There are stories that stretch beyond the borders of the Realms and Universes that we know. Legends, myths, and tales spun across various worlds, these characters are beginning to emerge from the shadows. Called forth by Four Horsemen Studios, they are known as “Figura Obscura”.
See the entries below to discover more about the Figura Obscura releases unlocked so far...
While commonly considered a work of gothic horror, “Frankenstein” is also widely regarded as the world’s first science-fiction novel. The story details scientific feats known today as bioengineering and biotechnology, while also illustrating the dangers of a ruthless pursuit of knowledge and the repercussions and responsibilities that come with that knowledge.
Beyond the literary importance of this work, the tortured creation at the center of the tale has become one of the most recognizable characters in the world, making Frankenstein’s Creature an ideal choice to join the Figura Obscura.
The mysteries of ancient Egypt, including the various deities they worshipped and their rich belief in the afterlife, continue to fascinate people thousands of years after this remarkable civilization reached its pinnacle.
The Egyptian pantheon was made up of gods and goddesses who possessed incredible powers, and used those powers for good or ill, depending on whether they were appeased or angered by the offerings made to them. Two of the most recognizable deities of ancient Egypt, and the subjects of the latest Figura Obscura release from Four Horsemen Studios, are the jackal-headed god of embalmers known as Anubis and cat-headed fertility goddess named Bastet.
The title page of Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol” reads “A Ghost Story of Christmas”. While the tradition of telling “scary ghost stories” for the holidays did not originate with Mr. Dickens, his tale of holiday hauntings and redemption is certainly the most well-known Christmas ghost story. It is filled with characters that have become iconic symbols of the season, including the three Ghosts of Christmas, the sickly Tiny Tim and the Cratchitt family, and the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge who is redeemed through the lessons taught by the visit of those aforementioned three spirits. Yet, there is another spirit found in the pages of this story, one who is perhaps the most visually recognizable of all of Dickens’ ghosts. We are of course referring to the man who, in life, was Scrooge’s partner. The latest character to haunt the halls of Figura Obscura is none other than the Ghost of Jacob Marley.
Death comes for everyone. Riches and power and noble birth mean little to the cold embrace of the grave. In death all are equal, and none can escape its touch.
First published in 1842, Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death” is a Gothic fiction that relates the tale of a horrible plague and a group of wealthy nobles’ doomed attempt to escape from this dreaded disease. Of course, trying to hide from death is impossible, and the end is never in question, for as the final line of the short story states - And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all.
High atop the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit, a mystical monkey was born from an immense magic stone. As he wandered his new home, he befriended many of its beasts and eventually found a place amongst the wild monkeys of the Mountain. Recognizing his bravery and tenacity, the simians named the stone monkey their leader, eventually dubbing him the Monkey King.
This is the beginning of the legendary tale of Sun Wukong, who is more commonly known as the Monkey King. There are few legendary characters whose hero’s journey is more incredible than that of Sun Wukong, making him a perfect choice to join the ranks of the Figura Obscura.
He is known by many names. Kris Kringle, Saint Nicholas, Papa Noel, Weihnachtsmann, Babbo Natale, Grandfather Frost, Sinterklaas, Santa, Father Christmas. Whatever moniker you know him by, and whatever legends you have heard, one similarity across them all is that of a benevolent soul who brings joy to the children of the world.
In some of these stories he is a plump and jolly old elf, while in others he is a kind and generous man of the cloth. In other, much older tales he is a spirt of nature, friend to goodly creatures large and small. There is great magic in these tales. It is fantastical magic, like the wonder of reindeer who can fly and toy factories hidden in the northernmost part of the world. Beyond these wonderous tales, however, there is also a very real magic in the holiday season. Father Christmas is the spirit of generosity, and those who honor the lessons he teaches and bring happiness to the world help spread his magic. One need only look into the eyes of a child on Christmas morning to recognize that magic is not only found in Realms and Universes beyond our own. Magic exists in our world thanks to Father Christmas and all those who do good in his name.
There are places where the walls between this world and the next grow thin, allowing spirts from beyond to roam unbidden between the two worlds. One such place is a small village on the East bank of the Hudson River in New York. Originally named North Tarrytown, this haunted glen is more commonly known as Sleepy Hollow.
Rumored to have been bewitched long ago, stories of strange happenings and distant voices on the air have long been told in Sleepy Hollow. The most dominant spirt that haunts this enchanted region is that of a headless, cloaked rider atop a great black steed – the Headless Horseman.
Krampus is told of in hushed whispers, for to say his name aloud invites his attention. The people of the frozen mountains know that this devil haunts them during the winter festival, while the good folk celebrate to drive away the chill and darkness of the season.
Learn more about the very first Figura Obscura release - the Yuletide Demon known as Krampus!
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