Alfheimr Renaissance

Almost all projects have been on hold for the last two weeks, but beside the wedding, it's mostly due to the weather, but I need to try making copper oxide diodes with heat, and for that I need a small high temp oven. So I repeat the build according to the same principle as with the first lab oven which is well insulated, but this one gets a vertical chamber so I can also melt metals etc in a small crucible. I make this oven smaller and it gets an existing modified manometer gas temperature gauge that can go much higher, which simply has exactly half the internal volume of its sensor tank and line, and thus gets a scale that is twice as high. The really complicated thing is that the measuring body is made of iron, since brass or copper will melted if I get it as high as I hope. The thermometer doesn't measure the temperature in the crucible, but at least it makes it possible to gather measured values over time. The thermometer is already tested with the existing lab ovens, so it's just brick work to complete the high temp oven. I hope it will be good enough. I need to make a couple of woodgas supplied bunsen burners.

When I'm working, I listen to music, LousySpy-Tansunn 'Blue Vacation F-zero' makes me think that woodblocks, xylophone or tubular bells shouldn't be that hard to do, so I start building it by just cutting blocks from wood and metal. Soon Jane, Bodil and others have gathered to hear which sound they think sounds best, and we try to find which form is most suitable and gives the right and tone. Drilling a couple of holes in the side and removing the wood in between makes another sound. Getting brass blocks cast is obviously a thing on the shopping list, and even though I can't really calculate the tone or expect that won't change from casting, it is possible to trim the brass blocks down, and we're trying use the sound speed difference between wood and brass to get similar tones-sizes, but it doesn't really seem to work, so we just have to try. At least I have a metal saw and files.

Bodil helps make wooden blocks, and we cheat by using the tablet computor to find tones and mark them. There are already exist similar instruments here, but not like a whole xylophone-glockenspiel in style, so they focus on that and blocks and tubular bells might be a compliment for the drum set as well. It's entertaining how many people want to participate in making music and musical instruments, but here in Alfheimr you have to make your own music and entertainment, and it does feel nice to work together. Instruments like guitars, lutes, violins and so on, are simply too difficult to make well, and it require skill and that makes them expensive to buy, so few have them, and most people make their own simpler instruments like drums, flutes, wooden blocks, etc. You can play music on many instruments, and making something of your own that works doesn't have to be incredibly advanced, as such groups as the Blue Man Group and Wintergatan have shown. Although that can also be incredibly fiddly and hard when quality, durability and reliability count.

After supper I introduce my long awaited Role Playing Game, with D20. It's a simplified version of the Swedish Drakar och Demoner (Dragons and Demons) system because I hate level based systems like Dungeons & Dragons, but I also had to change some races and descriptions to better fit the reality here and Aseir beliefs with its worlds. Basically, I've had to switch places between Humans and Elves and lessened the difference and that humans don't live that much longer, and removed anthropomorphic Ducks as a player race. Professions have also needed tweaking. The game world is parts of classic Drakar och Demoner world 'Ereb Altor' but limited span and a bit more realistic, so beside Iselin who have been very curious, I make a fairly large presentation of everything, not least how the system is supposed to work and the balance of an adventure group. As long as they have at least one decent combat skill and don't make completely idiotic RPG characters, they'll be fine, if the dice cooperate. The first game nights will be to learn the system and they can change roles if they want. Or die. Since Drakar och Demoner doesn't have levels and resurrection magic is so rare that you might have an epic adventure just to try to get one, even the mightiest hero might get killed by a lucky peasant or town guard. At least the players expect violence to be deadly and final. I'll be a kind Game Master, but dice combined with player idiocy and lack of self-preservation can't always be mitigated, and actions need consequences.

Surprisingly, Jane wants to participate, but she likes to over act and pretend, and she create an Elvish archer with a bit of nature magic whom she names 'Arwen'. Not hard to guess what inspired that character, but nature magic has healing, and healing is always good for the party. Especially in the Drakar och Demoner game where healing potions are uncommon, and good ones are practically non-existent. Jane show a nice sketch on Arwen. Iselin have already chosen a female human mage who knows elemental magic, and no one is surprised. Iselin is mostly disappointed that the mage becomes little more than an apprentice, but she understands that the game is about the character developing and getting better over time, and apart from several minor spells, she can zap targets with lightning. Iselin will absolutely zap something during the game. I know from experience, that someone who is creative and planning enough to play a beginners mage or apprentice well, can become a terrible mage if they survive long enough. Ciara is so very pleased when she can play an Elvish male Paladin who fights to spread the teachings of light and honour her God, and everyone realises that it is probably a romantic embellishment of her true outlook on life. That she knows a little mentalism magic is not bad, especially not in a group with two other magical schools. Caecilia surprises us the most when she doesn't make a bard, but a male Human barbarian who lives to fight and love, and after muting Iselin's protests that humans aren't barbarians, I help them both evolve that opinion into traits for their game characters, and about life goals and ideals. Kari prefers to watch, and is curious about the Game master role and what happens behind the GM screen.

There are more people who would have liked to play, but I am a far too experienced GM to have a large group of beginners. Four will be bad enough, but they have more options than three. There will probably be enough chaos, but I'll let the others watch if they are quiet and don't disturb, even though I know that is just wishful thinking.

So I introduce the setting and each character as they, for various reasons, sought refuge in a small inn one rainy and cold night...

No game adventure survives contact with players, but with some discrete manipulation from me and luck with the dice, they succeed in their mission, and when they just slightly wounded and tired manage to get back and collect their reward, their characters celebrate, and the in-game night ends when Iselin's mage accompanies Caecilia's barbarian up to the room. Our audience of mostly guards and a few visits from the rest of the staff, have been making small talk and couldn't quite avoid voicing their opinions, and Caecilia and Ciara will get a lesson in tactics until next time. Gunhild buried her head in her hands, and Alith gestured no no no in the background, but to Bodil's amusement they were completely ignored. Ciara played a proud Paladin quite well, and her comment that warriors of light don't hide in the dark, and that evil must be destroyed was wonderful, because Jane and Iselin tried to be stealthy and sneaky and avoid taking on too many enemies. Basically, Ciara did a Leroy Jenkins, with Caecilia's barbarian quick to follow. However, Iselin and Jane was quite an effective combination. Iselin's game character is a beginner mage, but she is a scheming ninja at heart, and that can be effective. The most important thing is that Jane, Iselin, Ciara and Caecilia had fun. And it was very transparent when Iselin asked if Caecilia would accompany her up to her room so that: "... we can discuss how our characters spent the night." Ciara joined me to sleep. She is happy with the game night, and she wants to play again. Her Paladin has more light to spread, to dispel the worlds darkness.