Zymurgia House (2024)

28/01/2024

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 25 April 1019 Veronica's College, Edenford, Cumbria My dearest cousin Armand, I am certain that you wish to hear the latest news from Provençe, bearing as it does on events in Mont-Havre, so I will begin by setting out what little news I have. Were I to rely on Cumbrian sources I would have nothing to tell you; events in Provençe have received little notice even in Yorke, so I am told, and less than that in Edenford....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 25 April 1019 Veronica’s College, Edenford, Cumbria My dearest cousin Armand, I am certain that you wish to hear the latest news from…

21/01/2024

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 10 April 1019 Former's Guild House, Mont-Havre Dear Amelia, Treason is afoot here in Mont-Havre, in the person of M. Sabot; Lord Winthrop, His Cumbrian Majesty's governor-general, has been no help whatsoever; and Le Grand Parlement has no interest in policing its own members with regard its agreements with His Cumbrian Majesty....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 10 April 1019 Former’s Guild House, Mont-Havre Dear Amelia, Treason is afoot here in Mont-Havre, in the person of M. Sabot; Lord Wint…

15/01/2024

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 27 March 1019 Veronica's Common, Edenford, Cumbria My dearest cousin Armand, When I last I wrote I told you that Maximilian and I should soon be setting out to canvas the Edges of Provençe for traces of ley lines, but I wrote prematurely. I am indeed writing these words at the table in our caravan, but our caravan is moored at present in a field in Edenford, a field that goes by the quaint name of Veronica's Common....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 27 March 1019 Veronica’s Common, Edenford, Cumbria My dearest cousin Armand, When I last I wrote I told you that Maximilian and I sho…

07/01/2024

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 3 March 1019 Bois-de-Bas Dear Journal, In light of Amelia's letter of 28 January, and my own investigations, I must believe that it is all true. M. Sabot is conspiring with Royalists in Provençe to put a scion of the Provençese royal line back on the throne in Toulouse. He is seeking aid from His Cumbrian Majesty's subjects in Armorica, and he is promising titles of nobility to those who support him when…...

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 3 March 1019 Bois-de-Bas Dear Journal, In light of Amelia’s letter of 28 January, and my own investigations, I must believe that it i…

01/01/2024

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 28 February 1019 Rue Thomas, Toulouse My dearest cousin Armand, Such news I have for you! Not about our researches into the ley lines of the Old Lands, I am afraid, for we will not resume our survey until spring. I will have more to say on that heading below. Nor have I any news to speak of about the Iturians and their…...

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 28 February 1019 Rue Thomas, Toulouse My dearest cousin Armand, Such news I have for you! Not about our researches into the ley lines of th…

26/12/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 15 February 1019 Mont-Havre Dear Journal, Much though it pains me to attribute ill motives to M. Sabot, I have begun to think that Jack is right to be suspicious, and that there is something underhanded afoot. I hastened here on the Amelie this morning, leaving at first light, in order to provide Jack the wherewithal to keep body and soul together....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 15 February 1019 Mont-Havre Dear Journal, Much though it pains me to attribute ill motives to M. Sabot, I have begun to think that Jack is …

17/12/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 7 February 1019 Former's Guild House, Mont-Havre Dear Armand, I have done it! I have completed the final draft of A Gentleman's Guide to Mont-Havre, and made two fair copies, one for me and one for M. Fournier. Yes, your friend M. Fournier, the bookseller! One of his acquaintances, a printer of broadsheets, has a new press and has chosen to add a bookbindery to his establishment....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 7 February 1019 Former’s Guild House, Mont-Havre Dear Armand, I have done it! I have completed the final draft of A Gentleman’s…

10/12/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 28 January 1019 17 Rue Thomas, Toulouse My dearest cousin Armand, Two months ago you asked about your M. Sabot, the current Comte de L—. I responded immediately with our news (if a discussion regarding a long dead people can be called news) about the Iturians and their autocratoria, and having had no time to look into it of course had nothing to say as yet....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 28 January 1019 17 Rue Thomas, Toulouse My dearest cousin Armand, Two months ago you asked about your M. Sabot, the current Comte de L—. I …

03/12/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 19 January 1019 Bois-de-Bas, Armorica Dear Jack, I agree that M. Sabot's current circumstances come as a great surprise; and may I say that Madame Truc has no more notion of what he is doing and why than I do. But is it necessary to read sinister motives into what might be a quite innocent state of affairs?...

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 19 January 1019 Bois-de-Bas, Armorica Dear Jack, I agree that M. Sabot’s current circumstances come as a great surprise; and may I sa…

26/11/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 12 January 1019 Former's Guild House, Mont-Havre Dear Armand, First, thank you for your delightful hospitality these past weeks. Having spent a number of festal seasons living in camp in Malague, surrounded by snow and mud, I am all the more appreciative of spending them warm, well fed, and in the bosom of your loving family....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 12 January 1019 Former’s Guild House, Mont-Havre Dear Armand, First, thank you for your delightful hospitality these past weeks. Havi…

20/11/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 27 December 1018 17 Rue Thomas, Toulouse My dearest cousin Armand, I feel that I am walking in days of myth and legend! As if the vast run of history has condensed down to a single point, and its wonders are revolving before me! But if I continue in this vein you will think that I have run mad, and you will begin to use hard words like…...

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 27 December 1018 17 Rue Thomas, Toulouse My dearest cousin Armand, I feel that I am walking in days of myth and legend! As if the vast run …

12/11/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 20 November 1018 Bois-de-Bas, Armorica My dear cousin Amelia, I have a great surprise in store for you—and alas, I am late in telling you of it, for the surprise is that I have declared Jérôme Lavigne a journeyman of the Armorican Former's Guild, and as you have received this letter by his hand I will assume that you already know all about it....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 20 November 1018 Bois-de-Bas, Armorica My dear cousin Amelia, I have a great surprise in store for you—and alas, I am late in telling you o…

04/11/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 15 October 1018 17 Rue Thomas, Toulouse My dearest cousin Armand, Since I last wrote, Maximilian and I have been pondering our discoveries regarding the ley lines of Cumbria and Provençe. We know that for the route from Yorke to Toulouse, the current correction to the best chart is 1º, 22' and 27" to starboard....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 15 October 1018 17 Rue Thomas, Toulouse My dearest cousin Armand, Since I last wrote, Maximilian and I have been pondering our discoveries …

29/10/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 30 September 1018 Former's Guild House, Mont-Havre Dear Armand, I am not and have not been easy in my mind about M. Sabot. He rings false, to my ears. Of course, I cannot doubt his identity, not now that both you and Madame Truc have seen him. He is the man who sat at Madame Truc's table, and, …...

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 30 September 1018 Former’s Guild House, Mont-Havre Dear Armand, I am not and have not been easy in my mind about M. Sabot. He rings f…

22/10/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 29 September 1018 Bois-de-Bas Dear Journal, When I was small, "The Troubles" were a nightmare, a bogeyman that my elders spoke of in angry voices, with words like "But what if the Troubles should come to Yorke," and "We shall all be murdered in our beds!", followed by "In the town square, more likely." But they shut their mouths and waved me out of the room if they noticed I was listening; and my mother would not listen to my questions....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 29 September 1018 Bois-de-Bas Dear Journal, When I was small, “The Troubles” were a nightmare, a bogeyman that my elders spoke …

08/10/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 27 September 1018 Former's Guild House, Mont-Havre Dear Armand, A most unusual thing has occurred this morning, and I felt I must inform you at once. I have written this note at Suprenant et Fils; M. Suprenant has promised to send it to you by message arrow the moment I have sealed it....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 27 September 1018 Former’s Guild House, Mont-Havre Dear Armand, A most unusual thing has occurred this morning, and I felt I must inf…

01/10/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 22 September 1018 17 Rue Thomas, Toulouse My dearest cousin Armand, Having completed our survey of the ley lines in that portion of Cumbria that lies closest to Provençe—not just on the edge, but for some distance inland as well—we have returned to Toulouse to regroup, and to report our findings to the Masters at…...

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 22 September 1018 17 Rue Thomas, Toulouse My dearest cousin Armand, Having completed our survey of the ley lines in that portion of Cumbria…

24/09/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 16 September 1018 Former's Guild House, Mont-Havre Dear Armand, This has been a bittersweet week, making notes about cafés and shops that I grew to love and now do not dare to enter, but it has had its moments. Durand Park remains open to all, though I have attracted a glare or two as I stroll about; I have quite reconciled with M....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 16 September 1018 Former’s Guild House, Mont-Havre Dear Armand, This has been a bittersweet week, making notes about cafés and shops …

17/09/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 9 September 1018 Bois de Bas Dear Journal, Jack received a letter a few days ago that has pushed him into action—a thing most delightful to see, for he has been growing more haggard by the day. It is not in him to enjoy idling, and though he enjoys playing with his nieces he cannot run after them....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 9 September 1018 Bois de Bas Dear Journal, Jack received a letter a few days ago that has pushed him into action—a thing most delightful to…

10/09/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 31 August 1018 3 Madrigal Court, Yorke My dearest cousin Armand, As you can see from the direction, Maximilian and I have made a stop with Mama and Papa in Yorke, in the midst of our peregrinations about Cumbria. It is a rest for which I am deeply grateful; much though we love our (or, rather, …...

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 31 August 1018 3 Madrigal Court, Yorke My dearest cousin Armand, As you can see from the direction, Maximilian and I have made a stop with …

03/09/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 26 August 1018 Bois-de-Bas Dear Journal, It has been a delight to have Jack here these past weeks—a delight for Amelie and me and for our girls. For Jack, I fear, it has been a trial. Jack has always been a man of action and the outdoors. I daresay he would have remained with his regiment indefinitely had he been able; but as it is all his usual pursuits were sadly curtailed when he lost his leg....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 26 August 1018 Bois-de-Bas Dear Journal, It has been a delight to have Jack here these past weeks—a delight for Amelie and me and for our g…

27/08/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 12 August 1018 17 Rue de Chêne, Mont-Havre Armand, I have reached Mont-Havre at last, and it has not been the comfort I was hoping for. It had been my plan to spend a few days' time here, looking up old cronies, but it seems— Well, I shall have to tell you the whole sorry tale....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 12 August 1018 17 Rue de Chêne, Mont-Havre Armand, I have reached Mont-Havre at last, and it has not been the comfort I was hoping for. It …

20/08/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 18 July 1018 17 Rue Thomas, Toulouse My dearest cousin Armand, Maximilian has just received an answer to a question he sent to Dr. Tillotson, his tutor in wizardry at Edenford. It seems that no one has ever actually surveyed the ley lines of Cumbria—not in any rigorous and methodical way. The maps that first-year Edenford students pore over so eagerly are based on random wizard's diaries, traveler's tales, straight lines on the maps published by His Majesty's Geographic Society, and a great deal of conjecture....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 18 July 1018 17 Rue Thomas, Toulouse My dearest cousin Armand, Maximilian has just received an answer to a question he sent to Dr. Tillotso…

13/08/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 20 June 1018 Miravaux, Provençe My dearest cousin Armand, Our expedition continues swimmingly. Over the past four weeks we have fixed the position of seventeen nodal points, nine of which were previously unrecorded; and traced far more ley lines than that end to end. We have determined that certain ley lines that were regarded as running in a straight line for hundred of miles are not single ley lines at all, but segments, running node to node in not quite a straight line....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 20 June 1018 Miravaux, Provençe My dearest cousin Armand, Our expedition continues swimmingly. Over the past four weeks we have fixed the p…

06/08/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. 6 June 1018 3 Madrigal Court, Yorke, Cumbria Armand, I have decided that I must, above all things, come visit you in Bois-de-Bas—and possibly remain with for quite a long stay. My situation here in Yorke is desperate; one might say the enemy has established a practicable breach, and my only recourse to avoid an ugly sacking is to surrender immediately and then flee the battlefield....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. 6 June 1018 3 Madrigal Court, Yorke, Cumbria Armand, I have decided that I must, above all things, come visit you in Bois-de-Bas—and possib…

30/07/2023

25 May 1018 Pomme-de-Bec, Provençe My dearest cousin Armand, You have outdone yourself. As I write these words, Maximilian and I are most comfortably ensconced in L'École du Sorciers' new Tuppenny Wagons sky-caravan, snug and warm as we listen to the rain on the roof and enjoy our view out over the thatched rooftops of the little village of Pomme-de-Bec....

25 May 1018 Pomme-de-Bec, Provençe My dearest cousin Armand, You have outdone yourself. As I write these words, Maximilian and I are most comfortably ensconced in L’École du Sorciers’ n…

23/07/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. Bois-de-Bas, Armorica 15 January 1018 Dear Journal, The snow lies thickly around our home and around the green. It is deep midwinter once again, and the quiet is broken only by the voices of my daughters. Mama is on her way home to Yorke on the Amelie, taking her maid Roman with her, and thereby reducing the crowding here considerably....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. Bois-de-Bas, Armorica 15 January 1018 Dear Journal, The snow lies thickly around our home and around the green. It is deep midwinter once a…

16/07/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. Bois-de-Bas, Armorica, 7 January Dear Jack, I have just received your letter of 26 October, and I wish first of all to assure you that we would be delighted to have you come to us and be Uncle Jack for a time—at any time and at every time. I've no doubt you could build a place for yourself here in Bois-de-Bas that's less dusty than the War Records Office, and would keep you profitably occupied; yes, and you might even attract the attention of a young lady or two....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. Bois-de-Bas, Armorica, 7 January Dear Jack, I have just received your letter of 26 October, and I wish first of all to assure you that we w…

09/07/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. Mont-Havre, Armorica 30 November 1017 Dear Amelia, Please do take notice of the date on this letter; you should be reading it at about the beginning of January. Yes, just one month after I sent it! (Which means, I am afraid, that at least one of my earlier letters is still in transit.)...

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. Mont-Havre, Armorica 30 November 1017 Dear Amelia, Please do take notice of the date on this letter; you should be reading it at about the …

02/07/2023

Armand's First Letter. Amelia's First Letter. Bois-de-Bas, Armorica 20 November 1017 Dear Amelia, I rather seem to have put my foot in it—though how I could have done otherwise I cannot quite see. I couldn't have sent a message ahead, after all. When I left Bois-de-Bas, Amelie was eager that I should bring Mama home with me; but she hadn't considered that Mama might choose to bring her maid, Roman, and she certainly had not anticipated the presence of Jérôme Lavigne....

Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. Bois-de-Bas, Armorica 20 November 1017 Dear Amelia, I rather seem to have put my foot in it—though how I could have done otherwise I cannot…

Zymurgia House