Because I forgot to get this earlier, information from several different sources, the most commonly shared ones describe this: Alps are German creatures that haunt the dreams of mortals. They engage in vampiric activities with the sleeping victims, or more likely, torment them in their sleep. They can turn into mist and enter the body through the nose or mouth. Related also to the incubus by this nature, Alps specialize in causing nightmares. Whereas incubi prefer violating a person in their sleep in addition to the dreams, an alp tends toward less invasive ways to cause discomfort (though it is said if one does choose to take advantage it's not pleasant) An alp's favorite nightime bothering is sitting on the chest of a sleeping victim and “pressing” them, or drawing their breath from them, causing them to wake up out of breath. Alps are apparently related some ways back to fairykind, so the are effected by the same things, and enjoy pranks as well. Some of these include pestering farm animals, riding horses until they are tired, and putting a baby's dirty diaper back on it after it has been changed (odd, and gross!) They enjoy both blood and milk and often bother cows too. Alp is short for 2 names, one meaning “nightmare” and the other, “hobgoblin” Alp was also the name for elf a ways back too. An alp always has a hat of some sort which contains its powers, and should this hat be lost a great reward is offered for its return. The hat is visible in all its manifestations. Alps generally tend to be male and can come to existence several ways, most common of which is death at birth. In Tony's case, it was that.
Amel, you forgot that when "Pressing" their weight increases so that the out of breath person hasn't the strength to move, and slowly gets crushed to death. and like the bean thing for vampires offers of food or coffee at a latter date will cause them to flee from killing or tormenting you and arive at said date expecting the promised goods.
Does Fay have only one wing? I'm curious cause it looks that way in most of it. Soooo, Elves! YAY! I hope she doesn't turn out to be like Azaelea or whoever she is.
I feel SOOOO bad for Tony, he's been here since the beginning and is by far one of the coolest characters, he so deserves a girlfriend! Fortunately for him, Hex doesn't seem interested in the new girl's advances (though if she's anything like the other girls in this comic its likely her crush on Hex won't die easily, lol). Excellent chpt Amelius, and incredible information on Tony's demon species! Thanks for taking the time to tell us more about the fascinating creatures that inhabit Charby's world, (:
Why does Fay only have one wing?
by your description it sounds like alps are a developed myth of the Mare (hence the word nightmare) - a humanoid creature said to ride it's victims in their sleep causing bad dreams (in danish we call it Mareridt - which translates into Mare-ridden) never heard of them wearing a hat though
well itôs really strange ya see I live on a farm in Iceland and often the animals (cows) get "disturbed" in the night and I am the only one who wakes up by this because my bedroom is the closest to the ... Barn?? dont know the english word for it... and I often have to go and check whatôs going on an I sometimes think I see a hooded figure or at least someone with somthing on there head in the corner maybe and well ... it always looks pretty much the same ... and I get alot of nightmares even though I have a dream catcher(some native american thing) and itôs strange ôcos it all fits with this "Alp" thingie ... mah dad says its nothing though
Nice research you did, Amelius.
It's true, Alps cause nightmares. In fact, the German name for "Nightmare" is "Alptraum", with "Traum" being the German name for "Dream".
About the sitting on chests and stealing the breath...this belief is actually based on people in the middle ages not knowing about sleep paralysis.
You see, when you sleep your muscles are paralysed (except for short amounts of time, when the body has to shift for some reason, and only a part of the body is released, after which sleep paralysis takes hold again) to a certain degree (a remainder of the time way back when our genetic ancestors used to sleep on trees, where moving around would be a *very* bad idea. In some people sleep paralysis does not occur, and it has happened that a husband who had this disorder who was dreaming that he was strangling a deer, was strangling his wife in reality. Sleep walking is another variation thereof. It's dangerous.). Also, the breathing is slower due to this, and also since you don't actually need to breathe deeply in your sleep. Once one starts to wake up, sleep paralysis is revoked. Usually.
However, sometimes it happens that sleep paralysis lasts a few minutes beyond the sleeping state. I've experienced it myself (after which I looked up what it could have been, that being the first time I heard about it), and let me tell you: It's not a pleasant experience.
In that state, you cannot move your muscles, and your chest feels heavy (as if someone is stitting on your chest) making your breathing low, making you feel as if you're suffocating (which is not happening, but since the body takes deeper breaths when awake, it does give one the impression of suffocation, or at least lack of breath.). You can't lift your head, sometimes not even open your eyelids. You're aware, but you feel trapped.
Normally, a human experiences this no more than maybe 5 times in their life (and 5 is actually pretty much. Normally it is even less. I've experienced 1 time for sure, and I remember one or two events in my childhood that might have been sleep paralysis too, but it's too long ago to be sure). However, some people experience this chronically.
When this occurs, people often panic, due to the lack of breath and inability to move. Actually one would just have to relax, but it is still a very disturbing experience.
And in the middle ages, people explained this by demons and Albs sitting on people's chest (there's several paintings by different artists depicting that belief).
- :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
FINALLY! An Explanation! Thank you! ^__^ That reminds me of Steaven Kings "Cat's Eye" The cat yoused to suck breaths or souls out of sleeping children. Or was it the goblin thing....*shrug* Daaww Poor Tony *kisses his cheek*
Whiteninja: Mye is a Zombie. No, not the gnawing, nando-type zombie, but a zombie nonetheless.
I always thought that Tony had the most interesting backround.
NightReflection at 1:24PM, July 26, 2010
You wouldn't want this one anyway tony.
Canuovea at 11:35PM, July 15, 2010
That doesn't look like your typical fairy wing.
CryForE at 11:02AM, Feb. 26, 2009
She digs Hex ^^
Lifon at 2:47PM, Jan. 25, 2009
Poor Tony. My favorite character, but he has no luck with the ladies.
charby fan at 5:31PM, Nov. 13, 2008
Thats bad news I tell you
Yayap at 9:07AM, Sept. 13, 2008
Amel, you forgot that when "Pressing" their weight increases so that the out of breath person hasn't the strength to move, and slowly gets crushed to death. and like the bean thing for vampires offers of food or coffee at a latter date will cause them to flee from killing or tormenting you and arive at said date expecting the promised goods.
jay raj at 2:11PM, June 24, 2008
Aww, Tony! Poor guy. Interesting stuff Amelius.
Jallice at 10:50AM, June 14, 2008
Does Fay have only one wing? I'm curious cause it looks that way in most of it. Soooo, Elves! YAY! I hope she doesn't turn out to be like Azaelea or whoever she is.
Warriorking4ever at 8:37PM, Feb. 28, 2008
I feel SOOOO bad for Tony, he's been here since the beginning and is by far one of the coolest characters, he so deserves a girlfriend! Fortunately for him, Hex doesn't seem interested in the new girl's advances (though if she's anything like the other girls in this comic its likely her crush on Hex won't die easily, lol). Excellent chpt Amelius, and incredible information on Tony's demon species! Thanks for taking the time to tell us more about the fascinating creatures that inhabit Charby's world, (: Why does Fay only have one wing?
Sapphira at 11:32PM, Feb. 17, 2008
Yay for Alp history! There are three names for the female version of an alp. Mara, Mare, and Mart
Amelius at 7:43PM, Jan. 2, 2008
Maxbe: that's how I've heard it! ^_^ manga a gogo: very poorly! ^_^
mango a gogo at 11:54AM, Dec. 8, 2007
how does she fly with one wing?
Maxben at 3:37AM, Nov. 6, 2007
Mares, I believe, are the same thing but are usually used to refer to the female alps.... I need ta ask my grandma again :)
Jessix at 9:19AM, Aug. 28, 2007
by your description it sounds like alps are a developed myth of the Mare (hence the word nightmare) - a humanoid creature said to ride it's victims in their sleep causing bad dreams (in danish we call it Mareridt - which translates into Mare-ridden) never heard of them wearing a hat though
beautifully_demonic at 6:53AM, July 5, 2007
well itôs really strange ya see I live on a farm in Iceland and often the animals (cows) get "disturbed" in the night and I am the only one who wakes up by this because my bedroom is the closest to the ... Barn?? dont know the english word for it... and I often have to go and check whatôs going on an I sometimes think I see a hooded figure or at least someone with somthing on there head in the corner maybe and well ... it always looks pretty much the same ... and I get alot of nightmares even though I have a dream catcher(some native american thing) and itôs strange ôcos it all fits with this "Alp" thingie ... mah dad says its nothing though
sanguineyes at 10:37AM, May 18, 2007
Somebody does reasearch. wow. you kinda make me feel a little stupid.
Jazhara7 at 2:55AM, May 14, 2007
Nice research you did, Amelius. It's true, Alps cause nightmares. In fact, the German name for "Nightmare" is "Alptraum", with "Traum" being the German name for "Dream". About the sitting on chests and stealing the breath...this belief is actually based on people in the middle ages not knowing about sleep paralysis. You see, when you sleep your muscles are paralysed (except for short amounts of time, when the body has to shift for some reason, and only a part of the body is released, after which sleep paralysis takes hold again) to a certain degree (a remainder of the time way back when our genetic ancestors used to sleep on trees, where moving around would be a *very* bad idea. In some people sleep paralysis does not occur, and it has happened that a husband who had this disorder who was dreaming that he was strangling a deer, was strangling his wife in reality. Sleep walking is another variation thereof. It's dangerous.). Also, the breathing is slower due to this, and also since you don't actually need to breathe deeply in your sleep. Once one starts to wake up, sleep paralysis is revoked. Usually. However, sometimes it happens that sleep paralysis lasts a few minutes beyond the sleeping state. I've experienced it myself (after which I looked up what it could have been, that being the first time I heard about it), and let me tell you: It's not a pleasant experience. In that state, you cannot move your muscles, and your chest feels heavy (as if someone is stitting on your chest) making your breathing low, making you feel as if you're suffocating (which is not happening, but since the body takes deeper breaths when awake, it does give one the impression of suffocation, or at least lack of breath.). You can't lift your head, sometimes not even open your eyelids. You're aware, but you feel trapped. Normally, a human experiences this no more than maybe 5 times in their life (and 5 is actually pretty much. Normally it is even less. I've experienced 1 time for sure, and I remember one or two events in my childhood that might have been sleep paralysis too, but it's too long ago to be sure). However, some people experience this chronically. When this occurs, people often panic, due to the lack of breath and inability to move. Actually one would just have to relax, but it is still a very disturbing experience. And in the middle ages, people explained this by demons and Albs sitting on people's chest (there's several paintings by different artists depicting that belief). - :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
evildemon at 5:40PM, May 7, 2006
i feel sorry for him
Kraddius at 3:11PM, March 25, 2006
I TOLD YOU!! NO FAY NO MOORE ( she can live o_o) but why Fay? it makes me feel weird...>.> My name... aaaugh..my name ish stoooleeen..
Lee Lee Moreau at 10:16AM, March 11, 2006
FINALLY! An Explanation! Thank you! ^__^ That reminds me of Steaven Kings "Cat's Eye" The cat yoused to suck breaths or souls out of sleeping children. Or was it the goblin thing....*shrug* Daaww Poor Tony *kisses his cheek*
Arya at 2:19PM, March 6, 2006
*Hugs Tony*
X Daggers at 11:02AM, March 6, 2006
Aw, poor Tony. And poor Hex, too!
Milky at 1:37PM, March 5, 2006
Whiteninja: Mye is a Zombie. No, not the gnawing, nando-type zombie, but a zombie nonetheless. I always thought that Tony had the most interesting backround.
SailorPoison at 10:32AM, March 5, 2006
wow I nver knew that
whiteninja at 8:36AM, March 5, 2006
(To the age thing) Mabey the same reason Mye doesn't age?