Notes for "The Sublime Curiosity"
These are the notes for "The Sublime Curiosity."
MUMMY, n. - an ancient Egyptian handy, too, in museums in gratifying the vulgar curiosity that serves to distinguish man from the lower animals.
-- Ambrose Bierce
The current tower library in the castle is modest size. The eventual main library is much bigger.
Mummies appear in history and entertainment. Here are some examples of undead mummies.
Historically, a variety of spices were used in mummification to preserve and perfume the dead body. In this setting, there was a fourth version that used a combination of magic and science to preserve a semi-living body, which was even more complex and costly than the one used for royal corpses. That version of mummification had to begin before death, while the others had to begin after death.
Romanian herbs and spices lean more toward green leaves than aromatic spices. While cinnamon is part of the cuisine, historically true cinnamon was too expensive for many people and thus used more by the upper classes. Cassia is a cheaper substitute with similar uses.
The Carpathian Mountains host many wild plants, including juniper. Juniper berries most often come from Juniperus communis. They have many culinary and medicinal applications. Juniper oil can also be used.
Perry is an alcoholic beverage made from pears. Explore Romanian pear trees and cooking pears. Brewing with spices can enhance the flavor and effects.
To make 5 gallons (19 liters) of pear wine requires about 22 pounds of pears (10 kilograms), where something like blueberries would take only 13 pounds of blueberries (6 kilograms) to make five gallons of blueberry wine.
Pears
Bushel 48 - 50 lbs.
Peck 12 - 14 lbs.
Donkeys have been used for many years in Romania, but mostly by the poor. Kahotep cares far more about books than appearances.
The sap and sawdust of aromatic trees like juniper and pine can be used to make incense. This can be combustible (cones or sticks that burn on their own) or non-combustible (powders or granules to sprinkle over hot charcoal). The Earth Mother incense uses juniper sawdust as a base.
Reeds and rushes are common wetland plants, used for thatch and other practical purposes. Cattails and other reeds can be burned to repel insects, which works even better if you add more herbs.
Egyptian tradition names many aspects of soul or personhood, among them:
Khet is the physical form, and the body must be preserved in order for the deceased to enter the afterlife.
Ka is the life force, that vital quality which makes things alive or gives life. It exists in living bodies but also in food and drink.
Ba is the personality, what makes someone a unique individual.
Akh is the intellect, or more literally, "the magically effective one." In this setting, it is what people use to work magic and what enables a mummy to exist. The akh feeds on ka, either from food or from living creatures, of which the human ka is more potent and nourishing.
MUMMY, n. - an ancient Egyptian handy, too, in museums in gratifying the vulgar curiosity that serves to distinguish man from the lower animals.
-- Ambrose Bierce
The current tower library in the castle is modest size. The eventual main library is much bigger.
Mummies appear in history and entertainment. Here are some examples of undead mummies.
Historically, a variety of spices were used in mummification to preserve and perfume the dead body. In this setting, there was a fourth version that used a combination of magic and science to preserve a semi-living body, which was even more complex and costly than the one used for royal corpses. That version of mummification had to begin before death, while the others had to begin after death.
Romanian herbs and spices lean more toward green leaves than aromatic spices. While cinnamon is part of the cuisine, historically true cinnamon was too expensive for many people and thus used more by the upper classes. Cassia is a cheaper substitute with similar uses.
The Carpathian Mountains host many wild plants, including juniper. Juniper berries most often come from Juniperus communis. They have many culinary and medicinal applications. Juniper oil can also be used.
Perry is an alcoholic beverage made from pears. Explore Romanian pear trees and cooking pears. Brewing with spices can enhance the flavor and effects.
To make 5 gallons (19 liters) of pear wine requires about 22 pounds of pears (10 kilograms), where something like blueberries would take only 13 pounds of blueberries (6 kilograms) to make five gallons of blueberry wine.
Pears
Bushel 48 - 50 lbs.
Peck 12 - 14 lbs.
Donkeys have been used for many years in Romania, but mostly by the poor. Kahotep cares far more about books than appearances.
The sap and sawdust of aromatic trees like juniper and pine can be used to make incense. This can be combustible (cones or sticks that burn on their own) or non-combustible (powders or granules to sprinkle over hot charcoal). The Earth Mother incense uses juniper sawdust as a base.
Reeds and rushes are common wetland plants, used for thatch and other practical purposes. Cattails and other reeds can be burned to repel insects, which works even better if you add more herbs.
Egyptian tradition names many aspects of soul or personhood, among them:
Khet is the physical form, and the body must be preserved in order for the deceased to enter the afterlife.
Ka is the life force, that vital quality which makes things alive or gives life. It exists in living bodies but also in food and drink.
Ba is the personality, what makes someone a unique individual.
Akh is the intellect, or more literally, "the magically effective one." In this setting, it is what people use to work magic and what enables a mummy to exist. The akh feeds on ka, either from food or from living creatures, of which the human ka is more potent and nourishing.