The Foundling's Tale: Factotum Part 43

DAYS OF THE WEEK (7).

N - NEWWICH first day of the week

L - LOONDAY.

M - MEERDAY.

M - MIDWICH.

D - DOMESDAY a day of rest

C - CALUMNDAY.

S - SOLEMNDAY.

DAYS OF OBSERVANCE (THESE NUMBERS CAN BE FOUND IN THE CALENDAR).

1. MALBELLTIDE.

2. HALFMERRY DAY.

3. MELLOWTIDE.

4. MANNER.

5. VERTUMNUS.

6. EIGHT-MONTH'S EVE (CLERK'S VIGIL) 7. MIDTIDE.

8. NYCHTHOLD.

9. GALLOWS NIGHT.

10. DIRGETIDE.

11. THISGIVINGDAY.

12. PLOUGHMONDAY.

= SOLSTICE.

= EQUINOX.

THE DATE UPON WHICH THE SOLSTICE & EQUINOX OCCUR IS VARIABLE, HENCE THE TWO POSSIBLE TIMES SHOWN FOR EACH EVENT.

* SAID TO BE THE COLDEST MONTHS, UNFRIENDLY TO TRAVELERS.

% IN THE OLD CALENDARS THIS WAS ONCE THE FIRST MONTH OF THE YEAR.

THESE TWO MONTHS WERE ONCE IN THE REVERSE ORDER. THEY CAME TO BE SWAPPED WHEN THE EXCEEDINGLY TALL AND EXCESSIVELY SPOILED DAUGHTER OF MORIBUND SCEPTIC III COMPLAINED SO BITTERLY THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BORN IN THE BEAUTIFUL-SOUNDING MONTH OF LIRIUM RATHER THAN THE UGLY-SOUNDING (AS SHE THOUGHT IT) MONTH OF CACHRYS. SHE MADE COURT LIFE IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL HER MUCH-HARa.s.sED FATHER DECREED THE SWAP BY IMPERIAL EDICT. THE CHANGE HAS REMAINED EVER SINCE, EVEN AFTER A WAR WAS FOUGHT OVER IT.

APPENDIX 2.

A troubardier in court harness based on one of the Archduke of Brandenbra.s.s' own lifeguards-the Grognards-wearing a combination of functional protection and high courtly fas.h.i.+on.

APPENDIX 3.

A troubardier in full harness, dressed for the field of battle rather than the show of court. Troubardiers are the elite of pediteers-the most skilled or experienced, often chosen from the tallest fellows to give advantage in both reach and menace.

APPENDIX 4.

A sabrine adept in complete harness, the style coming from the non-Imperial origins of this rare cla.s.s of teratologist.

APPENDIX 5.

A caladine spendonette-that is, a wandering calendar pistoleer-in full mottle-and-harness, geared up with a plethora of pistols and wearing proofed-leather boots and leg attachments known collectively as hauncinbusks or buskins.

The handles of her various pistolas are all capped with some manner of spiked or club-like clout, designed to make the firelock double as a melee weapon once shots have been fired. With the rise of the lahzars it is becoming increasingly the mode for pistoleers of any stripe to either train in the use of a sthenicon or soak their eyes in Bile of Vates to give them greater accuracy, and equalize the disparity of power.

APPENDIX 6.

A peltryman and venator of the Soutlands, accoutred in the usual garb, complete with near full complement of tools and necessary hand-arms.

APPENDIX 7.

APPENDIX 8.

A CHART OF COMPARATIVE SIZES.