MILLS AND QUERNS Hand querns are certainly a feature of every Sartarite hearth, but since grinding is such a time consuming, tedious activity, and easily done by a bound spirit, in my own campaign every domestic woman and man yearns for the jewelled, bronze-carved magical hand mills, which (not surprisingly given my prime literary inspirations) are called sampos. They are very effective courting gifts, though difficult to obtain - associated with Deezola and Esrola.
Capital letter Sampos approach the major widgit status of the Kalevalan original, and will be stead or clan treasures.
He forged the sampo with skill:
one one side there's a corn mill
on the second a salt mill
a money mill on the third.
And then the new Sampo ground
and the bright lid rocked;
ground a binful at twilight -
one binful to eat
another it ground to sell
and a third to store at home.
Kalevala Runo X. (Keith Bosley translation - Oxford World Classics).
Water mill technology will slowly be spreading eastward into Sartar. Windmill driven mills may ocassionally pop up, but unless kept ritually pure by ceremony and sacrifice might attract unwanted (and terminal) attention from Gift Carriers of the Sending Gods.
John
nysalor_at_primus.com.au John Hughesjohnp.hughes_at_dva.gov.au
A merciless war I will declare!
I will make incursions through the fertile land of Ireland,
my battalions all in arms / my amazons beside me
not just to steal a bull / not over beast this battle
but for an honour price a thousand times
more precious - My Dignity!
I will make fierce incursions.
'Medb Speaks'. Nualla Ni Dhomhnaill.
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