Sgt Lucus

We have received information that a group of those disgusting pagans is planning some nefarious nighttime activity, and Templehill is one of the districts they are active in. With the full moon tonight, I have assigned additional forces to assist your patrols.

Acting Sheriff Willoughby



Gentlefolk of Templehill

As you will be aware, this city has in recent years been plagued by creatures of the undead. Let me assure you that the Templehill Watch takes this matter very seriously as we strive to protect out citizens. To this end, a guard will be assigned to the Garden of Peace each night whose duty is to ensure that no corpse escapes its grave to terrorise the neighbourhood. Let me assure everyone that the cemetary is - and will remain - a safe place to visit.

However, I do urge everyone to consider cremation over interment. It is never pleasant when a long lost love one rises from the grave.

Captain Lucus



Memo

Keep an eye on the quayside. I am sure contraband is being smuggled into the city somehow, but every time we do a search we come up empty handed.  I am particular suspicious of Old Jake, who lives at the corner of Windlass and Farthing. He is well in with many of the sea captains, and he certainly has no legitimate source of income.

Lucus





Otis's accounts

Talasium-315 widgets, 12            Irongauge     56 ea  Paid
Camshaft (to blueprint), 3      Irongauge     32 ea  Paid
Oil lantern, 2                  L. Redolman   40 ea  Paid
D12 cannon assemble, 2              Irongauge    320 ea  Paid
Synthotron piston housing, 2    Irongauge    450 ea
PN31 door hinges, 6                  M. Parriod    12 ea  Paid



Trespassers will be... lunch




Intruder's Journal

Went round to Marchett's with Yammi to get him to pay up. That taffer is always whinging about how he can't afford no protection, but I see the gold on his mantlepiece.
Had another row with Ma. She says a man in my business hadn't ought to keep a journal. I says I have to; otherwise, how'd I remember how to write? Anyways, I got me big plans. Everyone knows evil warlords keep journal, so I better too. She says it'll get me into trouble.

That Reno's a pretty girl. Nice ass. At least - I think it's an ass, could be a donkey. Looks like an ass though. Asked her to come with me to the Dying Buzzard, but she said no. I think maybe she likes girls more than boys.

Ma wants me to see some stupid head-bender guy what screws with people's minds. Says I got me a "compulsion" to write me journal. She don't know nothing.

Talked to Yammi about how Reno's got great tits. You don't see hardly any birds nowadays, but she still gets them in her yard. I guess its cos she lives right on the edge of the city. She feeds them bread, and all.

Bloody high-and-mighty Irongauge come see me today. I was going to tell him where he could shove him taffo, but he said he had a job for me. Kidnap a girl! Not quite so high or mighty, is he?

Got the girl for Irongauge tonight and dumped her at his big white mansion on ??? Street. What a posh place that is, what little bit I saw of it, all white walls and marble floors. I shoulda charged twice as much. Or more.

Farg! Lost me lucky dagger what Ma gave me. She'll give me a hiding if she finds out. Bet I dropped it when I was grabbing that girl for Irongauge. Best get it right away.



Levermite's letter

Father Karras

'Tis with some sorry that I do write this missive, for I am become most concerned about Brother Irongauge. 'Twas my understanding that my duties at this church were primarily oratory - in which the Builder has seen fit to bless me and in  which I am most happy to apply myself. Latterly, Brother Irongauge has asked of me more and more. All this work I am most happy to perform in the Builder's name, but 'tis not work that suits me well.

The work on refitting the Church also has slowed considerably - seemingly as Brother Irongauge's interest has waned. While replacing the wooden walkways was conducted with alacrity soon after mine arrival here, the Church floors still sport the tiling of the Hammers and many windows likewise still require replacement. The work to replace the wooden ceiling and supports seems as distant as when I did first arrive here. I can not feel safe under roofs of fragile - and aged - wood, but Brother Irongauge considers this not.

Most recently, Brother Irongauge has asked that I attend to the church coffers, a task to which the Builder, in his wisdom, has evidently NOT molded me. Ne'ertheless, even mine eyes, fallible though they are in this regard, have seen disturbing irregularities. Just this last day, a large quantity of coins hast disappeared from the coffers, and I can think of none but Brother Irongauge who might have done it. For sooth, a common thief might be considered, were it not that the majority of the coins were not taken. What thief would not leave the chest empty, I ponder?

I am disturbed also by Brother Irongauge's countenance in recent weeks. He appears e'ermore distracted, and his mood doth swing from jubilation to deep depression with neither rhyme nor reason. I do not doubt Brother Irongauge's commitment to the Builder and to our cause, but he is but made of weak flesh and blood.

Your obedient servant

Brother Levermite







Ecology of the Common Rock Beast, Petreus Beastialis Vulgaris

As the study continued it became increasingly apparent that the Rock Beast has a mystical metabolism, allowing it to consume rocks to sustain it. A simplistic energetic calculation quickly shows such a diet would be insufficient to provide the energy required for ambulation; the calorific value of the rocks is minimal to say the least. Indeed, the Rock Beast produces dung that is actually higher in energy than the food it consumes. This dung has a number of surprising properties that lend further support to the mystical metabolism hypothesis - but this will be the subject of a later monograph.

Surprisingly, the Rock Beast shows some signs of personal hygiene; it leaves its dung in a specific location, at the back of its cave, rather than defecating indiscriminatantly. Nevertheless, the suspicion is that this is an instinctive behaviour, and not what we would regard as a sign of intelligence.

Finally, if the author might be permitted an idle moment's speculation: The Rock Beast shows a number of features that are suggestive of a creature designed with intent. As a species, it is unique in several regards setting it apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. It shows behavior that would be desirable in a domesticated animal (albeit it one that has gone feral). An ability to eat rocks makes this large creature very cheap to feed, and perhaps offers a clue to why it was created. Is it possible that this animal was originally designed, created and employed to dig tunnels for the precursors?






I have a fairly length diary written by a mechanist in my up-coming mission, and wanted to get the language right (it is important, see a current thread in the general discussion forum). I found these two web sites:

http://www.idir.net/~ipsifend/grammar.html
http://www.cloudnet.com/~renfest/renspeak.htm

singular          plural
1st     2nd       1st  2nd
-----------------------------
I       thou      we   you
me      thee      us   ye
my/mine thy/thine our  yours

Use my and thy if the next word starts with a constanent, mine and thine for a vowel, so "my heart" and "thine eyes".

Verbs

Most are like drink. For the past tense, consider "drinkt" or "did drink" rather than drinked.

I    drink     am   do    have  
thou drinkest  art  dost  hast
he   drinketh  is   doth  hath  
we   drink     are  do    have
ye   drink     are  do    have
they drink     are  do    have

Do not use modern contractions (don't, I'll, etc.), but try there instead:
‘tis it's or it is 
‘twas it was 
‘twould it would 
‘twill it will 
‘twere it were 
is't is it? 
shan’t shall not or will not 

e'en even, also evening 
e'er ever 
"ere before 
ne'er never 
o'er over 
e'en even 
