Pictures Tell a Thousand Tales

Second Place (tied): The H.E.A.L.E.R.S.

Object: Yum Kax’s Corn Stone.

Description of the object: A 10 cm. black stone shaped with the form of a corn.

Function of the object: The corn stone helps to grow the most beautiful, biggest, and healthiest corn crop.

How the object works? In order to work, the corn stone must be planted in a really big area (because you will need it) and then take care of it. Within some days the stone will open and release special corn seeds all over the chosen area to grow the corn. When a little plant appears in the place where the corn stone was planted, you know that all the other seeds have been planted as well and it is time to take care of the whole area. After 5 months the corn crop will be ready.

Who would use the object? If found the corn stone could be used by anyone who is good in agriculture.

Story of the object:
It was the year of 1696. A young Mayan man named Kabil (the one who is good in agriculture) was famous among his community for producing the best crops. Knowing about this talent, one day the Halach Wiinik, the ruler of Kabil’s Kuchkabal (one of the 17 provinces that existed in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico) ordered Kabil to give him one part of his next corn crop because he was going to use it for a very special occasion: the wedding of his daughter.

Corn played an important role in the Mayan life. Besides being a vital part of their nourishment, it was also well appreciated because they believed humans were created from the corn. With the petition of the Halach Wiinik Kabil became very worried because although he knew that his crops were excellent and always gave good results, he was afraid that the Halach Wiinik would become very demanding and thought that his crop wouldn’t satisfy him. He was so worried that he decided to ask Yum Kax, the god of corn and agriculture, for help.

Kabil had been praying for 5 days with no results but finally one night the god talked to him in his dreams and told him that in the morning he was going to find a stone with the form of a corn next to his corn seeds. He instructed him to plant that stone as a normal seed, take care of it and when he saw a little plant growing then he must start taking care of the rest of the land, later he was going to see the results. He also told him that by the time the crop was ready he must return the stone by leaving it in the place where he found it.

The next day Kabil woke up very excited and remembering his dream he went where he kept his seeds and saw the stone. He did what the god had told him and after 5 months his crop was ready. Kabil was surprised and pleased with what he saw: the most beautiful crop he had ever grown, filled with lots of big and delicious corn plants. In the spot where he planted the stone a plant also grew but instead of containing a corn he found the stone. This reminded him that he had to return it to the god but he was so amazed with the results of the crop that the ambition became bigger than him, imagining all the respect he was going to have when all the people saw him growing that wonderful crop year after year, and he decided to keep it. As ordered, Kabil gave a part of his crop to the Halach Wiinik who also was very pleased and celebrated the wedding of his daughter.

The days passed and Yum Kax, seeing that Kabil hadn’t returned the stone, became very disappointed and stopped trusting the Mayans. He decided to take action and talked with Ek Chuah, the god of war. He told him that if one person had the guts to defy the gods, then more people would also do it. He convinced him that the Mayan civilization was not trustworthy any more. Ek Chuah, who was an evil god, decided to punish them and the next year, the year of 1697 when the Spanish came to the Yucatan Peninsula, Ek Chuah didn’t support the Mayans in the war they were fighting. This caused a Spanish victory and with that the end of the Mayan civilization. Yum Kax’s corn stone is currently lost and the few Mayans descendents are trying to find it so one day Yum Kax will forgive them and trust them again.

Spell: The screeching spell.

Incantation: Mukaan huumum! That comes from the Mayan words mu’k’a’an which means loud, and huum which means noise, loud noise!

Effects: The screeching spell lowers the defences of your opponents by producing a terrible loud noise, causing them to cover their ears with their hands to avoid hearing the noise and lose attention on the battle. This will give you a great opportunity to attack with another spell and luckily defeat your opponent.
Special Movement: When using this spell the only special movement required is that the wizard or witch must be totally concentrated and only think about the sounds they like (the singing of the birds, the sea, the wind, the voice of the person they love, or anything they like) before casting the spell and this will avoid that it works on them as well.

This spell was used by the Mayans in the 7th Century against the Teotihuacans in many wars they fought. The Teotihuacans had been controlling the Mayans for two centuries and they didn’t like it anymore. The Mayans started to rebel, and using the screeching spell they fought them. The Teotihuacans, who came from the Center of Mexico, weren’t familiar with that spell and didn’t know how to avoid its effects. This spell gave the Mayans a great advantage and helped them to win many wars

Judges' Comments

Interesting story and spell, but I am not quite sure the images go well with it for me. I really don't get the doll image! The spell is cool though, but I would have liked more information. IS there a counter spell? I also wish there was a bit more information about why this is a wandless spell. There aren't many in the wizarding world we know, (on such a broad level) but the Mayans can be different! 7/10

I love the creativity of your story, especially the object one. It also seems to tie realistically to history, which is definitely an added point. A stone is a rather simple object, but because you created such a good supporting story in the end it doesn't really matter that it doesn't look all that magical and Mayan-like. Not that the picture couldn't pass for the real thing if it existed! I'm less convinced with the spell picture however, but overall you did a pretty good job. 8/10

I really love the story you created for this one about the artifact. You guys have consistently told us great stories. Your spell is pretty creative, too, but shouldn't dolly be covering her ears? Great job. 8/10

Very interesting object you've found there, as well as the spell. They're both well explained, the only thing I'm not too sure about, is the picture of the doll. Is that demonstrating the movement you need to accompany the spell with? 8/10

I really like the story you came up with, and the spell. I think that not only are they creative, but they show that you have looked in to the history of the Mayans, which I think is great as it shows you're taking this seriously! I think it shows good effort, but erm, I think the doll's a bit creepy <_<. 7/10

Overall Score: 7.6

Second Place (tied): El Brujos

Mayan Location: The Tomb of Time

The Legend:
Long ago there was a dark wizard named Terac Manrah. Manrah was a very skilled wizard, but he never used his powers for good. About 4,000 years ago, Manrah robbed one of the most valued and protected tombs in all of ancient Maya. He has stolen almost every object he could carry out of the tomb and ran from the guards where they shouted furiously and branded weapons.

Manrah was not willing to stop, so he ran for it. He ran over 100 miles and he never stopped. Terac almost died of thirst on his journey through the desert. Finally, he met a city where they were just finishing construction on a temple. Terac was so dark and twisted, that he modified memories of the workers and civilians so that they would think the tomb was made especially for him.

This trickery did not last long. Soon, the Mayans that has guarded the tomb and all of the civilians living near this tomb had found where Manrah had hidden all of his new treasures. They knew that no witch or wizard would ever give this filthy and greedy man a tomb of his own. So, they set off and chased after him. When Terac was found, an all out war broke out and he put a time enchantment around the tomb so he could hide in there forever.

But, he did not have any food with him and nothing could pass between the time barrier unless it was broken. So, after two weeks without food and water, Terac eventually died.

It is said that Terac buried all of his treasures at the bottom of a giant hourglass where the sands fell over it. This hourglass is still stored inside the tomb. It is also said that you can enter the tomb, because the enchantment has weakened. But, there is no hope in finding where the treasures will have been hidden. The tomb is said to have been buried in sandstorms and crumbled into ruins.

But, there have been reports of tourists coming across and unknown tomb entrance. They would enter, but they would never return, forced to stay in the Tomb of Time, forever, stuck 4,000 years ago with the decaying body of Terac Manrah.

Mayan Spell: Chokow pol ich chunbesik (Yucatec Maya - lit. trans. Crazy eye begin.)

Description:
This spell will render the jinxed cross-eyed and unable to see clearly in certain cases. It is based on Mayan culture as, the Mayas believed that crossed-eyes were an important item of physical beauty: infants would have objects dangled in front of their eyes in order to permanently cross their eyes. Over time, this spell has been used less as a spell to make the user or affected beautiful, and instead, has been used as a jinx to blind or impair the jinxed. The movement is a short jab followed by a sharp bending of the knees. The wand point must then draw a circle (as though to represent an eye) and then jab once more through the middle of the circle that has been drawn. The words, 'Chokow pol ich,' must be spoken before the spell begins, and the word, 'chunbesik,' is to be spoken at the moment the wand it jabbed into the circle.

NOTE: This spell is fairly advanced, and is not to be attempted without practice.

Judges' Comments

Love the books building the tower! Extremely creative! The hand drawn tower is also very nicely done. The spell also made me giggle, as I would never have imagined a spell to make someone cross-eyed. I really don't have any complaints! However, the two images wasn't to be of one part, but both parts. 8/10

The story is quite simple, although I like the whole thing with the tomb being buried and hidden until now and people who entered being stuck in time forever. I also like the creativity of your book temple/tomb picture, who knew you can create a quite similar looking Mayan temple from simple objects like books and CDs/DVDs? I love this one. The drawing is also nice. Unfortunately you've provided no image for the spell, which was also required. 7/10

Both of your entries are really good. I like your story for the Tomb, and I absolutely love your images. Missing the one for the spell though. 7/10

Great location explanation and picture and very interesting spell. I think it's very mature of you to add the warning and not just let people run into problems. 8/10

Oh wow I love the tomb made of books, I really do! I also like the story, I thought it was a nice way to tell the legend, and it was also quite original! Usually it's kings that get tombs, so I like the fact it was a baddy this time ^_^. With the spell I like the way you've discussed how the usage of the spell has changed over time, as cultures have changed. Very good! 8/10

Overall Score: 7.6