2/12 – The Strands of the Void: Scourge of the Nephilim!
Welcome to part 2/12 of the special feature, The Strands of the Void. In this 12-part series, I’ll be spotlighting characters and themes found in Void that stretch either from Dogwoods Blush or most of all, forward into Dove of War. This week let’s look at the evil Hellspawns who plague the world of Void, the ancient race called … Nephilim!
Just who or what is a Nephilim? In the pages of Void, the first mention of this word comes in issue #2 when our hero returns from “the Void” after conversing with the spirit of murdered night watchman, Conway Wickliffe. Void correctly surmised that Flerous the “Fire Demon,” was no demon at all, but rather, a Nephilim.”
Flerous turned out not to be a "Fire Demon," but rather some type of artificial "hybrid" Void referred to as "Nephilim!"
This ancient word roughly translates as fallen, or possibly, a tyrant or bully. Several English translations equate it to “giants.” This interpretation may have come from the Old Testament where “Nephilim” meant “gegantes,” meaning giants or titans. In Greek mythos, the titans were the supernaturally powerful offspring of gods and humans.
Nephilim is a term associated with various races of evil warriors in the Bible who savaged the earth prior to the flood. They are also mentioned in the Apocrypha and numerous other ancient writings from Babylon, Summeria, and Persia, among others. Some scholars say the Nephilim were the target marked by destruction by the great flood that gave Noah and his family the opportunity to start life anew. Were they fallen angels, half-human/half-demon offspring, an alien race, or violent giants bred by Satan to consume man and all the earth’s resources? No one really knows.
Skeletal remains of a giant believed to be one of the ancient Nephilim! (Relax ... the photo is a fake)! 
For our purposes, the Nephilim are extremely vicious “hybrids” who can perform great feats of strength, power, and evil. They universally hate humans. And while Deacon Void opposes them, even he knows that their leader, a man only referred to as Vasilie (he was mentioned several times in Dogwoods Blush and will emerge in a significant way in Void) is too powerful for Void to defeat. That task and the entire story of this vile race and their Master will be told in Dove of War.
Just what is Void’s true link to the Nephilim? Are these creatures lurking in the shadows of London’s East End truly part of the ancient Nephilim race or are they something else?
Keep reading and we’ll find out together!
Not ALL Nephilim are created equal! Here's a sneak peek at "The Foreman," perhaps the most monstrous and deadly Nephilim of all. Look for his story ... and his fate ... in the pages of DOVE OF WAR and an appearance coming soon in VOID #6, STAR CROSSED LOVERS!
Coming Thursday, 19 July, 2012: Part 3/12 - The Strands of the Void: The Holy Alliance of Total Expression, aka H.A.T.E.!
6 Comments
I find it interesting that Angels were jealous of humans … and how us humans only want to be Heavenly Angels with wings. Guess there are blessing and curses with being both. God save the little ones.
God bless the little ones indeed. I guess somewhere inside most of us, we secretly desire the things we do not have. But for our storytelling purposes, there are no beings more evil than the Nephilim!
Makes one almost feel sorry for these evil creatures … knowing deep down they are going to get what’s coming to them.
ALMOST!!!
HAHA! You sound a great deal like Deacon Void!
Interesting and scary. Anything can be defeated except God?
An underlying theme found in DOGWOODS, DOVE and VOID is the role man plays in the final battle between good and evil. Yes, the villains in VOID are scary but he has some powerful allies who are going to help him out. You’ll see!