Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on December 17, 2022, 06:56:24 PMWhat kind of magic is it? Like is it a setting where magic is everywhere, or very rare?

There are a few sorcerors around, but most people don't have much to do with magic.  Except that there's a threatening forest to the east, full of Bad Things that occasionally break out, at which times the peaceful villages require the services of a sorceror.  (Who may or may not be able to do anything about it.)

1.  For people who like really good writing in a semi-fantasy sort of mode, Sing Your Sadness Deep (2019) is the premier collection of short pieces by Laura Mauro, who lives in London, has tattoos, and at least sometimes has pink hair.  (These are the fruits of 90 seconds worth of googling.)  There's not a dud in the whole collection, and a few of the stories are absolutely brilliant.  My fave was "Looking for Laika".



2.  Evan Williams "1783" Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, "extra aged in white oak", 90 proof.  Terrific stuff, FULL of flavour; to my mind it blows the doors off Maker's Mark or Bulleit (either of which I'm more than happy to drink, don't get me wrong).

-- John R

El Regeu en volt.

And thank you, Ian and Alexandreu, for alerting me.

-- John Regeu

PRESENT

-- John R

Happy Independence Day!  We have a lot to be thankful for, and a lot on which we Talossans can legitimately congratulate ourselves today.  Many happy returns!

And for those who celebrate Christmas, a most merry joyful and blessed 2nd day of the great Feast!

And whatever other celebrations you're participating in, may they be filled with peace and good will.

-- John R

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on December 14, 2022, 01:33:43 PMYes, the Seneschal has been working with them. They seem legit.

That's right.  I should have mentioned that they contacted me at el Seneschal se suggestion.

The best SF&F thing I've read recently is UPROOTED by Naomi Novik, set in a kind of mythologized sixteenth-century Poland, with magic.  I was pretty sure I was going to like it, since it won a bunch of major awards -- the Nebula for Best Novel, the Locus Award for Fantasy, the Holdstock Fantasy Award, and the Mythopaeic Fantasy Award.  But I wasn't really prepared for how good it is.  What can I tell you about it?  Not much, without spoiling plot points.

And if you like audiobooks, the production narrated by Julia Emelin is superb.

John Bob says check it out.

A documentary-producing company called Film 45 got in touch with me last month, and I spent quite a while Monday afternoon having a really nice talk (on Zoom) with two young women who work for Film 45.  If I got the story right, one of the directors (or producers?) that their company works with has gotten interested in micronations and the whole "micronational" world; and these guys are doing preliminary research, trying to kind of scope out the whole shape of the topic, and figure whether it could be made into an interesting documentary.

They asked me a bunch of fairly predictable questions -- how I got into Talossa, what people do in Talossa, what sorts of controversies we've had, etc. --, and a couple of zingers I wasn't expecting, like what my experience of Talossa has taught me about human nature.   :-\

Anyway, they're interested in talking to other Talossans as well.  I said I'd tell y'all about what they're up to.  So, if you think you have something interesting to say about Talossa, or about micronationality in general, drop a line to Film 45's Programming Coordinator, Valerie Varghese, at ValerieV@film-45.com.  They seemed like really nice folks, and they were certainly interested in what I was telling them.

-- John Regeu

And by the way, Film 45 has a really interesting website, worth looking at.  http://www.film-45.com/

JOHN, by the Grace of God King of Talossa and of all its Realms and Regions, King of Cézembre, Sovereign Lord and Protector of Pengöpäts and the New Falklands, Defender of the Faith, Leader of the Armed Forces, Viceroy of Hoxha and Vicar of Atatürk, to Our Kingdom, all Dukes, Counts, Barons, Justices, Knights, Jesters, Citizens and Cestours, and free men, as all Our officers, servants, and subjects whomsoever to whom these presents shall come, Greetings.

Whereas the Seneschal of Our Kingdom has recommended to us Ian Tamoran as a worthy candidate for the Seneschál's Medal for Science, Therefore, We, being satisfied with the abilities of Ian Tamoran, graciously condescend thereto. And it is Our will and pleasure and We do hereby bestow upon Ian Tamoran the Seneschál's Medal for Science. So say We, John, by the Grace of God King of Talossa and of all its Realms and Regions, King of Cézembre, Sovereign Lord and Protector of Pengöpäts and the New Falklands, Defender of the Faith, Leader of the Armed Forces, Viceroy of Hoxha and Vicar of Atatürk, to Our Kingdom.

AND ALSO

Whereas the Seneschal of Our Kingdom has recommended to us Glüc da Dhi as a worthy candidate for the Seneschál's Medal of Culture, Therefore, We, being satisfied with the abilities of Glüc da Dhi, graciously condescend thereto. And it is Our will and pleasure and We do hereby bestow upon Glüc da Dhi the Seneschál's Medal of Culture. So say We, John, by the Grace of God King of Talossa and of all its Realms and Regions, King of Cézembre, Sovereign Lord and Protector of Pengöpäts and the New Falklands, Defender of the Faith, Leader of the Armed Forces, Viceroy of Hoxha and Vicar of Atatürk, to Our Kingdom.

AND ALSO

Whereas the Seneschal of Our Kingdom has recommended to us Viteu Marcianüs as a worthy candidate for the Seneschál's Medal of Merit, Therefore, We, being satisfied with the abilities of Viteu Marcianüs, graciously condescend thereto. And it is Our will and pleasure and We do hereby bestow upon Viteu Marcianüs the Seneschál's Medal of Merit. So say We, John, by the Grace of God King of Talossa and of all its Realms and Regions, King of Cézembre, Sovereign Lord and Protector of Pengöpäts and the New Falklands, Defender of the Faith, Leader of the Armed Forces, Viceroy of Hoxha and Vicar of Atatürk, to Our Kingdom.

AND ALSO

Whereas the Seneschal of Our Kingdom has recommended to us Marcel Tafial as a worthy candidate to be inducted among Our knights, Therefore, We, being satisfied with the abilities of Marcel Tafial, graciously condescend thereto. And it is Our will and pleasure and We do hereby admit Sir Marcel Tafial, UrGP into the Order of Knighthood The Order of the Purple Tongue. So say We, John, by the Grace of God King of Talossa and of all its Realms and Regions, King of Cézembre, Sovereign Lord and Protector of Pengöpäts and the New Falklands, Defender of the Faith, Leader of the Armed Forces, Viceroy of Hoxha and Vicar of Atatürk, to Our Kingdom.

AND ALSO

Whereas the Seneschal of Our Kingdom has recommended to us Txec dal Nordselvă as a worthy candidate to be inducted among Our knights, Therefore, We, being satisfied with the abilities of Txec dal Nordselvă, graciously condescend thereto. And it is Our will and pleasure and We do hereby admit Sir Txec dal Nordselvă, UrB, into the Order of Knighthood The Order of the Flag. So say We, John, by the Grace of God King of Talossa and of all its Realms and Regions, King of Cézembre, Sovereign Lord and Protector of Pengöpäts and the New Falklands, Defender of the Faith, Leader of the Armed Forces, Viceroy of Hoxha and Vicar of Atatürk, to Our Kingdom.

AND ALSO

Whereas the Seneschal of Our Kingdom has recommended to us Lüc da Schir as a worthy candidate to be inducted among Our knights, Therefore, We, being satisfied with the abilities of Lüc da Schir, graciously condescend thereto. And it is Our will and pleasure and We do hereby admit Sir Lüc da Schir, UrB, into the Order of Knighthood The Order of the Flag. So say We, John, by the Grace of God King of Talossa and of all its Realms and Regions, King of Cézembre, Sovereign Lord and Protector of Pengöpäts and the New Falklands, Defender of the Faith, Leader of the Armed Forces, Viceroy of Hoxha and Vicar of Atatürk, to Our Kingdom.

Given under Our hand Royal at the city of Centennial in Colorado this thirtieth day of November (being the Feast of Saint Andrew Apostle and Martyr), in the year of salvation 2022, of the independence of Talossa the forty-third, and of Our reign the seventeenth.

- John R

We JOHN by the Grace of God King of Talossa and of all its Realms and Regions, King of Cézembre, Sovereign Lord and Protector of Pengöpäts and the New Falklands, Defender of the Faith, Leader of the Armed Forces, Viceroy of Hoxha and Vicar of Atatürk, having thought fit to dissolve this present fifty-seventh Cosa of the Kingdom of Talossa, do to that end publish this Our proclamation royal, hereby dissolving the said Cosa accordingly; and do discharge and excuse the Members of that Cosa from their meeting and attendance thereat from the conclusion of this month instant. And We being desirous and resolved for the better governance of these Our realms to have the advice of Our people in the Ziu assembled, do hereby make known to all Our loyal commons, knights, and nobles Our royal will and pleasure to call and assemble a new Cosa, and do hereby further declare that We have given order that Our Chancery and Secretary of State do forthwith issue out writs and ballots in due form, and according to law, for the election of a new fifty-eighth Cosa as well as Senators for Benito, Vuode, and Atatürk in their regular rotation.

Further, We desire at this time most heartily to thank and congratulate, on Our own behalf and that of the entire Talossan nation, the citizens who served in this now-dissolved fifty-seventh Cosa, especially thanking S:reu Ian Plätschisch for his faithful service as Our Seneschal during this last Cosa, and all the other members of the Government who so generously give of their time and effort for the good of our nation. Further thanks are due to S:reux Martì-Páir Furxhéir, Eiric Börnatfiglheu, Éovart Grischun whose present distinguished terms of service in the Senäts will end with the upcoming election.

Given under Our hand Royal at the city of Centennial in Colorado this thirtieth day of November in the year of salvation 2022 (being the Feast of Saint Andrew Apostle and Martyr), of the independence of Talossa the forty-third, and of Our reign the sixteenth.

—  John Regeu

I thank the Seneschal for his nomination, and am more than happy hereby to appoint S:reu Tzaracomprada to the office of Scribe of Abbavilla.  Given under Our hand Royal at the city of Centennial in Colorado this third day of November, being the feast of Saint Winifred, in the year of salvation 2022, of the independence of Talossa the forty-third, and of Our reign the seventeenth.

-- John Regeu

Yes, indeed.  Zouaves!  We need Zouaves.  Woo-hoo!

-- John R

As were so many of you, I was saddened yesterday, if not surprised -- one can't really be surprised at the death of a lady 96 years old --, by the announcement of the passing of Her Majesty Elizabeth II.  In a strange way, the world seems less familiar, less gracious, without her in it.

Our royal cousin (as I have sometimes called her) was, throughout her long life, directed by her faith in God, her firm sense of duty, her love for her country -- her many countries! --, and her genuine unfailing human decency.  Would that more of us, in our less prominent rôles in the world, might do as well.

We commit her to the mercy of God, whom she loved.  May she be granted Paradise!

-- John R

WE, JOHN by the Grace of God King of Talossa and of all its Realms and Regions, King of Cézembre, Sovereign Lord and Protector of Pengöpäts and the New Falklands, Defender of the Faith, Leader of the Armed Forces, Viceroy of Hoxha and Vicar of Atatürk, greet the Kingdom and her citizens and Cestours.  We are pleased and proud to act on the advice of Our Squirrel King of Arms, his pursuivants, and the other members of the College of Arms to affirm and announce publicly the Royal honours granted to four worthy citizens of Our Kingdom.

WHEREAS there have come before Us certain honourable and dutiful citizens of Talossa requesting Our favour, which loyal subjects have humbly petitioned that We, by virtue of the Royal power conferred only unto Us, might grant and confer unto them, and their lawful heirs, a coat of arms; and

WHEREAS We derive from Our Royal grace and favour both the commission and the power to confer achievements of arms as a gift from Us, and to issue in such matters a Royal proclamation with the Great Seal of the Kingdom; and

WHEREAS We are particularly inclined toward these citizens, whom We have always found ready in the service of Our Kingdom; now

THEREFORE, with the Royal powers cited above, upon ample consideration, good counsel, and proper knowledge, We have recognized the favours described herein and have conferred upon these citizens that they and their legitimate heirs should hereafter be bearers of the following coats of arms, and that they should therefore have these arms as right, as is Our privilege and custom, without leave or hindrance by anyone.

I read The Eye of the World once, decades ago, and I liked it OK, but not well enough to go on with a long series of 1000-page books.  The Hobbit and LOTR, of course, many times beginning in 1967 or 1968.  George R. R. Martin never disappoints, except that he can't seem to get the Ice and Fire series done!  (Someone needs to kidnap him and lock him up with a typewriter and a ton of paper.)  I always like Lois McMaster Bujold, and her current series about Penric and Desdemona is very well worth reading, about a young man who accidentally "acquires" a demon (and with the demon, magical powers), and their subsequent adventures, political magical and romantic.  Great stuff.

-- John R