r/reddeadmysteries • u/nvrspyx • Dec 29 '18
Gathering Voodoo and RDR2
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u/chilachinchila Dec 30 '18
Is it possible the night folk are a reference to Voodoo zombies. From what I understand voodoo zombies we more like mind controlled people than modern zombies and considering they have mysterious paint on and are implied to be supernatural, I would believe they are but since you know more about voodoo than me I would like to hear your opinion
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u/nvrspyx Dec 30 '18 edited Aug 05 '23
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u/plox10 Dec 30 '18
"Appearance: An old man who walks with a cane. He carries a sack on a strap across one shoulder from which he dispenses destiny."
this is a spot on description of the blind beggar guy who wanders around and if you give him $1 or whatever he grabs you and says somewhat cryptic/semi-prophetic things...
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u/FolkAsFuhk Dec 30 '18
Ogun, who’s veve can be found on both pagan ritual site and two of the three trees near Lakay, has a philosophy or creed that specifically states to be honorable in both life and in the face of death. Not only is honor a measurable facet to the game but you also face death, literally. In the same philosophy it also states to care for your community. An actual activity you can do throughout the game. Optional but it’s there. There’s color connections as well. Red and white are the colors associated with both Ogun and Papa Legba. ( In Haitian Vodou, Legba is red and black in Louisiana voodoo if I remember correctly).
Ogun is also Lwa of iron and war, but also modernization. Specifically of cities. Kinda big theme in the story. His weapon is a machete, a weapon you can use and has its own inventory slot ( shares with the broken pirate sword but not like the hatchets who share a sub slot ).
There’s animal offerings both Legba and Ogun accept you can get in game. And to invoke any Lwa you must make an offering to Legba first. His veve being the central focus of the pagan ritual site with oguns below, it to me seems the answer lies in appeasing the Lwa. I’ve mapped all the times in the sundial portion of the site and I’ve brought catfish and dogs in offering to the site. Nothing triggered but working on mapping times without removing the horned mask. Comparison may clear up the mess of times going on.
Been following the voodoo rabbit hole a couple weeks now. It’s definitely connected.
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u/S_2theUknow Oct 20 '22
I’m curious if you ever made any headway? Sounds like we share similar opinions.
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u/aatch81 Dec 30 '18
Papa Ghede is known as the spirit in black and represents death. He is also considered the good counterpart to Baron Samedi and controls the crossroad between life and death. He’s basically the grim reaper although he is directed by Baron Samedi (depending on the specific branch of voodoo, some branches have combined Baron Samedi and Papa Ghede into one loa). His symbol is a cross upon a tomb. Also known for possessing humans and loves to smoke cigarettes and cigars. Finally, he is known to protect children from death as he hates to see children die (maybe lore reason why you can’t kill children in-game) and has power over zombies (undead nightmare?). Known to hang out/protect cemeteries.
Has anyone had a good look around the elaborate cemetery in st.denis? I'm going to have a wander round there later, this is really interesting, great post.
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u/strangewoman PS4 Dec 30 '18
Papa Ghedé is also a psycopomp, an acient entity who can transform his human form into some animals, as deer or wolves... I think this is a way to connect the strange man and the writings in his shack as he's been watching the whole gang for long time.
I commented this post a couple of weeks ago, i wrote some info you'd enjoy and you can find an interesting video about it in the last comments if you'd like to watch it.
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u/grime-dont-play Jan 05 '19
A deer and a wolf? Like the ones Arthur sees in his visions. A deer if you’ve been honorable. A wolf if you’ve been an asshole the whole game
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u/FolkAsFuhk Dec 31 '18
From what I’d gathered isn’t Kalfu another form Papa Legba takes? The old man with crutch and the straw hat is the kind aspect of Legba. Then Kalfu, the devil at the crossroads wears a top hat similar to Baron Samedi and is young in appearance. Then there’s the sun and moon aspect, Legba being the sun and Kalfu the moon, representations of respectively. And I’d been using that information because of the sundial feature in the pagan ritual site. Plus Kalfu’s veve with an emphasis to the west and Legba’s invocation veve ( different than the one in game veve is inspired by ) with the sword in the east and the combined similarities between the two present at the site. Damn. Voodoo, hoodoo, vodun! So many contradictions and similarities lol! Even ended up deep down a Palo Mayombe rabbit hole! Yeah if I got something wrong it could explain a lack of results. It’s actually a fascinating pagan religion!
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u/nvrspyx Dec 31 '18 edited Aug 05 '23
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u/AtxD1ver Dec 30 '18
As far as collaborating goes, after work im going to the pagan site to do some experiments. I'll take a red rooster, a sword, the hardee hat, and some fire bottles to the ritual site to try to summon ogoun.
Just wondering. Are there any meanings in vodou behind turtles? They seem to be religious icons in this game and there's similar white paint involved at some locations.
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u/BeTheGame007 Jan 10 '19 edited Jan 10 '19
Fukin yes! This is a great post! I have my doubts about rockstar adding any of this but it does seem on the money.
I was looking at the ritual and came up with papa legba (after looking for similar symbols on google and having a read to find linkages Between that and the game). I was literally just replying to someone about it and found a link to this.
I was thinking, it might be a crossroads ritual of some sort. I don't know how to interact with it. This post is basically all the things i have read, wrapped up nice and neatly with similarities to the happenings in rdr2. Awesome.
Also, fun fact: Damballah is the Loa from the Child's Play (or Chucky) movies. https://horror.fandom.com/wiki/Damballa
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u/AtxD1ver Dec 30 '18
Thanks for crediting me. Seeing as the pagan ritual site is a totally a Haitian vodou site, that means the influences of vodou go as far East as the story line takes you. I was originally thinking it was native American stuff. What else can body relate to?
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Jan 05 '19
What about the witches cauldron with the crow watching from the corner, could that also relate?
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u/ro_musha Dec 30 '18 edited Dec 30 '18
The poto mitan is the central sacramental post or pillar that is found in the center of the peristyle of voodoo temples
what if the obelisk is a poto mitan to a temple hiding in plain sight?
edit:
Some loa were once human but became loa in death.
Arthur reborn as loa confirmed /s
all in all, nice work op, give us the update pls.
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u/FolkAsFuhk Dec 31 '18
Yeah alright! So it’s still an accuracy of a sort. Or I’d assume applicable at the least. So another question you may be able to answer... ok 2 but I’ve been unable to find answers on either. Is there any specificity about features or conditions concerning a meeting at the crossroads? I’ve read a couple very conflicting and vague if not impossible ways to invoke Kulfu. Anything you can think of applicable in game...? Secondly times. In general in voodoo are there times that are of any importance? So Ogun’s number I’ve seen as 3 or 4, Papa Legba is 3 and Kulfu is 7. Any other numbers that relate? Or corrections please! Thank you! I guess nows a good a time as any, I need to organize and format but I’ll dump all the data on the pagan ritual site later today. It’s just raw data mostly. Only thing I’ve gotten out of it is a possible order and offering position. That’s where significant times would come in. Noon and midnight have been accounted for lol!
Kulfu! Not Kalfu! Noted!
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u/nvrspyx Jan 01 '19 edited Aug 05 '23
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u/FolkAsFuhk Jan 01 '19
Yeah. Gathered that! I’ve tried every animal at the site I could get an arrow through... even dragged a catfish up there from the swamps. I’m missing something in the sundial. Or the crossroads!
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u/xRenegade5 Dec 31 '18
I feel strongly that the St. Denis vampire definitely ties in with the city they modeled SD after, New Orleans. In New Orleans, we do have our own vampire lore, so I definitely see the connection with the city.
The connection with the SD vampire most likely also has some sort of Voodoo roots since you use him for the Pentagram ritual.
I dont know if any other Louisianians or New Orleanians have said this, but it's been something on my mind since I've done the ritual with the Pentagram.
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u/nthulhulou Jan 02 '19
Such a fascinating culture. Can't wait to see what we can all dig up. Thank you for the building blocks!
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u/Deathsoulfusion May 27 '24
Bro, why did you take down all the info on your post? This was one of the best post anyone has posted on here
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u/indighoul Dec 30 '18
Very cool, seriously. Also, seriously a direct descendant of Marie eh?