Editing Samhain Miracles (short story)

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{{Infobox Story SMW
|main character = [[Maurice Griss-Ventner]], [[Martin Edenkind]]
|featuring      = [[Ulk-Ra]], [[Cyberon (drug)|Mad Mind of Aurichall]], [[Philosopher-king of the Cyberons|Philosopher-King]]
|enemy          = [[Elaine Della Spada]]
|setting        = {{il|[[31 October]] [[2483]]|[[Amazolian system]]|[[Karnstein]]|[[Argentium]]}}
|writer         = Aristide Twain, Henry Walker
|editor         = [[Sean Dillon]]
|publisher      = Arcbeatle Press
|anthology      = Horrors of Arcbeatle (anthology)
|release date   = 31 October 2023
|series         = ''[[Small Miracles (short story)|Small Miracles]]''
|next           =
|series2        = ''[[Horrors of Arcbeatle (anthology)|Horrors of Arcbeatle]]'' stories
|next2          = The Cactus and the Corpse (short story)
}}
'''''Samhain Miracles''''' was the first short story in the [[2023 (releases)|2023]] anthology ''[[Horrors of Arcbeatle (anthology)|Horrors of Arcbeatle]]'', and the first entry in the ''[[Small Miracles (series)|Small Miracles]]'' series. It took place in the [[Amazolian system]] and introduced the characters of [[Maurice Griss-Ventner]] and [[Martin Edenkind]], as well as the latter's people, the [[Miracle (species)|Miracles]]. 

== Summary ==
=== Part I ===
It is [[Halloween]] in the [[Amazolian system]] in [[2483]]. On the planet [[Ulk]], the [[Ulk-Ra]] are engaging in their own autumnal festivals, and on [[Aurichall]], the [[Mad Mind of Aurichall]]'s [[Cyberon|possessed thralls]] influence the hive mind to act out a meaningless pantomtime of trick-or-treating in the [[First City (The Blue Scream of Death)|First City]], but the [[human]] colonists of [[Holofernes]] stopped celebrating Halloween centuries ago, and don't feel the day to have any particular significance. This includes the three sole inhabitants of the [[Moon of Holofernes]], namely archaeologist [[Danielle Griss]], her wife [[Lana Ventner]], and their young son [[Maurice Griss-Ventner]] — Danielle being the reason they're all staying in a habitat on that deserted moon, as she's digging up some ancient [[Cyber-tomb]]s.

Maurice, however, is not especially lonely, because for a few months now, another boy his age — gold-eyed [[Martin Edenkind]], of the nearly-godlike [[posthuman]] offshoot known as the [[Miracle (species)|Miracles]] — has been popping in to visit him and whisk him away on various games or little adventures. Tonight, Martin arrives shapeshifted into a young [[werewolf]] as a Halloween "costume", explaining the holiday to Maurice and giving him a [[transformation token]] he borrowed from the older Miracles for the night. Meant to help younger Miracles safely experiment with shapeshifting, it will generate a [[holo-costume]] for the wearer based on their [[imagination]]. After some hesitation, Maurice decides to disguise himself as a cartoonish [[Dracula]]-esque [[vampire]] to match Martin's werewolf. Martin then offers to take him somewhere interesting to try out trick-or-treating.

=== Part II ===
[[Martin Edenkind|Martin]]'s mystery destination turns out to be the planet [[Karnstein]], to which the [[vampire]]s and [[werewolf|werewolves]] of old [[Earth]] relocated after the [[Seventeen Years Invasion]] in the [[22nd century]], as part of the same mass exile during which the Miracles' own ship, the ''[[Psyche (ship)|Psyche]]'', first left the planet, going on to split off from the "[[baseline]]s". Though very distant from [[the Solar System]], it had been chosen because the rays of its "blue star" did not trigger vampires' weakness to sunlight and its moon, [[Argentium]], was constantly full. Its oldest inhabitant is the vampire [[Elaine Della Spada]], who personally witnessed the landing of the first enemy saucer during the Invasion. Out on a walk with her husband [[Rodolfo Della Spada|Rodolfo]] when Martin and [[Maurice Griss-Ventner|Maurice]] materialise on Karnstein, she instantly smells the arrival of a human, and, [[Mistwalking|turning into mist]], she tracks them down. 

She is immediately dangerously possessive of the human boy, but is hostile to Martin, and ends up using her powers to expel him upwards into the sky. Maurice is only mildly perturbed, confident that his friend will come back for him, despite Elaine and Rodolfo's attempts to convince him otherwise. In the meantime, they decide to abduct him away to their home, promising sweets; Maurice is naturally suspicious of their intentions, though they swear to him that they do not intend to eat him or drink his blood as such. As they start to leave, a misunderstanding finally becomes clear; in contrast to Maurice's understanding, the Della Spadas did not recognise Martin as a Miracle, but rather took him to be an actual werewolf. It turns out, contrary to Martin's out-of-date information from the [[Miracle Mental Matrix]], that Karnstein is now exclusively home to vampires, and the werewolves are no longer welcome here, hence Elaine's hostility. 

=== Part III ===
Having landed on [[Argentium]], the Moon of [[Karnstein]], which is where [[Elaine Della Spada|Elaine]] sent him, [[Martin Edenkind]] comes to the same realisation as he sees the werewolf settlement aglow with partying: evidently, like the Miracles but unlike the vampires, the werewolves never gave up on [[Halloween]]. Realising that he collided with somebody's front door, he greets the [[Helena Fangveldt|middle-aged werewolf woman]] who lives there. She mistakes his odd lacunae of local knowledge for attempts to make fun of her, and assumes he's there to bully her son [[Douglas Fangveldt]], who is apparently "sick" in some way. When he decides to reveal that his wolf-like appearance is a disguise and reveal his true human-like visage, however, she changes her demeanour entirely for reasons he doesn't quite understand. Curious about his "disguise", she guesses that he's come to speak with Douglas and possibly share its secrets with him. She tells him to go talk to Douglas while she finds Douglas's father and her mate, [[Philip Fangveldt|Philip]].

Meanwhile, on Karnstein, Elaine and [[Rodolfo Della Spada|Rodolfo]] spend several hours feeding [[Maurice Griss-Ventner|Maurice]] a variety of chocolates and sweets, "secretly" laced with Elaine's [[blood]], with the effect of slowly, painlessly converting the boy into a [[vampire]] himself. His would-be "adoptive parents" are rather put out when Maurice casually reveals that he's aware of this, but confident that Martin will be able to reverse it when he comes back. In fact, it turns out that he's been here already, invisible, for several minutes, waiting for a chance to make a good entrance; Elaine beginning to say that reversing a full vampiric transformation would take "a miracle" proves the perfect occasion for him to reveal himself, after which he effortlessly removes [[Yssgaroth taint|the Taint]] from Maurice's body, then prevents Elaine from using a [[Orb of the Night's Wrath|supernatural attac]] on him. After apologising to Maurice for keeping him waiting, he begins to explain what he's learned on the werewolves' moon, and surprises the Della Spadas yet again by saying that he's found a way for them to adopt a child after all, consensually this time.

=== Epilogue ===
Later in the evening, [[Maurice Griss-Ventner|Maurice]] and [[Martin Edenkind|Martin]] have each returned home. Before going to [[sleep]], Maurice insists on telling his mothers, returned from the archaeological dig in his absence, about the day's adventures while [[Lana Ventner|Lana]] folds up the [[silk]] clothes he brought back from Karnstein and [[Danielle Griss|Danielle]] begins poking at the [[Cyberon|rusting cyborg carcass]] she dug out of the tombs with Lana's help. After he finishes the story, the mothers ask for clarification on what dreadful condition Douglas was suffering from, which resulted in Martin thinking to suggest that he could be saved by being turned into a vampire child as a last resort (thus helping both the Della Spadas and the Fangveldts). With some embarrassment, Maurice explains that the child was born with a "genetic defect" which shortened his lifespan considerably and made him appear pitiful and tragic to everyone on Argentium — which is to say that he'd been born as a [[baseline]] [[human]] without the ability to take lupine form. 

Meanwhile, back in the [[Edenkind]]'s zone of the ''[[Psyche (ship)|Psyche]]'', a "heavenly garden" where he sleeps on "a mattress of living, cotton-soft moss", Martin is also reflecting — to himself — on how everything worked out before he lets himself fall asleep. He is particularly pleased with one thing: after getting back, he managed via selective omissions to let his parents believe that Maurice lost the [[transformation token]] on Karnstein when he changed out of his costume and into the real silk outfit gifted to him by the Della Spadas. In fact, Martin thought to recover it and has brought it back — which means that he won't have to wait for next Halloween to experiment with shapeshifting again, even though a Miracle his age cannot yet truly alter their body without supervision.

{{quote|Yes, it was going to be an interesting twelve months.}}

== Characters ==
* [[Elaine Della Spada]]
* [[Rodolfo Della Spada]]
* [[Martin Edenkind]]
* [[Helena Fangveldt]]
* [[Danielle Griss]]
* [[Maurice Griss-Ventner]]
* [[Mad Mind of Aurichall]]
* [[Philosopher-king of the Cyberons|The Philosopher-King]]
* [[Lana Ventner]]

=== Mentioned only ===
* [[Lucy Edenkind]]
* [[Douglas Fangveldt]]
* [[Philip Fangveldt]]
* [[Willy Wonka]]

== Worldbuilding ==
* The [[Amazolian system]]'s star is called [[Amazol]]. 
* The [[Miracle (species)|Miracle]] still live on the ''[[Psyche (ship)|Psyche]]'', the modified [[flying saucer]] on which they left [[Earth]]; in its current form it is described as a "[[world-ship]]". They are divided into several clans including the [[Edenkind]], [[Ectokind]] and the [[Molekind]], among others. Accordingly, the ''Psyche''{{'}}s interior contains "different zones and quadrants" spanning "a dizzying variety of environments tailored to the needs and aesthetics of each Miracle clan".
* [[Halloween]] lost popularity in the [[22nd century]] following the [[Seventeen Years Invasion]], which started in [[2150]]. During the course of the War, various populations who'd been living hidden among [[human]]s were exposed, including the [[vampire]]s and [[werewolf|werewolves]], "the [[magic]]ians and the [[shapeshifter]]s, the undead and the [[Silurian|lizard people]]", and other such populations left the Earth after it was liberated. 
* One of their prior adventures, [[Maurice Griss-Ventner|Maurice]] and [[Martin Edenkind|Martin]] travelled to [[Karosia]] and each brought back a [[Vaal]] [[kilt]], a garment described as a "rainbow-coloured, almost metallic [[skirt]]".
* Vampire stories known to Maurice include ''[[Detective Kryptic]]'', ''[[Wise Blood]]'', ''[[Dracula (book)|Dracula]]'', and ''[[Carmilla]]''. The latter story exists, among other things, as an "old series" which had "a lot of girls [[kiss]]ing".
* The salvaged [[Hyperspace Tyrant|Tyrant]] [[flying saucer|saucers]] used by various groups to leave the Earth behind after the Seventeen Years Invasion included the future Miracles' own ''[[Psyche (ship)|Psyche]]'' as well as the ''[[Qetesh (ship)|Qetesh]]'', the ''[[Peter Pan (ship)|Peter Pan]]'', and the vampires and werewolves' ''[[Hecate (Samhain Miracles)|Hecate]]''.
* [[Rodolfo Della Spada]]'s "thick black moustache" is described as being trimmed in "the classic [[Vlad III|Vlad Tepes]] style".
* Elaine carries a black lace [[umbrella]] with a metal spike on the tip.
* Elaine's maiden name was [[Elaine Carfax]]. She married Rodolfo [[272 (number)|272]] years prior, i.e. after they both moved to [[Karnstein]].
* Maurice describes Karnstein as "the Planet of the [[Monster Mash]]". 
* Martin told Maurice that [[ghost]]s had "their own place", distinct from the vampires and werewolves settling on Karnstein and its moon.
* When reflecting on his skill as a chocolatier, Maurice muses that "[[Willy Wonka]] had nothing on Rodolfo". 
* As he was created collectively by the [[Edenkind]] clan, Martin has a number of "mothers and fathers and assorted [[parent]]s". His [[Lucy Edenkind|Cousin Lucy]] is mentioned on several occasions: first because she'd be jealous of Maurice using a [[The Devil|Devil]] costume for unstated reasons, then as someone to whom Martin intends to recommend that ''[[Carmilla]]'' webseries Maurice mentioned his mothers liking, and finally as having been "positively thrilled" by Martin's summary of his trip to Karnstein and Argentium after he returns to the ''Psyche''. 

== Notes ==
* The story's background worldbuilding involves an invasion of [[Earth]] by the [[Hyperspace Tyrants]], which started in [[2150]] and is remembered as the [[Seventeen Years Invasion]]. This would seem to overlap with the notorious [[2150s Dalek invasion of Earth]] as depicted in ''[[The Dalek Invasion of Earth (TV story)|The Dalek Invasion of Earth]]'', whose exact dating is controversial, but which is usually understood to have lasted several years and ended in [[2164]] or [[2167]]. Aside from the title of ''[[Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (theatrical film)|Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.]]'', however, the ''start'' of the Dalek invasion is not traditionally dated as far back as 2150, with the dates [[2154]], [[2157]] and [[2160]] all having been proposed by various sources as the beginning of the Daleks' attack. 
* The planet [[Karnstein]] is named in reference to the family name of Countess Mircalla Karnstein, alias Carmilla, in {{w|Sheridan Le Fue}}'s seminal novella {{wi|Carmilla}}. The [[2014 (releases)|2014]]-[[2016 (releases)|2016]] {{w|Carmilla (web series)|''Carmilla'' webseries reimagining}} is also directly referenced in dialogue as a vampire-related piece of media Maurice's mothers liked when they were younger.
* This story explicitly equates the "[[w:c:lovecraft:Star Vampire|Star Vampires]]", a term which originated in the Cthulhu mythos, with the [[Yssgaroth]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' lore.

== Continuity ==
* The [[Amazolian system]] previously appeared in the ''[[Faction Paradox (series)|Faction Paradox]]'' short stories [[PROSE]]: {{cite source|Cobweb and Ivory (short story)}}, [[PROSE]]: {{cite source|A Farewell to Arms (short story)}} and [[PROSE]]: {{cite source|A Farewell to R.M.S. (short story)}}. It is here explicitly established as the location of the [[Ulk-Ra]]'s [[Ulk|home planet]], retroactively establishing it as the setting of the ''[[Short Trips (series)|Short Trip]]'' which introduced [[Coloth]] himself, [[PROSE]]: {{cite source|War Crimes (short story)}}. 
* The [[Cyberon]]s' homeworld was revealed to be another planet in the Amazolian system in [[PROSE]]: {{cite source|The Blue Scream of Death (short story)}}, which dubbed it [[Aurichall]] and introduced the [[Philosopher-king of the Cyberons]]; both are featured here, allowing the identification of the [[Mad Mind of Aurichall]] as another name for the [[Cyberon (drug)|Cyberon hive-mind itself]]. 
* It is stated that the [[Miracle (species)|Miracles]] had not "abandoned the concept of childhood" "unlike certain other transcendental species". This is an allusion to the [[Time Lord]] worldbuilding in [[PROSE]]: {{cite source|Lungbarrow (novel)}} and specifically the idea that most Gallifreyan "[[Childe|childrene]]" were loomed as adults.
* Elaine, a very powerful vampire, is said to have "honed skills thought to be the privilege of the progenitors alone, the [[Star Vampire]]s themselves". Later, [[Martin Edenkind|Martin]] identifies the vampiric [[biodata]] in [[Maurice Griss-Ventner|Maurice]]'s body as "[[Yssgaroth taint|the Yssgaroth Taint]]" and describes it as "cold and other-dimensional". These elements reference the backstory developed in [[TV]]: {{cite source|State of Decay (TV story)}}, [[PROSE]]: {{cite source|The Pit (novel)}} and [[PROSE]]: {{cite source|The Book of the War (novel)}}, depicting vampirism as "the [[Yssgaroth taint]]", originating as an eldritch gestalt in a [[Spiral Yssgaroth|parallel universe]] and carried into [[the Doctor's universe]] by the [[Great Vampire]]s in the [[Dark Times]]. 
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[[Category:Horrors of Arcbeatle short stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 25th century]]