Creating something new, day 38
Invitations
Me and my sambos is having our first major argument where they don't agree with my decision. Well, Ciara of course agrees with me because it's something I want, so Iselin and Kari don't think her opinion counts, which annoys Ciara.
It's about hair. Specifically the hair on my head and face. I want to cut it to about 6mm on my head and trim down my beard to about 15mm, while they want me to grow braids on both my head, chin and mustach. Thats not going to happen. I've always preferred a trimmer to cut my hair when it gets too long, which it is now but I don't have a trimmer with me. It can be cut with scissors and a comb, but I need their help.
Iselin and Kari will lose because they can't actually stop me from cutting my hair, but they just havn't accepted their loss yet. But I appreciate their attempts at bribery and persuasion - both Kari's last night, and Iselin's after breakfast. Really appreciate it. Some days my life is really good.
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Sometimes events have interesting timing. Two days in a row, two messengers have arrived, one was waiting for us at the farm yesterday. The messenger today demanded to speak to me - demanded - but both have informed me that I have been invited to a feast. They may have been polite and used nice words, but the meaning was clear, and they probably tried to smooth their masters words.
So two feasts will be arranged just two days apart, and far apart. Far enough that the second messanger today got a bit desperate since he understood that we will probably arrive late and be tired, and his master won't like it. Its not my problem their asshole of a master didn't bother checking before assuming I would drop everything and come running. The first feast 'in my honor' is in connection with the installation of two now ordered sundials, and I have been informed the date and place and that Jarl Naeswulf wish to see sejd. The second is just a lavish feast, but pretty much the same thing.
Kari have warned us that this kind of thing might happen, and if I just say no directly for almost any reason, I will insult the host and other invited guests, and it can be 'bad' since its generally only powerful and influential people who basically demand that I will attend a feast when they so wish, and guests might have been lured by the host telling them I would be there. Just a few generations ago, 'bad' might have meant violence and blood, and still today it can mean a future duel. I can't call and talk with the guests, to explain and give my side, since I don't even know who they are. Sending someone in my stead might have helped, but I have no-one socially acceptable to send.
But such powerful and influential people sometimes doesn't understand the dynamics of the social niceties or status either, and can be bad at the rules of the social game because they use their power or influence to ignore it - which honestly I do too - but if I play my cards right it can be used to avoid that host in the future. But that means I need to attend the event to come out winning. I also have to be careful so I don't make big social mistakes in the future, but I have Kari who is teaching me and I will absolutely listen to her about such things. As long as I discreetly get her opinion before answering, I probably won't have any major problems, I just need to make sure that it is not perceived as if I have to get my partner's permission. My plan so far is that I simply don't keep track of my calendar - which is completely true - and I need to check that we arn't already booked for something else. The fact that I havn't learned what they call all days, months and weirdly named special days and similar time references, makes this easier to continue with. That plan is Iselin, Kari and Ciara approved, so I will continue with it, and they will use similar if necessary.
In principle, both Jarl Naeswulf and Storman Radgeirrson create a feast to show how powerful they are, especially the latter. That they can spend large sums on a feast and that they're influential by who the guests are, and that they give these guest a chance to make connections with each other. If the main guest is a bit exclusive, then it confirms their own social status. Its the social version of 'show, don't tell'.
But I'm no ordinary Storman or Jarl. I'm a Furst and a Sejdmann confirmed by the King. Furst is actually a higher title than a Jarl, since even though I rule little land and few people, I don't owe fealty to anyone. As Sejdmann, I stand outside the usual hierarchy, and they have summoned me, and demanded that I come and show sejd. Or well, Naeswulf's messenger asked if I could tell him what sejd I will do, so he could inform his Jarl, which is the same thing. So I'm not attending as a Furst, but as a Sejdmann. I can use only their last names, and they can't just use mine if I don't say so. I could use their first names, but I should use their last names to show that we're not close friends, and correct them if they start using mine - so they understand their mistake. And they also need to follow the tradition that summoned powerful sejd users have to be properly honored, because if I'm not, I can just leave. When an ordinary more powerful sejd user or Völva is summoned, the entire household is usually cleaned and she sits at the table's main seat for a feast instead of the households master or wife. For more powerful sejd users with a great reputation, this also applies to Jarls or higher. Its one of those occasions where a sejd woman or Gothi will be considered above even the King, even though it will be unwise to use it or flaunt it. And only an idiot would sit on the King's throne. Sejd users doesn't sit on thrones, for a throne signals worldly power over the land and the people.
Of course I may have to go through both feasts and try to be charming to the hosts and guests, especially to Jarl Naeswulf who seems really powerful and cunning, even if Kari says he probably lack social grace. Partly because he sees himself as King in all but name over the region around the Big lake, and because not even King Asbjörn Aeriksson has demanded I show up and perform sejd - he understands the social game better. With my lacking language skills, especially more than a month ago, I've completely missed it, but apparently he 'wished' me to show up 'when it suited', and 'hoped to see' something I made. I might have taken it as a nice way to order me to come a once, but it apparently was true. If you understands their way and language, in some ways the culture here is very direct, honest and forthright. I still don't really get it all, so I will go for being polite and nice to everyone. Politeness doesn't cost anything, but rudeness might cost everything. Kari will try to help me, and try to position herself on the table to give me discreet gestures and cues, like if she has her pointing finger below or above her long finger, for positive or negative. With higher society stuff Iselin is very happy to follow Kari's lead.
And how knows? Maybe it's just for us to show up, see the host is a moron, let everyone know, and then leave, which means I followed the rules that sejd is respected, and the host must be ashamed in front of all his guests. Its quite a statement to travel far, and then leave without giving the host time to try and correct his or her mistake.
Kari also suggest that if the host is careless and demands or orders my sejd in front of others, then it is better if what I use or show is dangerous or really shocking, instead of charming as the spoon was in Skiringsalr, and then we leave. It makes a more powerful impression to both host and guests, and that the host insulted me and sejd. It will hopefully reduce future problems if done right, but I also have to accept there will be other feasts in the future.
Kari so proves her worth in helping me navigate things like this, and she's also knowledgeable enough about our hosts. Jarl Naeswulf and Storman Radgeirrson.
Jarl Naeswulf, whose feast is first, is actually called Kvigr Ubbsson, but as Jarl Naeswulf, he controls the area around the Swedish Lake Vänern, even though the lake isn't called that here. Imaginatively enough, its name in norse is 'Big lake', and Lake Vättern in the middle of Sweden is called 'Long lake'. But they're hardly alone in that historically speaking. We can probably sail most of the way there up river from Borgarsandr, but the last third isn't possible due to rapids, which is half a day's journey. We should normally arrive on horseback, but the carriage is a better idea, and not just for comfort. However, we should bring Gunhild and Hillevi on horseback as an escort, although I dislike leaving my stuff here unattended. It most certainly will be cumbersome and difficult to load the carriage on and off, but I would rather sit in the carriage than ride, and we can take both the carriage and four or five horses on the ship's deck. I'll have to let them practise a couple of days before we leave.
Like most others, the Jarl has inherited his property, power and influence, and it was primarily his grandfather's father who built up their property, power and reputation, by allegedly having his brothers killed and marrying their widows, and unfortunately their young children with his brothers died in sickness. Yeah. Right. There was a chance that their lineage could have become the current royal lineage about 45 years ago, but that chance is now gone and the family has lost influence and reputation over time, and just like his grandfather and father, Jarl Naeswulf is somewhat bitter that he isn't the king. Jarl Naeswulf still considers himself equal to King Aeriksson, and that Asbjörn Aeriksson is more on the throne due to luck and backstabbing bastards. The Naeswulf lineage are scattered around Big Lake, and tends to be a thorn in the side for Asbjörn's lineage as much of the trade across the Kingdoms northern inland goes via Naeswulf's area and the Big Lake, and their trade conflicts are often talked about at the castle. Its a slow-burning feud that has been going on for generations, and the Naeswulf lineage's behaviour have been a major reason why they have lost their reputation and influence outside their home region, as they have infuriated others due to collateral damage, and have more or less demanded that marriage agreements take their side in Ting voting etc, usually against Asbjörns lineage. The feast is probably Naeswulfs attempt to lure me away from Asbjörn, or atleast not take Asbjörns side, and if Kari recall correctly Jarl Naeswulf has one or two unmarried daughters, so they are more suspicious of the feast's purpose.
Stolen novel; please report.
Storman Radgeirrson is a rich councilor to the King, and he is often close to Asbjörn when the King is in Borgarsandr or the south, and he has influence and contacts, especially in the southwestern and southern region of the Kingdom. According to Kari and Gunhild many don't understand why, as they consider him an unpleasant petty-minded fool, and his combined properties isn't that huge. He seem to have too high of a opinion about himself and his status, and he also have strong opinions about women. Its the classic; be silent, obey, stay at home and give birth to sons. He doesn't seem to prioritize his family, and he spends a lot of his time in Borgarsandr, away from his family, where he has several 'servant girls'. Sounds like a partying douchebag.
His father expanded the family's power and riches by building a trading empire with many ships and crews that Radgeirrson still lives well on, and he has competent people doing all the trading for him. Radgeirrson owns a lot of land and farms, but he isn't a good businessman and he has bought farms at a premium to consolidate land, or just force someone he disliked away. Rumor has it that he and his wife waste silver on extravagant feasts and expensive imports from far away - the more exclusive the better - but, such a father and such a son, for his father was basically the same and built a lavish mansion on the outskirts of Borgarsandr, just to impress and show that he could. Many enjoyed that he suddenly died in bed about 9 years ago, just before the mansion was completed. The Radgeirrson couples lavish spending doesn't seam to weaken the family's finances, which is a good indication on his income from both his trading empire and his income from horse breeding and land. Kari, Gunhild and Hillevi isn't worried about his agenda - its all to impress and feast - and I'm likely to be given a nice horse with a lavishly decorated bridle, and probably wine. There will probably be really exotic food, including exotic animals from far away, brought here just to be paraded around and then slaughtered.
It will take a long day by horse to his 'middle farm' south of Borgarsandr, where the feast will be, because for some illogical doucebag reason its not at his Borgarsandr mansion where the feast should give more prestige, and where Iselin installed a sundial in the courtyard. It turns out that Radgeirrson is also the man who didn't understand that the sundial needed to be in the sun, and cut down trees to cover up his mistake, which was at his 'middle farm'. Neither I nor Iselin knew he ordered two, but if he's usually in the King's vicinity, I've probably seen him without thinking about it, which also explains his quick purchase of sundials. When I didn't come there personally for any of his installations, he forced me there with a feast where I'm the 'special guest', to be able to brag and make contact. He could at least had the feast here in Borgarsandr, so I only had to be there for a few hours and could sleep in my own bed. Actually thats probably why he didn't, so I'll have to spend more time with him. Douchebag.
I need to figure out what to do for sejd this time. Argh! This is starting to get tiring, and I need to plan for future magic without repeating myself. What is magical enough? What can I do? Maybe firecrackers or fireworks?
Oo-oh!
I need to make a fuze, and fairly fast burning is better. 20-30s time at most. Then make a blackpowder charge that I can put on the ground. Big BadaBOOM!
Heh. Hehehe. MuhahaHAHA!
It would be fun to turn a firecracker into a candle, and after its been lit tell a longer warning tale about how fire is sejd. Maybe it started as sejd, but now everyone knows what fire is, and that it is comfortable, well-known yadda yadda. Describe the fire and flame as special, not the candle it burns on. Fire can damage and burn down houses etc, and if the fire and the knowledge behind it isn't respected, it can have serious consequences. But this is just a little candle flame. Well known. Safe. Just a small fire on top of a candle one can hold in the hand. A small fire to have on the table to light up and provide light, warmth and security. A type of sejd that is now taken for granted. Something that is used daily. Not really dangerous but reassuring. Something that does not need to be respected. BOOM!
I can't control the time until detonation, and to string out a cable to an electric trigger doesn't give quite the same effect, and I can't remote control it. Well, not right now. But I can put the candle away from people. Its best to do it outdoors, to light up the darkness or some tale like that, or just to 'respect fire, and some flames shine brightest outside.' It would also best if I can get the charge to detonate within maybe 1-3 minutes and I just need to be prepared to lengthen the speech and that it can be interrupted at any time.
Argh! I will need to do tests and practice. And repeat it. Several times. I dislike wasting time and resources on this, but thats quite true for modern magician shows too. A lot of practice and time for a short performance. I just have no interest in playing a magician. I should probably have realised that people expect magic tricks from an magician. So much for being smart.
Fireworks will probably be perceived as impressive or surprising more than dangerous, but its still something that is good to have in my 'sejd portfolio'. I've basically made a mortar versions already, but I don't want to leave anything behind, and its better if it looks different than future flintlocks. It's not that hard to make a firework rocket, its just a papertube with blackpowder with a center hole. Its making it good and adding a display charge that will be the problem. I have to try a couple of different techniques, and try 'larger' pieces of charcoal, salt, fine iron or copper filings and powder. Its slightly ironic that I will actually have some use in being curious and doing somewhat dangerous adolescent stunts before New Years. I wasn't much for drinking, but for a couple of years I made small fireworks and triggered them electrically. Thin steel wool works quite well to light a fuze, and back then people didn't expect remote control.
I probably could sell ready-made rockets, or use them for special occasions. Too bad I can't buy aluminium to create white light and get more energy in the rocket engine, and I don't intend to file down the frame for my backpack, my hiking poles or waterbottle mug just to impress.
Wait a minute...
I have some aluminium foil with me, but I can't really file that down. But it was probably a 2mm aluminium sheet I used for one small camera mount, and I think it is aluminium in the mini tripod, not to mention it is probably cast aluminium or aluzinc in the camera's quick mount for the strap, and that's a good lump. I wonder if aluzinc works in a rocket engine or in a display charge. I still have my unopened Pepsi can, but I won't open it yet. It is really unique here. I'm planning to let my sambos try at some big occasion.
I can easily sacrifice the small camera mounting plate, but not for better rocket power since I can just make its blackpowder charge large enough, so I will use it to make white light. Its a pity that aluminium, which is enormously common in nature and with a high LD50 value, is not easily available in a pure form. Aluminium is an bitch to melt out and requires a lot of power to purify. I also won't recognize Bauxit even if someone throws it at me, or know where there are mines for it. I only know nations that are known for it like Australia and Brazil, and I don't even know where it is in the huge land masses on the other side of the world. The aluminium that I brought with me will be it, and I have to save some in pure form to have at the Academy.
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I start making papershells by gluing paper together in several tightly wound cylinders around a wooden shaft. I make two sizes, 25mm diameter and 6mm, and many of them, especially 25mm, and I plug one end with clay. The 6mm will be my smaller firecracker test. The cardboard cylinders are allowed to dry in the sun during the afternoon.
I spend a lot of time making black powder for rockets and firecrackers, and while I wait for a stage to dry or fire to make charcoal, I preparing samples for different types of fuzes. One types string soaked in urine, which is unpleasant to handle, but I have a vague memory I read it somewhere. Also try string and paper soaked in some saltpeter, somely crushed blackpowder wrapped in paper, diluted blackpowder soaked in paper and string etc. Just about everything I can think of and have available, and it every fuze will also dry overnight.
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Reluctantly, Iselin and Ciara together help me cut my hair. It feels so much nicer and cooler now with stubble on my head, and my hair still grows almost like grass, so it will soon be longer again so its small uneven lok will disappear. Kari reluctantly admit that I get a rather interesting masculine look with a short haircut and 'a lot' of beard, which is a look that few elves can have, if someone even tries. I agreed to let the circular beard stay, but it will not have braids or be too long, especially not the mustache which I trimmed. If my beard goes against clothes or is in the way when I build things, it's annoying and will be cut. The hair cut offs is a bit of a problem even with a bare chest, so in the future my hair will probably be to cut while I'm completely naked.
Damn. I forgot to get water taps and shower heads made.
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Life here is boring and repetative, and so is the combat lessons, mixed with some math and reading-writing. Norse is getting easier and easier, but the runic script is really annoying. Text formating is so damn basic too.
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In the evening, the paper cylinders are dry enough, so I moisten some blackpowder and shape and make rocket engines with a center column hole. I use the simple but working thick paper stub that I've already tested, and attach a stabilizing wooden stick on the outside with a glue-soaked piece of paper I wrap around. I also make a few firecrackers. Hopefully I can try them tomorrow.