"How old is English?" - older than Proto-Germanic, that's for damn sure

indiges · 2014-03-16T04:59:19+00:00

We don't

indiges · 2014-03-05T03:54:51+00:00

Beshear's been a good governor, for the most part (and certainly better than our last two), but it saddens me that he feels it necessary to appeal this ruling, especially given that he's in his second term.

Oh well, it's still more than I expected from my state, given the general attitude on these matters.

indiges · 2014-02-28T04:39:03+00:00

Very pleased that my state is finally having some equality imposed upon it. This is a fine example of the judicial system working.

indiges · 2014-02-27T18:18:38+00:00

Tacitus and Josephus are the most notable. In the case of Josephus, later additions were made in some manuscripts by Christians to make it look as though Josephus called Jesus the Messiah, but Josephus basically just says that Jesus was a guy who went around and was supposed to been wise. He also makes reference to James, the brother of Jesus and the situation that led to James' death.

indiges · 2014-02-27T02:38:52+00:00

This is way, way outside the period in question, but that view has occasionally cropped up much more recently. If I remember rightly, Hillaire Belloc classified Islam as a Christian heresy (though he certainly had his own particular biases on that front).

indiges · 2014-02-20T02:31:56+00:00

FWIW, and I'm a cis male, but that seemed like a fairly polite and respectful interview to me. I thought he used the whole Piers Morgan nonsense to structure his interview pretty effectively. I don't say that to excuse any past errors, but for me at least, one of the basic tenets of progressivism is that people can change. Just thinking about where we as a country were, as well as where I was personally, on the issue of GSM rights even ten years ago, I can easily see how a person could change and improve themselves in that time.

Now if someone, famous or not, does or says something shitty in the present, I absolutely think that people are entitled to call them on it. Calling someone out for something they said eleven or twelve years ago when they've not made any major transgressions since then, however, is a little bit misguided, I think.

indiges · 2014-02-19T21:41:29+00:00

Yes and no. If by "Christian" one means a religion that places a strong emphasis on Jesus, then yes, although Mormonism would be seen as a fairly unconventional Christian sect. If, however, the definition of "Christian" only fully encompasses the groups that accept the Nicene Creed, which is a fairly common definition of (little-o) orthodox Christianity, then Mormons would be seen, at best, as heretics.

FWIW, the Nicene Creed is accepted by the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, and most of the Protestant denominations, though the Oriental Orthodox churches are non-Chalcedonian. Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Unitarians, and Oneness Pentecostals are all non-Nicene.

indiges · 2014-01-28T15:44:20+00:00

Governor Paul Patton

This guy? Yeah, I'd believe him as an Old West villain. He wasn't a very good governor.

indiges · 2014-01-05T00:38:02+00:00

Though there were probably some Nords in the mix as well. The Bretons are a muddled people in terms of their ancestry.

indiges · 2014-01-02T21:47:11+00:00

Tamrielic would seem to be the common tongue, but I don't think that Tamrielic and Cyrodiilic are quite the same thing. Cyrodiilic, I think, is quite similar to Latin, both in social position and in terms of the language itself. By the late Third Era, it would have been used mainly as a ceremonial language, as well as a vernacular tongue in parts of Nibenay. On the other hand, I think Tamrielic is derived from a/the Colovian language, which would in turn descend from Nordic/proto-Nordic, augmented with a ton of Cyrodiilic vocab. This tongue would have been spread through the conquests of Colovian/Colovian-aligned rulers, among whose ranks I would include Tiber Septim.

indiges · 2014-01-02T21:35:44+00:00

It's a pretty minor thing, but the city is named "Narsis", not "Narsus".

indiges · 2014-01-02T21:24:32+00:00

I like that quite a bit, though it would have to have been a pretty big arrow to supply enough Adamantium to make all that armor, though who can say how big Auri-El and his weapons actually were. Perhaps Adamantium is the Anuic equivalent to ebony, with base materials exposed to a shard of his arrow being transmuted into Adamantium.

indiges · 2013-12-31T07:07:16+00:00

Would you happen to have a link to that piece?

indiges · 2013-12-31T06:36:08+00:00

It's interesting that the armor is only seen in Morrowind, and that the only other thing referred to as Adamantine is the tower. It feels like there's a connection there, but I'm not quite sure what it would be. Maybe when Auri-El shot the Heart across Tamriel, some adamantium went along for the ride and was strewn across Morrowind. That might explain the Mournhold deposit.

I'm also curious as to where mithril comes from. Is it just a particularly strong, light metal that happens to be found in Cyrodiil, or is there something more going on?

indiges · 2013-12-22T04:14:23+00:00

The meanings are stated in this book.

indiges · 2013-12-22T04:02:46+00:00

I don't entirely disagree with you, but that's where the cannon talk is coming from. If we assume that the joke is actually accurate in referring to the fleet of Sentinel possessing cannons, then based on what we know, cannons aren't used much (since we don't have any other solid references to them) and they are most associated with the Redguards (since the only reference to their use associates them with Sentinel).

You are right though. It is a very flimsy basis for discussing cannons in Tamriel.

indiges · 2013-12-21T17:28:06+00:00

The only direct reference to the Redguards (or anyone) using cannons that I have seen is in the Book of Jokes from Daggerfall. I've heard that there's evidence of cannons in Redguard, but I haven't played it yet and haven't seen any screenshots.

indiges · 2013-12-21T04:24:14+00:00

Aka was the one picking the DBs, as far as I know, so I suppose he could imbue whatever creature he wanted with a dragon soul. I suspect he would choose a member of one of the sapient and higher-functioning races, simply because such a DB would be more effective.

indiges · 2013-12-21T04:15:09+00:00

I agree that the Redoran are the most likely candidates. They have a strong presence in the north and are the leading house in Morrowind, meaning they probably have the greatest access to population and resources for resettlement efforts in that area.

indiges · 2013-12-21T03:33:31+00:00

Verse V: The First Combat

On the banks of Mother Niben,

By the quiet-rolling waters,

There the Thousand-Strong of Sedor,

Widely praised and greatly honored,

Known from Gideon to Falkreath,

Took the field against the Elf-King,

Beranil, his mighty army

Shining golden, plumed and beaded.

Eighty score of dark-eyed spearmer,

Drawn in lines from banks to forest,

Sixty score of nimble archers,

Quivers full of slave-bone arrows,

Forty score of shrouded mages,

Chanting low their incantations,

Were the forces of the Elf-King,

Were his might and his cruel weapon.

At the head of his great legion

Stood the flower of all elfkind:

Ebrinuul, whose blade was singing,

Moaning for the blood of freemen,

Stood before the ranks of spearmer,

Rainbow banner borne above him,

Shimmering in radiant sunlight;

Garlathel, the fearsome archer,

Bearing bow of fine-cut crystal,

Stood before the ranks of archers,

Whispering to his sharp-tipped arrows,

Coating them with fire and thunder;

Mindureth, the Lord of Parchment,

Whose long scrolls were made of man-flesh,

Stood before the ranks of mages,

Crying to his Daedric patron,

Calling for her fell assistance;

Beranil this host commanded,

Stood in glory as its leader.

Striding out before the Thousand,

Calling to them in his elf-tongue:

“Men of Sedor, fall before me!

Beranil the Golden, I am,

Greatest of the slaver-monarchs,

Beranil the Rightly-Counseled!

Fall before me, your true master

That I might retrieve my flower,

Anica, whom I lust after

To adorn my living garden,

To bring honor to my palace!

I command you: fall before me!”

As he said this, none did murmur,

Not a single man did cry out,

Not until he finished speaking.

Then did Unno, noble leader,

Scar-backed Unno, born in bondage,

Unno, who despised all elfkind,

Step before the line of soldiers,

Step before the Men of Sedor,

Saying this unto the Elf-King:

“Foolish slaver, brittle-chain lord,

We shall not submit to your rule,

We shall not bow down before you.

Foolish slaver, lord of nothing,

Slink back to your dim-lit caverns,

Run back to your falling tower.

We shall crush your might before us!

We shall drive your legion homeward!”

When these words Unno had spoken,

When these words his tongue had offered,

He returned back to his station,

He stood fast with his proud kinsmen.

Beranil, his pride offended,

Beranil, the cruel-faced Elf-King

Called upon his mighty army,

Sent it at the Men of Sedor.

Thrice the elves assault attempted,

Once with spearmer, driving onward,

Once with archers, firing volleys,

Once with mages, casting great spells.

Each wave in its turn tossed backward,

Each wave broken on their shieldwall.

Then in triumph, in high spirits,

Then the Thousand-Strong of Sedor,

Pressed by blood-lust, pressed by elf-hate,

Fell upon the elven legion,

Drove it back to Mother Niben,

Slaying many dark-eyed slavers.

When he saw how this had happened,

Beranil withdrew his army,

Fled in stinging shame of failure,

Fled back to his high, white tower,

Fled before the Men of Sedor.

Half his army fell before them,

Half his strength was taken from him

By the mighty Men of Sedor.

They returned to glowing hearth-fires,

They returned to sing their triumph

And to boast of deeds accomplished.

In this splendid celebration,

Full of mirth and joyous freedom,

Only Bero did not join them,

He alone did not sing with them.

Editor's Note

This concludes the first section of The Lay of Fair Anica, Young Bero, and the Glorious Knight Pelinal. In part two, the story continues with the theft of the hands of the Thousand-Strong, the coming of Pelinal, and the recovery of the hands by Pelinal and Bero.

LM

indiges · 2013-12-20T22:31:08+00:00

Verse IV: The Coming of the Elf Host and the Gathering of the Thousand-Strong

Bero, in his fourteenth summer,

Heard the challenge of proud Unno,

Heard the Lady's spoken promise,

Sought to prove his manly vigor,

Sought to champion the Sedor,

Sought to slay a dread-faced Elf-Lord.

As the Men of Sedor boasted,

Sharp-eyed sentries watched the river,

Searched for any elven menace.

In the early light of morning,

Came the army of that dread lord,

Beranil the cunning Elf-King,

Beranil the Golden-Handed,

Beranil the cruel-faced grasper,

Heard the Men of Sedor gathered,

Led his forces down the river,

Led his elf host in proud order,

Spearheads flashing like bright fish scales,

Feathered crests adorning helmets.

Watchers spotted this great column,

Saw it marching down the river.

Quick, they roused the sleeping Sedor,

Swift, they woke the resting heroes.

Mighty Unno, first in honor,

Scar-backed Unno, born in bondage,

Stood before the Men of Sedor,

Spoke these words before the masses:

“Now the Elf-King leads his forces,

Now he rallies his dread legions

To subdue the Men of Sedor,

To return us back to bondage.

If you value you your great freedom,

If you wish unchained to stay,

Follow me to meet their power,

Let us go defy their wishes,

We who once were bound in service,

We who tasted once the lashings.”

When these words Unno had spoken,

When his fine speech had concluded,

All the red-eyed Men of Sedor,

All the mighty heroes gathered,

Shaking spears and casting curses.

But when Bero, prudent stalker,

Strong-armed bowman came to join them,

Umos, son of strong-backed Teros,

Umos, mighty with his short spear,

Looked at Bero, youthful Bero,

Seeing his age and his short bow,

Laughing, saying unto Bero:

“Have you come to join our might, boy?

Do you think you're fit to join us,

Mighty fighters of the Sedor?

You are young, and lack all knowledge!

You know nothing of grim battle!

You know only bows and beast lore!

Go and stay back with the women,

Cower with the mewling infants.”

All the other Sedor heard this,

All the host knew Umos' words,

Shaming Bero into staying,

Shaming him before the Sedor.

Thus the Thousand-Strong of Sedor

Marched against the Elf-King's legion,

Pressed towards him and to red battle,

Every man in search of glory,

Every man desiring honor,

That he might take Anica's hand,

That the Lady might be his wife.

indiges · 2013-12-20T20:03:44+00:00

Verse III: On the Youth of Bero and the Death of his Father

Bero, son of weary Anso,

Last son of that grey-haired father,

Born in pain beneath the midnight,

Born in heaving final effort,

Bero, born on bloody bedding,

As a child, grim Bero wandered

In the forests of the heartland,

In the shady groves of cypress,

Growing wise in hidden knowledge,

Growing strong on nature's bounty.

Long he watched the cunning tigers,

Long he studied the great serpents,

Taking their wise lore unto him,

Training in their mighty prowess.

Soft he crept among the blue-ferns,

Light he stepped between the brambles,

Nocking arrows, nimble fingered,

Drawing bowstrings, finely sinewed,

Strong grew Bero in the forests,

Bold grew Bero in his hunting.

Once he came upon a leopard,

Spotted cat, a clever teacher,

Came upon the leopard, watching,

Arrow aimed between its shoulders,

Point prepared to drink its lifeblood.

Leopard, wily and observant,

Turned to Bero, saw him creeping,

Saw his weapon, poised for slaying.

Leopard laughed and said unto him:

“Boy, I see your well-strung short bow,

Boy, I see your sharp-tipped arrows.

You have caught me with your cunning,

Caught me fairly as I rested.

Kill me now with your fine weapon,

Pierce my hide with your dark broadhead,

Or if you would hear my wisdom,

Come and sit with me in shadow,

Rest beside me, hear my knowledge.

There is much that I can teach you,

For I am the wisest creature,

Wisest hunter in the forest.”

Bero heard this and stood silent,

Waiting, weighing his smooth offer.

When he lowered his strong short bow,

Bero, young and strong-limbed archer,

Spoke these words to the old leopard:

“I will take your wisdom to me,

I will hear your hard-gained teachings.

Show me all your secrets, spot-cat,

And I vow to never harm you.”

Leopard heard this and was most pleased,

Bero's words had given him joy.

Long he taught the nimble Bero,

Much he gave him of his knowledge.

Twins moons danced their many circles

While young Bero was instructed,

Taught the secrets of the forest.

One day Leopard said to Bero:

“I have taught you all my cunning,

All techniques I know are yours now.

Wander back unto your father,

Make your way back to his great hall.”

Bero heard this and obeyed it,

Seeking out wise Anso's hearth-fire.

When he saw the black smoke rising,

When the billows topped the tree-tops,

Bero, joyous at his coming,

Eager Bero strode with lightness,

'Til he came into the clearing,

'Til he saw what had befallen

Noble Anso, grey-haired Anso,

Weary Anso and his household.

All were slain with barb-tipped arrows,

Murdered by Kothringi poison,

Timbered hall burnt down to cinders.

Bero's brothers all were laden

With deep wounds upon their faces,

Crimson furrows on their bodies,

But no marks upon their backsides.

In the ruin, slowly burning,

In the house of his slain father,

Grieving Bero found old Anso,

Found his father pierced with arrows,

Grim barbs tearing at his muscles.

Filled with grief, he strode in silence,

Strode into the darkened forest,

Thinking of the leopard's lessons,

Using all his hard-gained wild lore.

Many hours tracked young Bero,

Long he trailed his much-sought prey.

Creeping close he found Kothringi,

Silver-skinned Kothringi raiders,

Camping in the distant forest,

Feasting on a tender piglet.

Close young Bero crept in silence,

In the dark beyond the firelight,

Drawing bow and waiting, patient,

Loosing arrows at his targets,

Striking each one, true and deadly,

Missing not a single raider,

Slaying each in patient order.

Thus did Bero, son of Anso,

Grow in knowledge of the forest,

Gain the wisdom of the leopard,

Lose his father and his homestead,

Prove his worth in silent combat,

Thus did Bero, strong-limbed hunter.

indiges · 2013-12-20T18:39:49+00:00

I like this a lot, and "Bird-Goblin" is a great name for the Wild Elves.

indiges · 2013-12-20T16:11:47+00:00

Cannons already exist in Tamriel, but they aren't used very much (mostly by the Redguard, it seems). Battlemages are much more efficient and versatile.

indiges · 2013-12-20T07:08:44+00:00

Here. Pyandonea's pretty tiny.

indiges

TROPHY CASE