Weekend Entertainment #1 - August Test Drive Meme

[havetubawilltravel]

Happy August! It's an app_this_plz weekend, and you know you've got characters you want to try out.


H O W T O P L A Y:

-->Reply to this post with any character, new or old, you wish to app into Milliways.
-->Scan the post and respond to any characters you'd like to interact with.
-->Milliways members: feel free to respond with your applied characters or post them
--> Have fun! Post is open until Monday's DE and/or until the next Test Drive Meme!

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

"When was it made, your Lindisfarne Gospel? In my time, or later years?"

[witchfinder_general]

"A little before your time," Father Harman says. "Made by a monk named Eadfrith, who later became a bishop."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Bishop Eadfrith", he says with a nod. "I've heard of him, of course - he died before I was born, but some of the older brothers when I was a boy spoke of him."

[witchfinder_general]

"His gospels survive into my time, and hopefully longer," Father Harman says.

[athelstanthescribe]

"They must be cared for as a treasure in your time", he says wistfully. "I can only hope for my own work to be seen that way."

[witchfinder_general]

"Other manuscripts survive as well," Father Harman says, "but that one is the most important one."

[athelstanthescribe]

"For its beauty", he asks shrewdly, "or its content?"

[witchfinder_general]

"For its beauty, and its historical importance," Father Harman says. "The gospel itself has been handed down in many copies over the centuries until printing was invented -- in fact, a bible was the first book printed in the West."

Pause.

"Printing is a technique to make several copies of one book rather quickly; I probably shouldn't tell you too much about it. It was invented around the year 1500."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I can see the use of it", he says thoughtfully, "but I hope there's still a place for the scribe?"

[witchfinder_general]

"Calligraphy remains an art form," Father Harman says, "used for many more centuries for everything that has to exist in only one copy, or three or five, as you need a larger print run to justify the initial work on the printing process. Later, after the invention of machines to make copy, or just a few, it remains an art form. Professional scribes become printers and type-setters, and later, graphic designers."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I don't know what those words mean", Athelstan confesses, "but I'm glad to hear there's still room for artistry."

[witchfinder_general]

"Oh yes," Father Harman says. "I should show you some lovely, ornate bible from my time."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'd like that very much", he says sincerely. "But for now, perhaps you could tell me a little more about this miraculous place? I don't understand why I would be chosen."

[witchfinder_general]

"You were chosen because you are unique, in some way; your story is important," Father Harman says. "This place brings extraordinary and interesting people from all times and worlds. But we can't tell he real reason, in the end, because there is nobody here to answer our question. I have spoken to a manager, but even she doesn't know who owns this place; it mostly runs itself."

Pause.

"There are rules, established over time, not hard for a monk or priest to keep: no violence, no business from home, and no lewdness or nudity in public places."

[athelstanthescribe]

"...but I'm just a scribe. I've done nothing that others haven't done", he says, confused, and flushes a little at the last words. "I can't see difficulty with those rules."

[witchfinder_general]

"You are, at the very least, a scribe from a time and place when being a monk and scribe was very important for the continuation of civilisation into the future," Father Harman says.

He should probably not mention the Vikings; they are due to arrive around that time, starting to pillage monasteries.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Even so. My brothers do the same work, why should I be chosen over them?"

[witchfinder_general]

"I have no idea," Father Harman admits. "A lot remains mysterious about this place."

[athelstanthescribe]

He nods, accepting. "Ours is not to question the ways of God."

[witchfinder_general]

"I don't know that I can say for certain that what brings us here is the hand of God," Father Harman says, "but I sincerely do hope so!"

[athelstanthescribe]

"What else could it be, if it's not a place of evil?"

10th century thinking, hello.

[witchfinder_general]

"Just like most of the world: God created it in the beginning, and then things simply happened," Father Harman says.

[athelstanthescribe]

"But something controls the way here, and surely no mortal man could do that."

[witchfinder_general]

"Yes," Father Harman says, "and nobody knows what it is. Perhaps it is just the illusion of control, and happens at random."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan gives him a dubious look. "But then, you said those who come here have stories."