anti-establishment; possibly an accidental neo-Bogomilist.
• An unintentional clue about the true nature of Ghost Camello: http://vl4.us/iy84Nd
• Loki Kaspari wrote these episodes where the truth about Ghost Camello will be revealed. It will drive your brain mad!
• The metaphysics of the Velvet Rasputin World are as follows: There is only one true god and creator (that would be the art director/creator.) But, what characters believe is entirely up to them.
• Camello is not a rusalka.
• It’s May 30, 1991 in the comic.  This is very significant, because in one week it will be rusalka week.

Guesses So Far – Try Another One If You Wish

• An an incubus or other form of seduction demon: This has been the most frequent answer, thus far.  This might be supported by the fact that Camello seems to be very jealous of the rusalka Lucky is sexing up.  Camello also seems to be very horny for his former lover.
• Satan in disguise.
• A guilt-induced hallucination.  Supported by the fact that Lucky is obviously feels guilty about a lot of things and actually seeks out help from Lechy to overcome it.
• A royally pissed off house spirit.  Supported by this conversation.

A Visual Clue

Hielope Aquaria: Was she good a rusalka protecting Lucky for certain death or, an evil water succuba competing for possession of his delicious soul?

A shaman will  appear in the Monday, 20 June 2011, installment of Rasputin Barxotka and reveal the true and madness-inducing nature of Ghost Camello.  Good luck!

(Must be 18+ to enter.)

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