As he fumbled the lock, a gust of wind came along, wrenched the door from his hand and swung it open. To close it, he had to step out on the porch, and, when he stepped back into the house, the two little girls were standing within. They were two poor beggar girls, ragged, dirty, and starving — two little tots bent under the burden of their beggar's packs, which were as large as themselves. The two children did not answer immediately, but first removed their packs.
Then they walked up to the man and stretched forth their tiny hands in greeting. He did not take the outstretched hands and was just about to drive out the beggar children, when a fresh recollection faced him. The widow had owed his father a few hundred kroner and in order to get back his money he had sold her cabin. After that the widow, with her three eldest children, went to Norrland to seek employment, and the two youngest became a charge on the parish. As he called this to mind he grew bitter.
He knew that his father had been severely censured for squeezing out that money, which by right belonged to him. Why do you roam around and beg? Now you'd better take out some of the food you have with you and eat your fill, for here you'll get no food, as all the women folk are in bed. Later you may lie down in the corner by the hearth, so you won't have to freeze.
He waved his hand, as if to ward them off, and his eyes took on a hard look. He was thankful that he had had a father who had been careful of his property. Otherwise, he might perhaps have been forced in childhood to run about and beg, as these children now did. No sooner had he thought this out to the end than the shrill, mocking voice he had heard once before that evening repeated it, word for word.
He listened, and at once understood that it was nothing — only the wind roaring in the chimney. But the queer thing about it was, when the wind repeated his thoughts, they seemed so strangely stupid and hard and false! The children meanwhile had stretched themselves, side by side, on the floor. They were not quiet, but lay there muttering. But the mumbling continued, and again he called for silence. I must do this, and Britta Maja too. As soon as we have said 'God who cares for little children —' we'll be quiet. The master sat quite still while the little ones said their prayers, then he rose and began pacing back and forth, back and forth, wringing his hands all the while, as though he had met with some great sorrow.
Perhaps father did not do right after all? He sat down again and buried his head in his hands. Suddenly his lips began to quiver and into his eyes came tears, which he hastily wiped away. Fresh tears came, and he was just as prompt to brush these away; but it was useless, for more followed.
When his mother stepped into the room, he swung his chair quickly and turned his back to her. She must have noticed something unusual, for she stood quietly behind him a long while, as if waiting for him to speak. She realized how difficult it always is for men to talk of the things they feel most deeply. She must help him of course. From her bedroom she had observed all that had taken place in the living room, so that she did not have to ask any questions.
She walked very softly over to the two sleeping children, lifted them, and bore them to her own bed. Then she went back to her son. He could not speak, for now the tears were beyond his control; but he took his old mother's withered hand and patted it. As long as father lived we had to obey him. Now is the time to show what you are. Father experienced hard times, which made him fear poverty. He believed that he had to think of himself first. But you have never had any difficulties that should make you hard. You have more than you need, and it would be unnatural of you not to think of others.
When the two little girls entered the house the boy slipped in behind them and secreted himself in a dark corner. He had not been there long before he caught a glimpse of the shed key, which the farmer had thrust into his coat pocket. But the children were not driven out and the boy crouched in the corner, not knowing what he should do next. The mother talked long with her son, and while she was speaking he stopped weeping. Gradually his features softened; he looked like another person. All the while he was stroking the wasted old hand. There's a stranger without whom I must shelter to-night!
He said nothing further, but quickly drew on his coat, lit the lantern and went out. There were the same wind and chill without, but as he stepped to the porch he began to sing softly. He wondered if the horse would know him, and if he would be glad to come back to his old stable. A moment later he stood by the shed and was just going to shut the door, when he heard a rustling within. The boy, who had watched his opportunity, had run directly to the shed, where he left the animals, but they were no longer out in the rain: A strong wind had long since thrown open the door and helped them to get a roof over their heads.
The patter which the master heard was occasioned by the boy running into the shed. By the light of the lantern the man could see into the shed. The whole floor was covered with sleeping cattle. There was no human being to be seen; the animals were not bound, but were lying, here and there, in the straw. He was enraged at the intrusion and began storming and shrieking to rouse the sleepers and drive them out.
But the creatures lay still and would not let themselves be disturbed. The only one that rose was an old horse that came slowly toward him. All of a sudden the man became silent. He recognized the beast by its gait. He raised the lantern, and the horse came over and laid its head on his shoulder. The master patted and stroked it. Yes, dear, I'll buy you back. You'll never again have to leave this place. You shall do whatever you like, horsy mine!
Those whom you have brought with you may remain here, but you shall come with me to the stable. Now I can give you all the oats you are able to eat, without having to smuggle them. And you're not all used up, either! The handsomest horse on the church knoll — that's what you shall be once more! THE following day the weather was clear and beautiful. There was a strong west wind; people were glad of that, for it dried up the roads, which had been soaked by the heavy rains of the day before.
The morning sun darted its clear rays upon the ice, which did not look dark and forbidding, like most spring ice, but sparkled temptingly. As far as they could see, the ice was firm and dry. The rain had run down into cracks and hollows, or been absorbed by the ice itself. The children saw only the sound ice.
Osa, the goose girl, and little Mats were on their way North, and they could not help thinking of all the steps they would be saved if they could cut straight across the lake instead of going around it. They knew, to be sure, that spring ice is treacherous, but this looked perfectly secure. They could see that it was several inches thick near the shore.
They saw a path which they might follow, and the opposite shore appeared to be so near that they ought to be able to get there in an hour. So they went out on the lake. The ice was not very slippery, but rather easy to walk upon. There was more water on it than they expected to see, and here and there were cracks, where the water purled up. One had to watch out for such places; but that was easy to do in broad daylight, with the sun shining. The children advanced rapidly, and talked only of how sensible they were to have gone out on the ice instead of tramping the slushy road.
When they had been walking a while they came to Vin Island, where an old woman had sighted them from her window. She rushed from her cabin, waved them back, and shouted something which they could not hear. They understood perfectly well that she was warning them not to come any father; but they thought there was no immediate danger. It would be stupid for them to leave the ice when all was going so well! Out there was so much water that the children were obliged to take roundabout ways; but that was sport to them. They vied with each other as to which could find the soundest ice.
They were neither tired nor hungry. The whole day was before them, and they laughed at each obstacle they met. Now and then they cast a glance ahead at the farther shore. It still appeared far away, although they had been walking a good hour. They were rather surprised that the lake was so broad. Out there the children were not protected against the wind, which was becoming stronger and stronger every minute, and was pressing their clothing so close to their bodies that they could hardly go on. The cold wind was the first disagreeable thing that they had met with on the journey.
But the amazing part of it was that the wind came sweeping along with a loud roar — as if it brought with it the noise of a large mill or factory, though nothing of the kind was to be found out there on the ice. They had walked to the west of the big island, Valen; now they thought they were nearing the north shore. Suddenly the wind began to blow more and more, while the loud roaring increased so rapidly that they began to feel uneasy. All at once it occurred to them that the roar was caused by the foaming and rushing of the waves breaking against a shore. Even this seemed improbable, since the lake was still covered with ice.
At all events, they paused and looked about. They noticed far in the west a white bank which stretched clear across the lake. At first they thought it was a snowbank alongside a road. Later they realized it was the foam-capped waves dashing against the ice! They took hold of hands and ran without saying a word. Open sea lay beyond in the west, and suddenly the streak of foam appeared to be moving eastward. They wondered if the ice was going to break all over. What was going to happen? They felt now that they were in great danger. All at once it seemed as if the ice under their feet rose — rose and sank, as if some one from below were pushing it.
Presently they heard a hollow boom, and then there were cracks in the ice all around them. The children could see how they crept along under the ice-covering. The next moment all was still, then the rising and sinking began again. Thereupon the cracks began to widen into crevices through which the water bubbled up. By and by the crevice became gaps. Soon after that the ice was divided into large floes. As a matter of fact, the wind and waves had a good deal of work to do yet to clear the ice from the lake.
The hardest part was done when the ice-cake burst into pieces, but all these pieces must be broken and hurled against each other, to be crushed, worn down, and dissolved. There was still a great deal of hard and sound ice left, which formed large, unbroken surfaces. The greatest danger for the children lay in the fact that they had no general view of the ice. They did not see the places where the gaps were so wide that they could not possibly jump over them, nor did they know where to find any floes that would hold them, so they wandered aimlessly back and forth, going farther out on the lake instead of nearer land.
At last, confused and terrified, they stood still and wept. Then a flock of wild geese in rapid flight came rushing by. They shrieked loudly and sharply; but the strange thing was that above the geese-cackle the little children heard these words:. Again they heard the geese shrieking above them, and again, amid the geese-cackle, they distinguished a few words:. The children did not say a word to each other, but obeyed and stood still. Soon after that the ice-floes floated together, so that they could cross the gap.
Then they took hold of hands again and ran. They were afraid not only of the peril, but of the mysterious help that had come to them. This leading continued for about half an hour; by that time they had reached Ljunger Point, where they left the ice and waded to shore. They were still terribly frightened, even though they were on firm land.
They did not stop to look back at the lake — where the waves were pitching the ice-floes faster and faster — but ran on. When they had gone a short distance along the point, Osa paused suddenly. Osa, the goose girl, went down to the strand again, where she stopped to rummage in her bag. Finally she fished out a little wooden shoe, which she placed on a stone where it could be plainly seen. Then she ran to little Mats without once looking back. But the instant her back was turned, a big white goose shot down from the sky, like a streak of lightening, snatched the wooden shoe, and flew away with it.
WHEN the wild geese and Thumbietot had helped Osa, the goose girl, and little Mats across the ice, they flew into Westmanland, where they alighted in a grain field to feed and rest. A strong west wind blew almost the entire day on which the wild geese travelled over the mining districts, and as soon as they attempted to direct their course northward they were buffeted toward the east. Now, Akka thought that Smirre fox was at large in the eastern part of the province; therefore she would not fly in that direction, but turned back, time and again, struggling westward with great difficulty.
At this rate the wild geese advanced very slowly, and late in the afternoon they were still in the Westmanland mining districts. Toward evening the wind abated suddenly, and the tired travellers hoped that they would have an interval of easy flight before sundown. Then along came a violent gust of wind, which tossed the geese before it, like balls, and the boy, who was sitting comfortably, with no thought of peril, was lifted from the goose's back and hurled into space.
Little and light as he was, he could not fall straight to the ground in such a wind; so at first he was carried along with it, drifting down slowly and spasmodically, as a leaf falls from a tree. Morten Goosey-Gander will doubtless hurry along and pick me up. The first thing the boy did when he landed was to tear off his cap and wave it, so that the big white gander should see where he was.
Here am I, where are you? But the big white gander was not to be seen, nor was the wild goose flock outlined against the sky. It had entirely disappeared. He thought this rather singular, but he was neither worried nor frightened. Not for a second did it occur to him that folk like Akka and Morten Goosey-Gander would abandon him. The unexpected gust of wind had probably borne them along with it. As soon as they could manage to turn, they would surely come back and fetch him. But what was this? Where on earth was he anyway? He had been standing gazing toward the sky for some sign of the geese, but now he happened to glance about him.
He had not come down on even ground, but had dropped into a deep, wide mountain cave — or whatever it might be. It was as large as a church, with almost perpendicular walls on all four sides, and with no roof at all. On the ground were some huge rocks, between which moss and lignon-brush and dwarfed birches grew. Here and there in the wall were projections, from which swung rickety ladders. At one side there was a dark passage, which apparently led far into the mountain. The boy had not been travelling over the mining districts a whole day for nothing.
He comprehended at once that the big cleft had been made by the men who had mined ore in this place. He was about to go over to the wall when some one seized him from behind, and he heard a gruff voice growl in his ear: The boy turned quickly, and , in the confusion of the moment, he thought he was facing a huge rock, covered with brownish moss. Then he noticed that the rock had broad paws to walk with, a head, two eyes, and a growling mouth. He could not pull himself together to answer, nor did the big beast appear to expect it of him, for it knocked him down, rolled him back and forth with its paws, and nosed him.
It seemed just about ready to swallow him, when it changed its mind and called:. A pair of frowzy cubs, as uncertain on their feet and as woolly as puppies, came tumbling along. The mother bear pushed the boy along to the cubs. One of them nabbed him quickly and ran off with him; but he did not bite hard. He was playful and wanted to amuse himself awhile with Thumbietot before eating him. The other cub was after the first one to snatch the boy for himself, and as he lumbered along he managed to tumble straight down on the head of the one that carried the boy. So the two cubs rolled over each other, biting, clawing and snarling.
During the tussle the boy got loose, ran over to the wall, and started to scale it. Then both cubs scurried after him, and, nimbly scaling the cliff, they caught up with him and tossed him down on the moss, like a ball. He made several attempts to get away.
He ran deep down into the old tunnel and hid behind the rocks and climbed the birches, but the cubs hunted him out, go where he would. The instant they caught him they let him go, so that he could run away again and they should have the fun of recapturing him. As it was bedtime, Mother Bear called to the cubs that they must come now and cuddle up to her and go to sleep. They had been having such a good time that they wished to continue their play next day; so they took the boy between them and laid their paws over him.
They did not want him to move without waking them.
Further Adventures of Nils.
They went to sleep immediately. The boy thought that after a while he would try to steal away. But never in all his life had he been so tumbled and tossed and hunted and rolled! And he was so tired out that he too fell asleep. By and by Father Bear came clambering down the mountain wall. The boy was wakened by his tearing away stone and gravel as he swung himself into the old mind. The boy was afraid to move much; but he managed to stretch himself and turn over, so that he could see the big bear.
He was a frightfully coarse, huge old beast, with great paws, large, glistening tusks, and wicked little eyes! The boy could not help shuddering as he looked at this old monarch of the forest. Father Bear lay down beside Mother Bear. Talk, instead , of what you have been doing. I haven't seen you for a whole week! There wasn't a bear's den left in the whole forest. I wonder where we could move to in order to live in peace? Old mine pits are plentiful there, too, and other fine retreats.
I thought it looked as if one might be fairly well protected against men — ". The bear walked all around the cave, and nosed. Finally he went back and lay down without a word. Then he leaped up with a roar. As luck would have it, one of the cubs had moved a paw over to Nils Holgersson's face and the poor little wretch could not breathe, but began to sneeze. It was impossible for Mother Bear to keep Father Bear back any longer. He pushed the young ones to right and left and caught sight of the boy before he had time to sit up.
He belongs to the cubs," she said. I shall eat him at once, or he will play us some mean trick. He opened his jaws again; but meanwhile the boy had had time to think, and, quick as a flash, he dug into his knapsack and brought forth some matches — his sole weapon of defence — struck one on his leather breeches, and stuck the burning match into the bear's open mouth.
Father Bear snorted when he smelled sulphur, and with that the flame went out. The boy was ready with another match, but, curiously enough, Father Bear did not repeat his attack. Now I'm very glad that I did not eat you! Father Bear carefully took the boy between his tusks and climbed up from the pit. He did this with remarkable ease and agility, considering that he was so big and heavy. As soon as he was up, he speedily made for the woods. It was evident that Father Bear was created to squeeze through dense forests.
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The heavy body pushed through the brushwood as a boat does through the water. Father Bear ran along till he came to a hill at the skirt of the forest, where he could see the big noise-shop. Here he lay down and placed the boy in front of him, holding him securely between his forepaws. The great ironworks, with many tall buildings, stood at the edge of a waterfall. High chimneys sent forth dark clouds of smoke, blasting furnaces were in full blaze, and light shone from all the windows and apertures.
Within hammers and rolling mills were going with such force that the air rang with their clatter and boom. All around the workshops proper were immense coal sheds, great slag heaps, warehouses, wood piles, and tool sheds.
The Further Adventures of Batman
Just beyond were long rows of workingmen's homes, pretty villas, schoolhouses, assembly halls, and shops. But there all was quiet and apparently everybody was asleep. The boy did not glance in that direction, but gazed intently at the ironworks. The earth around them was black; the sky above them was like a great fiery dome; the rapids, white with foam, rushed by; while the buildings themselves were sending out light and smoke, fire and sparks. It was the grandest sight the boy had ever seen! The boy stood wedged between the beast's paws thinking the only thing that might save him would be that the bear should have a high opinion of his capability and power.
From them I inherited hunting grounds and pastures, lairs and retreats, and have lived here in peace all my life. In the beginning I wasn't troubled much by the human kind. They dug in the mountains and picked up a little ore down here, by the rapids; they had a forge and a furnace, but the hammers sounded only a few hours during the day, and the furnace was not fired more than two moons at a stretch. It wasn't so bad but that I could stand it; but these last years, since they have built this noise-shop, which keeps up the same racket both day and night, life here has become intolerable.
Formerly only a manager and a couple of blacksmiths lived here, but now there are so many people that I can never feel safe from them. I thought that I should have to move away, but I have discovered something better! The boy wondered what Father Bear had hit upon, but no opportunity was afforded him to ask, as the bear took him between his tusks again and lumbered down the hill.
The boy could see nothing, but knew by the increasing noise that they were approaching the rolling mills. Father Bear was well informed regarding the ironworks. He had prowled around there on many a dark night, had observed what went on within, and had wondered if there would never be any cessation of the work. He had tested the walls with his paws and wished that he were only strong enough to knock down the whole structure with a single blow.
He was not easily distinguishable against the dark ground, and when, in addition, he remained in the shadow of the walls, there was not much danger of his being discovered. Now he walked fearlessly between the workshops and climbed to the top of a slag heap. There he sat up on his haunches, took the boy between his forepaws and held him up.
A strong current of air was forced into a big cylinder which was suspended from the ceiling and filled with molten iron. As this current rushed into the mess of iron with an awful roar, showers of sparks of all colours spurted up in bunches, in sprays, in long clusters! They struck against the wall and came splashing down over the whole big room. Father Bear let the boy watch the gorgeous spectacle until the blowing was over and the flowing and sparkling red steel had been poured into ingot moulds. The boy was completely charmed by the marvellous display and almost forgot that he was imprisoned between a bear's two paws.
Father Bear let him look into the rolling mill. He saw a workman take a short, thick bar of iron at white heat from a furnace opening and place it under a roller. When the iron came out from under the roller, it was flattened and extended. Immediately another workman seized it and placed it beneath a heavier roller, which made it still longer and thinner. Thus it was passed from roller to roller, squeezed and drawn out until, finally, it curled along the floor, like a long red thread. But while the first bar of iron was being pressed, a second was taken from the furnace and placed under the rollers, and when this was a little along, a third was brought.
Continuously fresh threads came crawling over the floor, like hissing snakes. The boy was dazzled by the iron. But he found it more splendid to watch the workmen who, dexterously and delicately, seized the glowing snakes with their tongs and forced them under the rollers. It seemed like play for them to handle the hissing iron. The bear then let the boy have a peep at the furnace and the forge, and he became more and more astonished as he saw how the blacksmiths handled iron and fire. The workmen were sooty and grimy. He fancied they were some sort of firefolk — that was why they could bend and mould the iron as they wished.
He could not believe that they were just ordinary men, since they had such power! I'm mighty glad that at last I can put an end to it! The huge workshops were built of brick, and the boy was thinking to himself that Father Bear could command as much as he liked, it was impossible to obey him. Presently he saw that it might not be impossible after all. Just beyond them lay a pile of chips and shavings to which he could easily set fire, and beside it was a wood pile that almost reached the coal shed. The coal shed extended over to the workshops; and if that once caught fire, the flames would soon fly over to the roof of the iron foundry.
Everything combustible would burn, the walls would fall from the heat, and the machinery would be destroyed. The boy knew that he ought to answer promptly that he would not, but he also knew that then the bear's paws would squeeze him to death; therefore he replied:. The boy thought he would use the delay to figure out some plan of escape, but he was so worried he could not direct his thoughts where he would; instead he began to think of the great help that iron had been to mankind.
They needed iron for everything. There was iron in the plough that broke up the field, in the axe that felled the tree for building houses, in the scythe that mowed the grain, and in the knife, which could be turned to all sorts of uses. There was iron in the horse's bit, in the lock on the door, in the nails that held furniture together, in the sheathing that covered the roof. The rifle which drove away wild beasts was made of iron, also the pick that had broken up the mine. Iron covered the men-of-war he had seen at Karlskrona; the locomotives steamed through the country on iron rails; the needle that had stitched his coat was of iron; the shears that clipped the sheep and the kettle that cooked the food.
Big and little alike — much that was indispensable was made from iron. Father Bear was perfectly right in saying that it was the iron that had given men their mastery over the bears. The boy was startled from his musing. Here he stood thinking of matters that were entirely unnecessary, and had not yet found a way to save himself! For this alone, if for nothing else, I should like to put a stop to the work here. Again the boy endeavoured to think out a plan of escape, but his thoughts wandered, willy nilly.
They were taken up with the iron. And gradually he began to comprehend how much thinking and calculating men must have done before they discovered how to produce iron from ore, and he seemed to see sooty blacksmiths of old bending over the forge, pondering how they should properly handle it.
Perhaps it was because they had thought so much about the iron that intelligence had been developed in mankind, until finally they became so advanced that they were able to build great works like these. The fact was that men owed more to the iron than they themselves knew. The boy shrank back. Here he stood thinking needless thoughts, and had no idea as to what he should do to save himself. You must know that it's the fault of the iron that the human kind can live here on the property of the bears. And now you understand why I would be rid of the work. The boy meant to use the last moment to think out some way to save himself, but, anxious and distraught as he was, his thoughts wandered again.
Now he began thinking of all that he had seen when he flew over the mining districts. It was strange that there should be so much life and activity and so much work back there in the wilderness.
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The boy swept his hand across his forehead. No plan of escape had as yet come to his mind, but this much he knew — he did not wish to do any harm to the iron, which was so useful to rich and poor alike, and which gave bread to so many people in this land. Father Bear gripped him still harder. It hurt so that the boy could not keep the tears back, but he did not cry out or say a word. But just then the boy heard something click very close to them, and saw the muzzle of a rifle two paces away. Both he and Father Bear had been so engrossed in their own affairs they had not observed that a man had stolen right upon them.
Don't you hear the clicking of a trigger? Father Bear grew terribly hurried. However, he allowed himself time enough to pick up the boy and carry him along. As he ran, a couple of shots sounded, and the bullets grazed his ears, but, luckily, he escaped. The boy thought, as he was dangling from the bear's mouth, that never had he been so stupid as he was to-night. If he had only kept still, the bear would have been shot, and he himself would have been freed. But he had become so accustomed to helping the animals that he did it naturally, and as a matter of course.
When Father Bear had run some distance into the woods, he paused and set the boy down on the ground. And now I want to do you a service in return. If you should ever meet with another bear, just say to him this — which I shall whisper to you — and he won't touch you. Father Bear whispered a word or two into the boy's ear and hurried away, for he thought he heard hounds and hunters pursuing him. The boy stood in the forest, free and unharmed, and could hardly understand how it was possible. The wild geese had been flying back and forth the whole evening, peering and calling, but they had been unable to find Thumbietot.
They searched long after the sun had set, and, finally, when it had grown so dark that they were forced to alight somewhere for the night, they were very downhearted.
See a Problem?
There was not one among them but thought the boy had been killed by the fall and was lying dead in the forest, where they could not see him. But the next morning, when the sun peeped over the hills and awakened the wild geese, the boy lay sleeping, as usual, in their midst. When he woke and heard them shrieking and cackling their astonishment, he could not help laughing. They were so eager to know what had happened to him that they did not care to go to breakfast until he had told them the whole story. The boy soon narrated his entire adventure with the bears, but after that he seemed reluctant to continue.
At daybreak I was awakened by an eagle hovering over me. He picked me up with his talons and carried me away. He didn't hurt me, but flew straight here to you and dropped me down among you. I thought that Mother Akka had sent him after me. Morten Goosey-Gander turned to the wild geese to hear what they thought of this; but they stood gazing into the air, as though they were thinking of something else. The sky was a dull gray, the wind whistled, and the rain beat. Both people and animals knew the spring could not be ushered in with anything short of this; nevertheless they thought it unbearable.
After it had been raining for a whole day, the snowdrifts in the pine forests began to melt in earnest, and the spring brooks grew lively. All the pools on the farms, the standing water in the ditches, the water that oozed between the tufts in marshes and swamps — all were in motion and tried to find their way to creeks, that they might be borne along to the sea.
All the lakes and rivers in Uppland and the mining district quickly threw off their ice covers on one and the same day, so that the creeks filled with ice-floes which rose clear up to their banks. Down by the outlet was a raging torrent. In general, spiritual magic can achieve effects which are beyond the scope of concepts typically able to be understood by the human mind, and tend to be fairly flexible. Further, spiritualists can achieve spells which are more complicated than they could cast. That said, they tend to pay a higher mana price than they would if casting normally, their magic can be more situationally dependent, and improving their magic can be difficult.
Number and extent of understood concepts Magic Power Magic Control Efficiency of spell design Computational talent A spirit magician depends on by rough order of priority: Ability to sense, communicate with, convince and for contracted ones train spirits Magic Power Number, power, conceptual scope and expense of contracted spirits Magic control Computational talent. Basically, how good an officer you are.
How good you are at intrigue. Effects gathering information, building spy networks and training spies. How good you are at managing a business or organization. Effects optimizing business, training employees. How good of a scientist you are. Effects research, teaching academic subjects. Effects magical research, teaching magical subjects, magical power for non PC characters Diplomacy: How good of a diplomat you are.
Effects negotiations, running a diplomatic mission. How good you are at personal combat. Typically aggregates several traits eg, combat skill, training, magical talents, etc. How fit they are. How fast they can move in combat when charging mph. How fast they can move when campaigning miles per day, assuming roads.
Trait 1 skill Trait 2 equipment , Trait 3 mount , etc. How big the unit is Overall Morale: Effects how long the unit is willing to fight. How well the unit fights, an aggregate of: Applies most to animals, eg dragons. Also, Rank hours for normal physical exertion until tired, 2xRank hours before exhausted. Unless a special officer is attached to the unit, this is also the tactical quality of the unit -Armor: Rank 3 is required to use for campaign movement, 7 for combat, with Rank 7 and Rank 9 required to be used without penalty.
Ranks above that may provide bonuses depending on the mount Combat Speed: Any special officer attached to the unit Junior Officers: Other special officers attached to the unit. Take over if the lead officer becomes a casualty. If there is a breakdown of units and how experienced they are, it shows here. Training staff, attached notable medic, etc. Things like a particularly powerful charge, bonus to jungle warfare, etc. Cost to replace each casualty.
Note, casualties can have a deleterious effect on Combat Skill. Max speed, miles per hour. Miles per day, assuming roads. For combat mounts especially. Rank hours of normal effort before tired, 2xRank hours of normal effort before exhausted. Mount attack bonus Training: How well trained the animal is Special: All animals require their riders to have Riding 3 to be used as a mount for campaign movement, Riding 7 to be used in combat. Riding 7 and 9 are required for penalty-less use of mount, with higher levels giving potential bonuses depending on animal. Archers, Artillery, Auxiliary cohorts.
A double-strength Regular Cavalry Alla, with 32 turmae cavalry.
Commanding one of these is highly prestigious. Equitata Cohort Cohors Equitata: A cohort of six infantry centuries with four attached turmae of cavalry infantry, cavalry. Often detached for individual operations. Often made up of auxiliary troops. Equitata Regiment Cohors Equitata Milliara: A over-strength Equitata Cohort, with 10 infantry centuries and eight attached turmae of cavalry infantry, cavalry. Often made up of auxiliary troops, and detached for semi-independent operations.
Imperial Legate Legion CO: Also commands the Ala cohort. Senior Officer Aerial Knights: Also commands the Aerial Ala cohort. Cohort Tribune or Prefect typical for auxilia. May not be present in line cohorts. If it is present in regular as opposed to auxiliary cohorts, will be Tribune. Tribune would typically also command an auxiliary regiment.
Senior Centurion Centurio Pilus Prior. Commands the cohort infantry in combat. Prior Centurion instructs Posterior Centurion. Standard Bearer and Paymaster: Decanus, commands a tent of eight men including himself. Non-citizens trained in a manner similar to the legions, though typically with worse armor. Beastman cohorts trained in this fashion have proved especially effective. Obviously, a higher social class can go lower, but not vice-versa. Soldier with exceptional performance battle honors.
Soldier in training to be an immunes. Engineers, artillerymen, quartermasters, etc. Evocatus — Senior Veteran: Double pay, excluded from regular manual labor. Leads an eight-man tent. Eques Aerialis — Aerial knight: Note, purchasing a mount and serving as an Equites Aerialis is one of the methods to raise in social class, though is expensive enough only wealthy merchants can afford to do so. Protectores Minor — Lesser Protector: Often mounted on aerial mounts, in which case the commoner will become an Equite so long as he can maintain his panoply.
Aquilifer- Legion Standard Bearer: Centurio Posterior — Junior Centurion: Can be supernumerary, leading medics, etc. If risen from the ranks, typically serves as a personal bodyguard, trouble-shooter or staff-officer. Leads a turma of 32 cavalrymen. Centurio Prior - Centurion: Leads his own century, and that of the corresponding Centurion Posterior. Centurio Primi Ordines — 1st Cohort Centurion: Centurio Pilus Prior — Senior Centurion: Senior centurion for a cohort. Primus Pilum — First Spear: Senior centurion for a legion, becomes a Equitorial class at the end of his service.
If appointed as a young Equites, typically a poor but well-trained member of a cadet-branch family. Often mounted on aerial mounts. Officer in charge of 80 men, often the first military role they hold given as a favor to or bought by their family. If appointed as a young Equites, typically a cadet officer who will later be a Prefect or Tribune. Praefectus Cohortis — Cohort Prefect: Command of a cohort, typically of or so troops, sometimes includes an organic mounted element, often of auxilia. Often the first post held by an Equite typical for auxilia. Typically not part of the direct command structure of the legion.
Decurio Aerialis — Aerial Decurion: Commands five other aerial knights. Equivalent to a legionary centurion. Typically the second post. Tribunus Cohortis — Cohort Tribune: Second post for an Equite, typically held by those who are less political or less politically connected in the capital. Requires confirmation from senate or provincial governor.
Tribunus Angusticlavii — Narrow Band Tribunes: Little military authority and no battle command, though they can serve on courts martial. Often have responsibility as staff officers. Appointed by the Emperor, Senate or the Legate. Praefectus Auxilii — Auxiliary Prefect: Command of all auxiliary units attached to a legion. Typically a third or fourth post held by an Equite.
Praefectus alae quingenary — Ala Prefect: Usually third post held by an equite, relatively senior. Praefectus alae aerialis — Aerial Ala Prefect: Typically the third post. Many legions lack an aerial ala. Praefectus castrorum — Camp Prefect: Although technically an Equite, Camp Prefects were typically up from the ranks, having served as First Spear. Praefectus legionis — Legion Prefect: Extremely rare in modern times. Officially 2nd in command of the legion, typically a young man appointed by the Emperor, the Senate, or the Legate. Does not have battlefield command, but can replace the Legate if he is killed.
Often relatively inexperienced, sometimes totally inexperienced. Commands a legion, and all attached Auxilia. Legates of provinces with but a single legion are often semi-hereditary, and held by the greatest lord in these smaller provinces. Commands two or more legions. In the Saderan Empire, this post is often semi-hereditary, and held by the greatest lord in larger provinces.
Prices for land and such were missing, used: This works by gold content and by pricing information. Unskilled worker farm laborer, animal driver, water carrier: D 50 Semi-Skilled worker carpenter, plasterer, floormaker, basic blacksmith: D Skilled tradesman: D Advocate to try a case: Note, much of this pay was in bonuses, so those with 2x pay might only make D 35, D peas, crushed: D 60, rice, cleaned: D 1kg beef: D 50 1 chicken: D 1kg freshwater fish: D 75 1kg saltwater fish: D goose, standard: D goose, fattened: D 1kg goat, lamb, pork: D 75 1L beer: D 1L quality fortified wine: D 1L decent aged wine: D 90 1L second quality aged wine: D 60 1L ordinary wine: D 30 1L fresh olive oil: D 1L second quality olive oil: D 90 1kg quality wool: D 1kg natural white silk: D Dalmatian Tunic: D 4, Hobnailed boots: D senatorial shoes: Certain exceptional examples, for example at auction, also exist that exceed these, but these prices are normally not exceeded.
D 10, Male, D 15, Male or Female, D 20, Female, D 25, Male, Eunuchs are x cost due to law forbidding castration of slaves and risk of death. D 3,, Farm, 7 hectares, plus cabin and barn: D 50, Farm, 14 hectares plus cabin, barn and stable: D , Typical average farm productivity: Same amount again to maintain subsistence levels if sharecropping. Transport costs for wheat: Typical profitability for an estate of hectares with basically serfs and 6 managers: D , If that same estate is crewed mostly by slaves, buying it would cost about: With slaves, profit might be a bit higher, around D , a year.
Vhalidictes , xxpowerxx1qz , RazielOfSecrets and 18 others like this. Can we do a write in for the first option? There seems to be a lot of ground between 'I don't care if the war ends' and 'Let's stage a military coup'. Maybe something with us arguing passionately and using our full fame and respect to encourage them to make the right decision? Stage a terrorist attack during a high-level meeting between civilian and military leadership, ensuring the military leadership makes it out alive. Frame internal anarchists and war-protesters.
The Adventures of the Wilderness Family Adventures of the Wilderness Family 3 Across the Great Divide The Sea Gypsies The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams — The Shaggy Dog A teenage boy is cursed with periodically turning into an sheepdog. King of the Wild Frontier Swiss Family Robinson A Swiss family must survive being shipwrecked on a deserted island.
Edit Cast Complete credited cast: Skip Robinson Susan Damante Jenny Robinson Ham Larsen Toby Robinson George 'Buck' Flower Edit Storyline The Wilderness Family now face terrifying times in fierce winter storms, an avalanche, and being attacked by a ferocious pack of hungry wolves. The true story of a modern pioneer family who turned their backs on civilization Edit Did You Know? Goofs When the girl goes out on the front step to look at the snowy landscape, there is no snow on the porch or the cabin, and both she and her little brother are too lightly dressed to be comfy standing there if the weather was truly cold enough for the snow to have coated everything in a heavy sheath of white.
Connections Featured in Sneak Previews: Add the first question.