Traveller Probo

Traveller Report:

It’s been a few weeks since a summary report has been sent, so I’ve quite a lot to catch up on.

We’ve just experienced the first snow many have seen for years and I’ve been told that this is going to be another cold winter. While last winter was wet and miserable, which tragically killed some of our aged and infirm, including our dear Oeric, it looks like this winter will be the stuff many of us dream about on Christmas cards. Fortunately, our small community is now much better prepared for the cold. Faced with more of the icy wind we’ve endured over the past weeks, the villagers appear unconcerned.

As you know, a lot of lambs were born earlier in the year and now our numerous sheep have been gathered into pens. When I walked past a few minutes ago, their breath steamed as their black, round bodies were covered with the first dusting of snow. I’ve included some images. Some families have taken to moving a few sheep into their home and the children snuggle in beside them while the evening tales are told around the hearth.

Today I visited the small memorial we created for Oeric, Aldfrid and the brothers killed by the Vikings. As you know, it’s where the old cloister stood and the snow has covered the carefully stacked stones and rough cross. While the crude monument suited their lives, just looking at it brought back the memories of when I first met Oeric in the forest. After surviving the journey to Snot and the attacks by the Vikings, it’s ironic that he died from tuberculosis, of all things. The panic you guys had over that is still a fresh memory, though thankfully none of the other villagers, or the remaining brothers, seem to have been affected.

Tatae is well and is finally showing. She looks so cute with her little tummy, which is now firm and round. I’m told she should be at four months and she keeps up a steady stream of warming infusions to strengthen her and the baby. From your medical reports and Tatae’s own assessments, I believe she’s carrying well. I’ve uploaded the results of the portable scans requested by the medical team. I’ve also sent the infusion recipes, as Olivia requested. She thinks some of the infusions might actually help folate deficiencies.

We had some excitement a few days ago. A pack of wolves sneaked into the village in the middle of the night and howled as they tried to get at the sheep. As you can imagine, the dogs went crazy and Latis was all gangly legs as she scrambled about. In the end, I had to let her out as I feared she would shit herself, which wouldn’t have pleased Tatae at all. Latis joined Yffi’s dogs and the others to run and bark at the thin sliver of the moon. Of course, the canny wolves soon vanished into the night.

I’m still amazed at the forest in which we live. In the dark of the night, it’s like a living cliff. I’ve not been up much in the dark of late and it’s wonderful to be reminded of the forest at night. The noisy dogs did wake up a lot of the villagers and, after the children were settled, well, all I can say is that I’m sure a crop of autumn children has been conceived.

Godric is busy organising the construction of the new hall and many of the men have gathered logs and hauled them to the village where they have been split into thick planks. It’s a bloody exhausting job, as we use iron wedges and then hammer them into the logs until the timber splits naturally. The locals prefer timber to be split the way the tree wants to go. Ramm, the carpenter, has been supervising and does the best he can with his one hand. He told me that split beams are stronger, though they’re anything but straight. Eadric has been the mainstay of the operation and, as a result, is accepted as his father’s chief lieutenant. The lad has real ability and is a smart, natural leader.

The smithy is looking grand, though Desmond tells me it’s too large for the village’s needs and spends most of his time teaching his son Irminric and Offa, who you’ll recall was Ceolwulf’s old apprentice. The lads do a terrific job and spend a lot of their time sharpening the three saws that are in almost constant use.

The 21st Century metal scraps we originally gave to Desmond have been fashioned into carpentry tools, such as saws, or melted to mix with his iron to improve the quality of the metal. He’s thrilled with the results. Under Godric’s defensive strategy, the village now has a more effective defensive hedge and a healthy supply of spears and shields to permit the entire male adult population, and even some of the females, to be armed at a moment’s notice. The training programme I implemented has produced some fine warriors.

Horsa recently advised Godric and the Council that he’s been considering a journey to Snotengaham in the summer. According to the traders, the town is active and, though garrisoned by Danes, should be safe for travel, especially for monks. The traders couldn’t give us any news of the Snotengaham monastery but did tell us that that a lot of the town has been rebuilt after being burned in the initial Viking attacks a couple of years ago.

So that’s the update. We’ve stored a lot of food for the winter and all items donated by the 21st Century team have been gratefully received. The traders are trying to find out where our village girls obtain their ribbons but the girls know better than to tell. Because I’m still known as ‘the angel that fell to earth for the love of a human woman’, some still hold me in awe, I think.

I don’t have the heart to correct them.

I’ll continue to have the weekly reports and data and vision uploads as per usual.

Please let me know of Hurley’s next visit, or if anyone else will be coming.

This is Michael Hunter, signing off.