Tosra & The Auction, day 27
Lazy day & movie night
After a nice morning, I start to look through the books from the B-mansion and the ones I bought from the trading empire. Three are religious books, two of which are Sagas of the Aesir Gods and the faith here, but the decoration is almost as if it were the illuminated work of Christian monks from my world, and the last is about a faith called the 'House of Heaven'. I don't know details about it, only what Kari and Ciara have told me, and it was Ciaras belief. It is a 'one God' faith, with a Prophet and followers, but the issue seems to be there are many different interpretations of that same God and Prophet. As far as my Atheistic ass is concerned, it is quite similar to Christianity, but with differences. I have a feeling it might have been humans that ended up here that created or spread it, but they either messed up, or they had an agenda.
The thing is, go far back in European history, and there were many stories like those in the Christian Bible - they just lacked good 'marketing'. There were lots of different religions, which is the case here. There is no single strong faith based on a common government from Rome, that unites many regions and dominates Europe. Which sort of was the case in the European dark ages too. There were plenty of local crusades against the heretics, until they united and turned their eyes and swords towards the 'Holy land'. I think that is one of the things that complicated the issue for those Christian believers ending up in Alfheimr. They knew their Holy land wasn't in this world, and neither is the Pope. The saviour didn't walk this world and didn't die for the Elves sins. The old Roman enemy havn't existed here. It mutated their belief, and a lot of word of mouth later, their Holy Land is Heaven, and Heaven is also Heaven, but not the same, and the Romans and their gods have become Devils worshipping lesser Devils. As far as my Atheistic ass is concerned, Religion generally isn't the most logical or sane subject, but Religions are often centered around magical make-belief entities. Extra ordinary claims, require extra ordinary proof. 'Because I said so' doesn't count. Even if that person died a couple of thousand years ago, and someone claim they wrote those exact words down in a book, several hundred years later.
Practically speaking, the House of Heaven belief is basically centered around gathering people in churches, each one a House of Heaven, but tied to a larger House of Heaven in a larger town, where the ruling priest is a Bishop. The Bishops work together to convert the people, send missionaries, build new churches and so on, but they don't really share all resources and each try to get more influence and riches for them selfs. The House of Heaven basically feels like a Jarldom inside another Kingdom or Jarldom, so it is no wonder missionaries tend to be killed or driven away by Aesir rulers. Most common Aesir practitioners I've meet around here, feels quite relaxed and secure in their faith. You can have other faiths, but you will be the weirdo and moron. It is actually better to be an Atheist, as you are just lacking faith, but you havn't been fooled or miss led. For me, that isn't much of an option.
But even the House of Heaven is divided in three main branches, with some kind of Templar order as a fourth and there are monks too. There are plenty of other beliefs, which means there is no reason to change from the Aesir faith. So the Aesir faith is strong here in the northern parts. According to Ciara there is basically three religions in Alba. The old pagan belief is strongest in the highland and mountain people, the Aesir belief at the coast and islands, and 'House of Heaven' which has come from the south and is the lowland religion. House of Heaven seems to have focused on converting the rulers through marriages and alliances south, and subjugating the masses through them. Mormaer Duncaine and Mormaer Morai are two, while the highland Lords stay with the old pagan belief. One issue is the ideal House of Heavens belief in one man - one woman. It might attract lower commoner men since it increase their chance of marriage. But for powerful men and Lords? Only one wife and no mistresses? Fuck you and your religion! Apparently that is one of the main things splitting branches. Some House of Heaven allow two wifes, and/or a mistress or concubines.
Considering how strong King Aerikssons Kingdom seems to be, the Aesir belief have a strong foothold, and the Aesir belief have spread to at the neighbouring regions across the seas, as they raided and conquered, even if it is not exactly the same belief. Aesir practitioners doesn't care much, as it is the same Gods being worshipped and the core is the same. Arguing over details while drunk seems to be common. If someone were to mass produce a true Aesir bible that most will accept, it might make their faith stronger and help improve literacy. What they do care about is that it is far better to raid against believers of other faiths as the Gods is more likely to be on your side, and House of Heaven churches tend to stock up on wealth and be easily visible.
There are recurring religious wars in a lot of regions in Alfheimr Europe, I just don't know exactly where as I have no real idea where those regions are. Its fuzzy since there isn't any common maps. My company only knows that Frigonese speaking Rulers seems to fight each other a lot. And not just about religion. If its summer, there is probably fighting going on somewhere. But those are just arrogant fools in far away lands across the sea, where it is hard to be a warrior woman, so why should they care? The fighting is bad as mercenaries are considered expendable, and they generally don't let mercenaries loot, especially not towns or castles. Kari mainly cared because she might have ended up there.
My thoughts return to the books. There are nine books that I can't read. Two is in a language Caecilia say is Laitje, the language across the sea to the south, and her mother tongue. Five should be in Frigonese. One is in a completely different alphabet which Jalida recognizes as her mother tongue, and the last one she guesses is Elviras language, which Elvira also thinks. Jalida and Elvira cannot read, but seems to really want to read the books. Just their faces while they gently look through the books and see the writing and pictures says a lot. I give them permission to look at the books in the future - if they have no chores that needs to be done. As long as there are no guests here, they can look at the books here in the library, and put them back when they are done. It is entertaining how shocked and happy they are that I let them 'read' expensive rare books, and they can sit and 'read them' here, in the main building where their Lord and Ladies live. I'm still not used to thinking that way. We will teach them to read and write Norse, but it will be hard to find someone to teach them to read their mother tongues. Especially Jalidas.
There are some books - besides the religious ones - that I can read, which will be a good exercise in reading runes. One is a more factual story, three are Viking tales and two are a travelogue of some kind. Ciara helps me by explaining the subject of three Frigones books. One seems to be science with astronomy and math mixed in with a lot of other things. Annoying that I can not read it. The other two are another religious book and a travelogue, but on Frigonese. The last two books have what looks like Frigonese letters but she can not read the language even if it seems related and some words are the same.
I should have guessed that some of the books would be Frigones or some other language in the south where books seem to be more common than up here in the north. But that means I can't read the most interesting book. I can't read most of these. Ciara is willing to interpret, but its not optimal as she is bad in reading Frigonese. It will be annoying as hell listening to her stutter forward word by word. Getting Kari to read will be the better option, and might be the only option though. Caecilia offer the same with the two Laitje books, and she also offer to teach me Laitje. In the future maybe, for now I have enough with learning Norse well enough and all my other projects.
I add a simple flyleaf with notes about the language and subject. I'm going to make a craftsman make shelf doors with glass and a simpler lock, for books with knowledge that shouldn't be spread, but still kept here without being secret. I might even get done as stained glass to protect the books from light and especially UV light. Or just to make the library feel more luxurious. If I ever fill this small library with books, I can move some to my study or bedroom, where I will also store some of my own original works. Next year I should really start to write a heck of a lot of knowledge down. Basically do a mind dump, and a book each about subjects like geology, space, spaceflight, flight, rockets, submarines, warfare, weapons, cars, technology, computors, radio and so on.
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I scratch my cheeks and discover that they're beardy and it is time to have Ciara cut it again. I usually have Ciara cut it when I remember it every few days. Iselin and Kari wants me to let it grow into a full beard and dislike when my cheeks are too stubby, especially during oral sex, so they avoid reminding me. I have to tell Caecilia to remind me. I miss my trimmer and a good mirror. I'm seriously thinking about trying to make an electric one, or at least a pure mechanical pumped one.
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Ciara was weaving with Iselin, but immediately drop it when I asked her to trim my beard, so I stand there naked in the large bathroom and let Ciara cut me. Naked because the cutoff hair gets stuck in clothes and itches, and after trying a few ways, this is the most practical way and I just have to get used to it. Shaving technology is terrible here, but then again, so is the mens beard growth. Some men do shave their hair when they get old and bald, but few get that old.
A fold-down massage table here in the large bathroom is a good idea. Jane has already promised to translate and copy the illustrations in my massage book to Norse, she just have to learn Norse first. We will continue to carefully learn to massage, because a single book hardly makes one an expert in something that is so 'hands on' and require knowledge of anatomy, bones and nerves, but it is better than nothing.
My thoughts change track when Ciara takes the opportunity to trim more hair she thinks is getting too long, and I'm not comfortable with letting her do it. Even though it is Ciara and I probably don't have to worry, it is still sharp pointed vicious looking scissors very close to something precious, that appreciate her attention. Ciara accompanies me in the shower, to scrub all the hair away, and to make sure she is happy with the job. I miss my electric trimmer, but there are clear benefits to letting Ciara cut my hair. Guess I shouldn't rush to make that trimmer, as it makes Ciara happy in several ways.
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I play a miniature battle round with Alith, and it's basically a massacre on both sides, but in the end I have two miniatures left. It was mostly the dice that decided, which I rarely get lucky with. It is almost entertaining how dice statistics in some games go against me and I have calculated my average to make sure I'm not imagining it, and therefore always try to have a margin if I can create it.
Anyway, all the guards love the game, or well, Hillevi is unhappy that it sometimes go very badly for her, but that is the others fault and the dice - not the game.
Bodil has refined her knight, and it is clear that she understands how it must be done in order to be released from molds, and I show her how I made the mold and how the mold can be refined even more before figures are cast with it. There is a small fireplace in the guards day room where they play and spend most of their time, so I let them cast there. Casting a lead alloy inside isn't optimal, but for now I allow it. I'm not so keen on people I care about touching the lead alloy as they play, even if there isn't much contact, but painting the figures with colors might help. Unless the colors are bad, like a white base coat hardly help when that color is 'lead white'. I've asked Jane to try a few different colors and how they attach to the lead white and lead-tin alloy by using cut-offs from casting. I already have two colors for my fine electrical wires that work okay on copper, but a few more would be better, and make the figures prettier. Its more fun playing with painted figures.
Bodil is working on two 'enemies' figures, because not unexpectedly, the Vikings are the good guys in everyones eyes, especially the shield maidens. I have suggested changing so enemy figures have a different helmet and kite shield instead of a round shield, so it is easier to see the difference, and we can create two forces with different themes and not just different colors. It's a little more complicated to do another type of archer, but a different pose and armor with tabard does a lot. Making crossbow men will also help.
Nice and pretty terrain makes it more fun to play, but they also need more terrain to have more option, and Hillevi sits in my workshop and makes more small trees and shrubs from wire, metal wire, wool, wood, sawdust, paper and glue. Hillevi really wants to be able to hide her miniatures, and will start making decorated hills and rock outcrops too. Papier-mâché will be useful for that. We're planning a dedicated playing surface of 1.2x1.2m that will be reversible and have two painted surfaces. One all-green, and one that is a coastline with a sandy beach. Aliths shows her special project - a ballista instead of a figure or nature - and I shouldn't be surprised. I just smile and think weapons fanatic.
It would have been fun to build a trebuchet. Both a miniature and a real one.
While they continue to build, I make paper envelopes for fireworks, and prepare the blackpowder. King Asbjörn with company is coming to visit and fireworks would probably be appreciated. I assume they've heard of them. While it dries, I try to make half a globe in the globe template. Basically moist paper and papier-mâché, and I brush on the glue mixture Bodil said would probably work. It is not a perfect glue, but it seems to work to be diluted with water and can be absorbed by paper. It remains to be seen how this will degrade the papers ability to absorb ink and paint. My little test indicate it shouldn't be too big of a problem. Iselin helps me hold to paper while I work around it before it starts to stick together. Ciara and Kari tries to be helpful by cutting and handing me paper. It will not be the finest shape, but I can apply an outer layer of finer paper when the shape itself is finished and stable. To make this a little easier, Kari and Ciara cut the paper into arcs, and I try to force the paper out with a rounded wooden bowl surface. The idea is to use coarser paper internally and build reinforcing ridges with it as well, and it seems to be going pretty well. I will make the north and south poles extra thick because what eventually becomes the south pole will have to take the weight of the globe, and I insert a thin star shaped brass plate for the 10mm shaft. The plate will be the hub, and a washer with a pin will hold the globe in the top or bottom so that the globe can be rotated.
Jane comes in with a 'What're you doing?' with a tone that makes it clear that Jane is bored and will be a nuisance. Again. Which she soon proves by poking at everything, and asking questions. She also sarcastically asks if this wasn't meant to be a lazy day.
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I lay on my couch and wonder if I should make another game. Really want to do Role Playing Games, but board games are easier to spread and Risk might be nice, but it will be hard to figure out how to balance parts. The world as a playing field doesn't work, but I can make Europe a smaller variant with parts they might know more about, with perhaps a small part of North Africa. The balancing will be difficult and will require revisions, and I need help for the naming to be useful and correct. I can draw the cards but they will not be durable in the long run even quite thick. Maybe make them in wood? But I can live with short-lived cards. A future printing press would really help. But I should start drawing a map of Europe on large paper and work from there. The board should be mounted on wood, and be made to fold together.
I go to my study and sees Ciara sitting there copying math books. Guess she wanted to be close while still having an excuse and be useful, so I look over her work, and give her praise and kiss her cheek, before I start working on a Risk map of Europe. I start to really think about classic Risk game and balance - exactly how it is structured - and I write and sketch on a couple of large slate boards. I manage to find a couple of pictures on my mobile from when I've played with my friends, and I see the playing field and can count parts and what they give, and how they are connected. The classic playing field is interesting with some interesting sections like Australia and its isolation, which mine will not have, but has other interesting sections such as the Alps and the Pyrenees. It feels like four players may be appropriate to begin with. The pieces will be wooden; round for one, and a little bigger square for five troops.
Jane comes in and leaves the samples of painted miniatures. She wonders if we can talk, but her glances to Ciara and reluctant behaviour makes it clear she doesn't want to talk in front of Ciara. She seems depressed too. So I close the tablet and take her to my bedroom couches.