Julich1610

Hey, Thorsten - sorry not to have written back sooner.  My mother-in-law passed away in early February and then my last surviving step-mother at the end of the month.  Though the weather has been relatively mild, it has been a bleak winter, all told.

From a gaming perspective, C&W continues to work on TKM (The Koln Machinations) at a snail's pace.  I hope it sees the light of day sometime soon, but there seems to be little I can do to move it along other than ask about it.

I was working the Roanoke adventure with Pinnacle, but I didn't like working with the editor assigned to the project; his approach was rather aggravatingly commercial, you know?  It's not like I am in this for the money.  I already have a day job that pays better, thank you very much!  Like, "I need this by the beginning of February" and "can you change what you've already written because another writer working for us had a similar idea."  So, I dropped working with Pinnacle.

From an SK perspective, I am planning to meet my old gaming group in Jamestown this June to play a scenario I am devising that uses the rather fascinating history of that time period, basically a treasure hunt in the Tidewater for the hidden accursed Aztec gold (you know how I am about Mesoamerica!) taken from a pirated Spanish ship in 1585. 

So, how's your mother doing, how's your Solomon Kane campaign progressing?  I would commend the paintings of John White, the governor of the lost colony, to your gaming imagination also.  I am working on Jamestown, but with June a few months hence, lingering over the written accounts of the colony.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_White_(colonist_and_artist)

Take care, Thorsten!

Thanks and the same to you, Thorsten - though somewhat belated on the Christmas wishes!

To my chagrin, it appears now The Köln Machinations will not be published until the end of January.  Things seem a bit bottle-necked at the moment; hopefully production issues will be resolved shortly.

I have been getting more into the Savage Worlds of Solomon Kane.  Really like the Savage Worlds game system, particularly the support of Hero Labs and Fantasy Grounds.  Have you ever run a game using Fantasy Grounds?  I am purchasing an Alienware Aurora to better host games; was due for a new computer anyway.  Since time and space are not issues online, perhaps even you and I might play a game together some day.  

I have an opportunity with Pinnacle Entertainment Group to work up a Solomon Kane Explorer adventure which will be based on the Lost Colony of Roanoke. They like the idea.  It will be set in the year 1610, at the beginning of the Path of Kane.   It will be rather short piece, but a start.  I am hoping when they see my approach - uncanny explanations involving actual historical events - they will want more.  History is much deeper and more interesting than fantasy if you can use the facts properly, without a boring, insipid compulsion to tell the truth with them!

On Fantasy Grounds, I have started a Weird Wars: Rome campaign using Nox Germanica which deals with the Limes in the Rhine Valley.  Right up our alley so to speak.  I am thinking I may work out a Roman background to Early Modern events in The Mad Duke's Tomb, sort of presenting results of my gaming in that environment as the relics of the past the Emissaries discover.  Right now, I am just trying to learn how to play Savage Worlds in Fantasy Grounds.

All of this while waiting for C&W to get their act together.

Best to you, Thorsten,  and Bemi in the New Year!

Jeff & Sheri 

Yes, the game is coming to your doorstep and I think we might find some way to leverage your tales and stories of the supernatural among the many superstitions of the peasantry inhabiting the uplands, even if the adventure never makes its way quite to Hattingen.  Of course, we could work your hometown into the plot if you can see a way to get the Emissaries from Prague there on their way from Koln to Dusseldorf.  But a plot must start at the beginning, ja?  That's where I am at right now, the beginning.

The next episode begins with the Emissaries "on the lam" , escaping the authorities, ironically held responsible for the disappearance or death of the boy in the wanted poster your better half drew for us.  Have you seen the old movie The Third Man?  This is what comes to mind, the extraordinary performance of Orson Welles as a criminal fleeing the police in the streets of post-war Vienna.  Thoughts?  I am wondering what a broadsheet might have looked like when criminals were wanted?

Hi, Thorsten -

Funny you should mention!  I just sent Peter an email tonight asking him if he needs anything from me.  This is my code to Peter that I am starting to get a little antsy here.  I will feel better when I have a first draft of the pdf in hand; then I will know it's happening,

At least Tim finally got the Duchess sized correctly: O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!

 According to Peter, he is pushing but it does not seem likely the product will get out before Christmas.  The layout is a bit challenging for Gary, I am sure - there are a total of 25 characters in the book, much artwork, and it is lengthy.  The reader will get his money's worth, anyway! 

Outline for the next stage of the adventure.  I am not willing to take it too far until C&W produces a pdf of The Koln Machinations, but this is what's up next.  Ready for the next round?

Cheers,

Jeff

Hi, Thorsten,

The charming young woman is Louisa Sophie of Danneskjold-Samsøe, duchess of Schleswig-Holstein- Sonderburg-Augustenburg, close as I could find to Duchess Margarete of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg, wife of Johann VII, Count of Nassau-Siegen and brother to the Stadtholder Moritz of Orange.

Interesting about the Fuggers - thanks!  You know, Luther railed against the family.  It was a debt to the Fuggers the Archbishop Albrecht was attempting to pay off with the sale of indulgences, leading to the 95 theses.  Luther said, "Daily the poor are defrauded. New burdens and high prices are imposed. Everyone misuses the market in his own willful, conceited, arrogant way, as if it were his right and privilege to sell his goods as dearly as he pleases without a word of criticism."

Things haven't changed so much, I suppose.  Perhaps Luther shamed them into a little philanthropy?

I am reading the book, The Reformation: A History by Diarmaid MacCulloch.  Really quite good!

Cheers,

Jeff

This is the picture I sent Tim to represent the Dutch Duchess Margarete of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg.  Alas!  he didn't pick up on her most prominent features, so he is being asked for a redo:

Thanks so much, Thorsten!

Now, if that brat of an Antichrist escapes the Emissaries, they will see the flag of the ship he escapes on flying the blue and gold with two lilies.  On a successful Commerce test recognize this is a Fugger ship (the Anakriya) which will give them some idea who they will need to speak with when they get within 60km of Hattingen.  Fuggers = New Faction.

I am kind of wondering how the Fabulous Fuggers (16th century equivalent of the Kardashians?) are regarded by modern German people?  Success story from Augsburg?  Upstarts and international rackateers?  

By the way. we call Tim's augmentation task "Bodacious Ta Ta's" in the States.  Or is that just in Texas where they say everything is bigger? 

Thank you kindly, pardner!

Jeff 

So, the boy whom your better half sketched for us might escape from the Emissaries (giving them the finger of Saturn as his ship sails!) down the Rhine to wash ashore 60 km from you.  My first question involves the Fuggers of Augsburg - what was their family crest in 1610?  It's a Fugger vessel the little beast escapes on! 

Funny story, I often provide our artist Tim with some period work to use as models for his illustrations (he does all the character sketches so they have a common look and feel).  Did you see the Rembrandt, for example, in The Heydelberg Horror?  Anyway, when I saw Tim's  last rather flat-chested sketch in The Köln Machinations for a  buxom noblewoman I provided to him, I suggested an enlargement.  That is where the book is right now, awaiting Tim's breast implants!    

I also use the Hero Lab from Lone Wolf for Savage Worlds - I really wish they supported Renaissance stuff, it would save a lot of work!  I developed a modified version for Renaissance but it broke when they upgraded the system and I don't have the strength to debug it again.  Anyway, Realm Works is good with Savage Worlds - you can embed a portfolio of characters very easily.  I just got some Solomon Kane bennies in the mail today.  Jamestown is coming!

Wow, the silk road sounds like fun, hopefully avoiding the plague gardens of Mongolia, the marmots thereof.  I was never in India, but I was fortunate to have been on business in Shanghai and got a chance while there to tour a Ming dynasty villa in Suzhou (called Soochow by the British).  I also visited a silk factory.  I love China - if I were a younger man, I would be an expat there!

Sounds like your adventurers in Rome might find themselves in the catacombs to find the Necromancer?  Of course, I had to go into the catacombs of St. Domatilla (my wife complains I always drag her to cemeteries).  The catacombs stretch for kilometers and for centuries no one remembered they were there, underfoot.  One of the earliest paintings of The Last Supper can be found in the catacombs of St. Domatilla.

So, yes, you are about 60 km from the site of the next adventure, Thorsten.  I am looking forward to collaborating with you again!

Cheers!

Jeff   

By the way, the second installment has been reviewed by Peter and Ken is also giving it a gander.  Two thumbs up so far!  I hope you will be pleased to have taken part in the product to be published shortly before the holiday.  I so much appreciate all your help and insight!  We will have to start thinking about the third installment now, The Mad Duke's Tomb.  I am taking notes right now from a variety of sources...it does occur to me this is more or less in your back yard.  Have you ever used Realm Works by Lone Wolf Development?   An excellent way to organize materials for an adventure.

Good luck to your characters obtaining funds in Rome.  Never a bad time for a visit unless you're Giordano Bruno or Fra Paolo Scarpi!

I also like the Kane character, though I haven't read all the stories.  I have a copy now - really enjoyed Red Shadows, recently read. 

I am planning some kind of adventure in Jamestown, Virginia, based on a map by John Smith from 1612, with my old "groupies" perhaps in that very same location (I live about 5 hours drive away) next summer.

Path of Kane has a vignette set in Jamestown, but I think I can go far beyond that!  I am starting to amass the necessary reading materials around the Colony's history.  So, if you do bring your gaming group to the New World, I might have some suggestions.   

Peter is nearly done with his first pass of The Köln Machinations and then his erstwhile colleague Gary must also review.  Would you be willing to review a drafted copy for any uncorrected "German-isms" on my part?  I must warn you, it is a lengthy read!  Good news is that Peter really likes the story, so far.  I am no Carl Sargent, but there is definitely a sense of homage...

The Winter King will start in Heydelberg again, of course...but the year will be 1618 or so...before the defenestration of Prague.

Sounds a little like Masks of Nyarlathotep meets Raiders of the Lost Ark with all the globe-trotting - fun!  Too bad it wasn't 1620 when you reached North America!  I have been at Plymouth, really interesting reenactment of the Pilgrims there. 

But I have also been in Mexico a bit and have some interesting references including the Florentine Codex of Bernardino de Sahagún  and also a Treatise  on Aztec sorcery from 1629.  The Books of Aliette de Bodard are also good.  The present adventure will provide a bit more detail in that regard, also.

So you are in 1616?  I better get started on The Winter King, the sequel to A Clockwork of Orange, sooner rather than later!.  Only have three years of game time to get to Prague from  the SK perspective!  I got the rule book for SK, by the way.  It really is the nearest proximity to C&W...I may have to write an adventure sometime for it.  Ordered the anthology of SK novels by Howard for starters. 

So now it reads:

·        The Dhyan-Chohans are supreme – this was the first root race, who came to Earth from the heavens and thus represent the angelic, elder race of masters; the other races are leftovers from the failed experiments of the past and should be enslaved or destroyed;

Really good insight, Thorsten!  Yes, it was Helena Blavatsky who supplied the Aryan root race, so not historical, and I really have gone back and forth about possibly making Der Sterne Weisheit into mere proto-Nazis.   The only thing that really ties the cult to the Ayans is the Persian reference you give - Zoroastrianism (Persia) -> Gnostics -> Manicheans -> Bogomils -> Cathars -> Der Sterne Weisheit.  Also, of course, Lovecraft himself was a bit of a racist, but I didn't want to emphasize that though other writers of my acquaintance certainly have!

Actually, the Spanish were the racists of the 16th and 17th century, with their pure blood vs. Conversos vs. Moriscos politics under Philip III.

The Liber Ivonis is one of the Lovecraftian artifacts the players may come upon in the Roman ruins under Köln  and I have invented a myth or history within its pages whereby two travelers from Arcturus (the Seventh Heaven) crash land on Europa, the moon of Jupiter, one of the Medicean Stars discovered by Galileo in January 1610.  These rival travelers were named Ahura-Mazda and Ahriman.  They make their way to Hyperborean Earth because it is pretty cold on Europa!  And the war begins! 

So, Galenus Weyer discovers the Liber Ivonis while at medical school in Montpelier and the rest is, as they say, alternative history.

So, to your point, they do believe they come from the moon - just not Earth's moon.  I therefore have no problem amending this to be Dhyan-Chohans from the moon of Jupiter, thus avoiding the proto-nazis, which were sort of a cheap shot anyway.   Interestingly, if a character is so blithe as to sit in the Empty Throne of a Manichean temple to be found in the Roman underground of the city, he or she will be transported to Europa, an experience which he or she is not likely to survive without a sanity-blasting experience!

Sometime, you must tell me about your Solomon Kane campaign.  I really like the character and it sounds right up A Clockwork of Orange's dark alley.

With high regard,

Jeff    

By the way, I am Über impressed by your knowledge of William Blake!  I was thinking of Innocence and Experience in this quote, no question!  I agree it is better garbled!

As a doughty collaborator in all that has been wrought so far, I willingly share with you only the text for the forthcoming faction to be known as Das Himmelreich aka Der Sterne Weisheit, a curious blend of Catharism, Lovecraft and Nietzsche.  Let me know what you think!

1.     A New Faction – Das Himmelreich aka Der Sterne Weisheit, The Starry Wisdom

Leaders:  Galenus Weyer; Dom Bernard Percin de Montgaillard, Abbot of Orval; Hermann Weinsberg, Lawyer; Marx Fugger, Industrialist; Jean Louis de Nogaret de La Valette, Duke of Epernon

On the surface, this group is known to the world as Das Himmelreich, a beneficial confraternity dedicated to St. Dymphna and supporting the care of those suffering madness.  Everyone asked about them will speak well of this benevolent organization and its good works on behalf of the unfortunate and despised, least in society.

The truth of this confraternity, Der Sterne Weisheit, the Starry Wisdom, however, is far more sinister: it is an evil cult dedicated to Nyarlathotep and the death of the sun (The King in Yellow), the end of the world, so that the fallen angels they believe themselves to be may be freed.

·        Gott ist tot – God is dead…but may eternal lie;

·        Jenseits von Gut und Böse – Beyond Good and Evil: Morality is the refuge of the worthless and weak, descendants of the Hyperborean beast-men.  The will to power is the only imperative;

·        Übermensch – One law for the Lion and the Lamb is oppression.  In this very city, the Lion is coming and when he does the lambs will be led to the slaughter!

·        Pity is weakness:  the Christian religion institutionalizes weakness and therefore must be abandoned.  A warrior must keep his blade sharp; the Christian faith dulls his weapons;

·        The Aryan race is supreme – the fifth root race, the Aryan race, is the race of masters; the other root races are leftovers from the failures of the Hyperborean past and should be enslaved or destroyed;

·        Fallen angels – the angels of the seventh heaven were thrown down by Yaldabaoth, the Evil god of the Old Testament.  They became human beings, enslaved by Yaldabaoth in his current aspect, The King in Yellow, i.e. the Sun.  The Sun must be destroyed for the Fallen Angels to return to the Seventh Heaven, which is located near the star Arcturus in the constellation of The Ploughman.

·        Primordial Unity – this is achieved through frenzy, holy madness, which bestows superhuman strength.

·        The Three Lobed Eye of the Übermensch – tattooed on all members of Der Sterne Weisheit remind them all that they are being watched at all times by Nyarlathotep.

Allies:  The Black Christ of Chalma, The Obsidian Butterfly, Armanist Brotherhood

Enemies:  All Christians, particularly The Opus Dei

Zeal: 55%

Skill Bonus:  Beliefs (Der Sternen Weisheit) +25%, Close Combat +20%

So, here's the third part of The Machinations, from a "Germanism" perspective:

Verräter und Bösewichte (traitors and evil-doers)

The head of a Gaffel, for example, is called the Amtsmeister

Beliefs of Der Sterne Weisheit:

Gott ist tot – God is dead

Jenseits von Gut und Böse – Beyond Good and Evil

Übermensch – One law for the Lion and the Lamb is oppression

Think that's mostly it!

Don't want to give people more to "Aalaf!" about when you have Donald Trump from us for comedy already!  So,  Kronengarde it is!  And I like Hahnengarde since it is easy to understand why people would call them that behind their backs.

Really appreciate your help.  How should we list you in the credits?  Thorsten Gress, xxxxxxx?

I also exchanged "in this Lenten season, Epffelbolster (fried battered apples) or Gruen FeldtSalat (green field salad), and Lachs in Teyge (salmon pastries), as fish is not considered meat." for Himmel und Aad which won't be on the menu for another 50-60 years.

Some Germanisms from Part 2, then.  We are in the city itself:

Coellen ein kroin boven allen steden schoin – Köln, a crown, most beautiful of cities!

the twin spires of the Kölner Dom, a magnificent Gothic cathedral

Marktpforte, the harbor gate

Gaffeln, the Council of Guilds

Altstadt, the Old Quarter of Köln

the Rathaus, with its 5-storey tower

gather on the stylish loggia in the morning to read out their decisions (Morgensprachen) to the assembled citizens  

Zunftzeichen (guild sign)

 many housewives gather in the Altermarkt, it seems, to gossip

a placard (Anschlag)

Formschneider to carve the blocks which are then inked to print the image

Before the cathedral in the Domplatz is the Fountain of St. Peter.

Heinzelmännchen and their mechanism

Narrhausen - imadhouse

Deutsch sein heißt, eine Sache um ihrer selbst willen tun. It means, To be German means to do something for its own sake.

Böser Geist (Evil Spirit)

Brauhaus "Drüjje Pitter" – Dry Pieter’s Brauhaus

That's it for German in part 2.  How are you in Spanish and French?

I've made the recommended changes - thank you so much!  With one exception, the Rote Funken.  I am using them as the local soldiery of Köln.  "Red Sparks" is certainly picturesque, so I hope I can keep them!  But what would you suggest as more historically accurate?

I will send you more to consider this weekend.  Appreciate the input, Thorsten!

Kind Regards, Jeff

Glad to hear you are recovering!  My sister is a principal in Philadelphia so I know that kids come to school to make their teachers sick! 

Ok - Thorsten.  Most importantly, I would like your full name and your fiancee's full name so that I can give you credit in the book when it comes out and Peter will need to setup your vouchers.  No hurry, it will be awhile until they get the book laid out and ready for publication, I am thinking maybe in time for Christmas if we're lucky.

Here are my "Germanisms" for you to check me on.  This is just the first part - there are two others and also an Addendum of NPC details that may provide more.  Really appreciate your corrections!

The Mittelrhein Voyage and The Free City of Köln

Der Sterne Weisheit, the Starry Wisdom,

of the benevolent confraternity, Das Himmelreich

of Roter Skorpion - I don't think I ever use the, Der, Die, Das etc. in front of Roter Skorpion anywhere since wasn't sure which was correct article

Fortress of Guelich - Yeah, old spelling but "kewl" so I kept it

Reichsthalers - coinage

Fortress of Ehrenbreitstein

Town Council of 22 guilds, the Gaffeln

the towering Domkirche, a Gothic cathedral

Rote Funcken - “Red Sparks” - for their jaunty red jackets

Nachtschar, the Night Spirits living in the Alps

The Greedy Bürgermeister of Kaub

Katzenelnbogen (Cat’s Elbow)

The Loreley is a 132 meter high, steep slate rock outcropping

“Was zum Teufel ist das?” (What in hell is that?)

the medieval Schloss Marxburg

Eselsweg, the medieval “donkey road”

Zugbruckentor, the drawbridge gate

Fuchstor the Fox Gate

Vogsturm, the Castellan’s Tower

Schartentor, the Loophole Gate

Burgschmiede, Castle Blacksmithery

12 pound culverin (Schlangen)

three 4 pound falkonete

Eiserne Pforte, the Iron Gate

Greif (Griffin)

Weinhaus - for a tavern in Koblenz

the stube (public room)

Himmel und Aad (Heaven and Earth – 12 kreuzer)

Gastwirt (Host)

Thorsten, sorry to hear you are feeling poorly.  Swift recovery!

I think it will be Der Sterne Weisheit because I like the sound of it.

As I wrap up the writing of the second installment hopefully in a week or two, I will cull through all my American "Germanisms" and check them with you.

But for now, I will not tax your fevered brain further!  Get plenty of bed rest and fluids if I may practice medicine without a license.

Best Regards,

Jeff

Where does the time go?  A good question for A Clockwork of Orange, I think.  How would that be said in German? 

Haven't heard from you betimes, Thorsten, so I hope all is well.  Making progress towards completing the second installment.  Will have something like 20 carefully crafted NPC's for the GM to make use of.  It will be a big book, hope Peter can get through it by Christmas.

A question.  I have decided to replicate a cult from H.P. Lovecraft from the story The Haunter of the Dark that was called The Starry Wisdom in that story.  Would Der Sternen Weisheit be the correct translation?

Thanks, as always.

Jeff 

Hi, Thorsten,

This is rather an amusing account!  I found my sympathies were with the Duke, I must admit.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and translate and I will certainly use it!  There are already clues the Emissaries will find in Köln that the Duke has been in the city before, looking for something there.  He has left some notes in the margins of the book De Magnete by William Gilbert they may discover in the library of the Alchemist's Guildhouse. for example.  They will definitely hear about this exorcism in the rumor and innuendo of the Brauhäuser and this will raise further questions about what the Duke was doing here (he shows his hand again in the marginalia of an old map of Roman Köln they may find in the tomb of Sankt Andreas (which I created just yesterday, by the way, using a public domain plan as the basis).   

Father Speer, one of the pre-generated characters, is a Jesuit, based loosely on Friedrich von Spee, a famous Jesuit who actually attended the Dreikönigsgymnasium in Köln.  Peter Leo, the Jesuit from Köln involved in the exorcism might then be an old school chum.  If inquiries are made, it may be determined that Father Leo is also quite ill, not far from Death's door.  Perhaps Father Speer might look him up before he passes and hear a rather more sinister tale than the one told in the streets of the city, ja?

I am reading a book about the Army of Flanders by the historian Geoffrey Parker.  Helps me appreciate the transition from medieval castle to the star-shaped artillery fortresses with their bastions that characterized military thinking during the Dutch Revolt.  This also led to Duke Wilhelm the Rich of the United Duchies rebuilding the Fortress of Jülich after the town burned down in 1543, employing the famed Italian architect Alessandro Pasqualini.  If you go to Jülich sometime, take pictures - it is a place I wish I could have visited when I was in Germany!

Danke schön!

Jeff 

Hi, Thorsen -

Hardest part about vacation is returning to work!  I had a lot to catch up, so sorry for the delay.  With school starting, you have probably even a stronger experience, with the children pestering you yesterday.  The weather was was excellent on our vacation, in this part of the country anyway,  I got first hand experience of flooding in 1972.  Does the Rhine ever flood?

Thank you for the excellent information on names!  I guess T.S. Eliot said that the naming of cats is a difficult matter, it isn't just one of your holiday games.  The same is true of characters in a piece of work.  I also have Totengräber for grave digger, think I must use that for a bad guy!

Same with the brauhaus info though I admit it made me want a little foamy beer myself, which I drank on the deck of the place we stayed in the mountains.  I also did do some reading there, though the weather was so fine it wasn't long before we took to the trails.  

Reply to Faustus the Manichean by Augustine is rather one-sided, but if I had any doubts of the logic prevailing in theology, perhaps based on the arguments of TV preachers we get here, Augustine is so brilliant.  And I have come to understand the inversion of Catharism a little better.  For a Catharist, the God of the Old Testament was the Devil himself, creation the confinement of the spiritual by the physical.  I am starting to see how they might become a Cthulhu cult, the Himmelreich, and yet retain a certain historical verity.   

Well, back to work/school for us, eh Thorsten?  I don't know that it is so different, dealing with managers of various departments, from schoolchildren on the playground.  Often unruly little brats!  There is a line from King Lear, "thou shoulds't have been wise before thou wert old!"  I think that often of myself, I need more wisdom to make up for the reduction in energy level.  Thanks for adding to my wisdom about Germany, which often feels a distant homeland to me.

Regards,

Jeff

Thanks, Thorsten - vacation starts today!

Really, really appreciate the details on Meister Arnold!  The Cathars in Köln may not be altogether extinguished in the Rhineland, ja?  I will make use of the material you have so kindly provided in my explication of what the Himmelreich actually are doing in  Köln (not just another confraternity).

The name Cathar, I understand, comes from a practice they reputedly engaged in that involved kissing the backside of a cat.  I looked over at our cat when I read this and said to him, "Don't hold your breath, pal!"

I will be reading more about Cathars/Manicheans/Gnostics/Zoroastrians this weekend - "Katharer almost sounds like Cthulhu, doesn't it?  Also trying to finish Highroad to the Stake by Michael Kunze.  It concerns the Pappenheimer family, a wonderful name that I intend to use for someone in Köln, I would imagine!  Can you think of any other names of equal fun: eg German for muck-raker, nose-picker, arse-scratcher etc I could apply with equal amusement to the lowlier inhabitants of the city?

By the way, I have a practice rapier with a Pappenheimer hilt, never realized it was so versatile!

I bet there are times teaching school you wish you were in a stube where children are not allowed!  I guess the term starts again soon?  Really interesting stuff about keeping warm - I guess it was watching Roman Polanski's Tess of the D'Urbervilles  with Nastassia Kinski made me realize how cold people were in the brutal chill of winter!

When people speak of Brauhaus culture, I wondered what does that mean from a German perspective?  What could they expect to find when the Emissaries from Prague walked into a traditional German tavern?  

Thanks as always for your invaluable help, Thorsten!

Jeff