White Christmas

Just a start - 3 more cm by

Christmas morn.

Three to Go

Very Close

Fall

Linger Cemetery

Cathedral

Chirp

Dog-Day Cicada

Toxicodendron radicans

July

Friendship Hill nightshade


Ancient brook

Luck

May

Visitor

Chelydra serpentina
(released at a favorable location)

An End and a Beginning

Chiomara

It came to pass that Chiomara, the wife of Ortiagon, was made a prisoner of war along with the rest of the women at the time ewhen the Romans under Gnaeusovercame in battle the Galatians in Asia. The officer who obtained possession of her used his good fortune as soldiers do, and dishonoured her. He was, naturally, an ignorant man with no self-control when it came to either pleasure or money. He fell a victim, however, to his love of money, and when a very large sum in gold had been mutually agreed upon as the price for the woman, he brought her to exchange for the ransom to a place where a river, flowing between, formed a boundary. When the Galatians had crossed and given him the money and received Chiomara, she, by a nod, indicated to one man that he should smite the Roman as he was affectionately taking leave of her. And when the man obediently struck off the Roman's head, she picked it up and, wrapping it in the folds of her garment, departed. When she came to her husband and threw the head down before him, he said in amazement, "A noble thing, dear wife, is fidelity." "Yes," said she, "but it is a nobler thing that only one man be alive who has been intimate with me."

- Plutarch

Balto's True Story

The amazing true story of Balto, Togo, and the heroes of the Nome Serum Run can be seen at

http://www.baltostruestory.com/

Magic in An Domhan – Part I, Objects

Objects, things that might be termed “minor magical objects” are common. Examples are plants that either crude or as ingredients in elixirs, tinctures, balms, teas, etc, possess curative or ameliorative powers, or perhaps aid in divination, combat, protection from myriad foes and ills (particularly common), and so forth. Luck stones, buckeyes or “cramp balls” for pain, etc, are other examples. Some of these objects – or things – possess intrinsic attributes that can be deemed magical, while others require finessing, processing, etc, and still others are believed to possess such attributes while it is the preparation itself that imbues them. The mandrake – either the classic form, or the spring-apple variety, is a relatively common yet potentially potent magical object (the more common the form, the more preparation required to bring out the magic – with the spring-apple, common-as-dust variety requiring skilled hands to bring out any but minor effects).

More potent objects are uncommon or rare. These are individual in that no two are exactly alike, particularly with the passage of time. Some may become so attuned to a particular owner that no other may use the object to full effect – perhaps even any effect, or worse, if the “wrong hands” attempt to use such an object, a deleterious result might occur. Many factors can affect these objects during their creation. An alchemist may follow a recipe with great precision; however, there are subtle differences in his demeanor, outside weather, star alignment, etc that will affect the object, however minor the results may be. The passage of time is a major factor; the sword The Deer’s Nail was discovered by Lughaidh mac Cael during a trip through the Cró an Iarann. His son Duach mac Lughaidh inherited the blade and eventually passed it on to Iustig mac Duach, who made it famous. During the passage of time (important) and hands (just as important an influence) the blade acquired additional characteristics, so that by the time Iustig left the realm of time and consequence, the Deer’s Nail was a formidable weapon indeed. Among the most famous of wondrous items are the Treasure-Bag of the Fianna, and the Cauldron of Llassar Llaesgyvnewid.

There are other objects that can be termed “magical” and some of these are strange and wondrous. A pool in the deep forest whose water heals (or inflicts) is one such example. Another is the Lia Fáil – the coronation stone of the Ard Rí (High King), which roars with joy upon the coronation of an exceptionally worthy Ard Rí (and which has the power to doom an unworthy one). Often these objects become renowned and attract, in addition to seekers and wayfarers, those who would harm or slay the aforementioned. Many of these items are actually locations, or more-or-less locations (such as a tree whose fruits grant visions of the spiritual realm, though such fruits no longer function if not fresh off the branch). The seeker is advised to be aware that if he knows of the existence of such a place, unpleasant beings such as fachan, kelpie and nuckelavee probably know as well.