The Belasis Scopus Spell

“The Belasis’s Scopus Spell is a spell to detect magic which appeared in Jacques Belasis’s The Instructions.”

Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrel, Susanna Clarke

The Raven King as a Child

"When King Henry ask the boy his name the boy’s response was that he did not have one¹.

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¹When John d’ Uskglass was a child in Faerie, the Sidhe (those who adopted him as their own), called him a word in their own language which means “Starling”. John d’ Uskglass was a name the boy took from his father, but in the early part of his life he was known by many titles his friends and enemies gave him: the King; the Raven King; the Black King; the King of the North."

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke

N-gauge, 6 Ton G. W. R. Scammell

This another specimen of a n-gauge (1:148) scale Langley Miniature model. This is a six-ton Scammell Mechanical Horse a three-wheel lorry with a covered wagon. The kit includes fourteen white metal components. There is a seated driver in the cab and being as small has it is it is full of lovely detail.

There is Small and there is Minuscule

These Langley miniatures are in n-gauge (1:148) scale and are cast in white metal. These are my first n-gauge figures and they are very small, they are approximately 10mm high. Although I do own a n-gauge locomotive and tender and some n-gauge track my stock of n-gauge things is very limited.

Allan Quatermain: The Zulu Trilogy - H. Rider Haggard

As I slowly transition to the plans I have for the New Year I am pulling together another reading list, this will be my early and mid-winters reading list. I have wanted to get back the character of Allan Quatermain and will add these three novels to this list.

These three novels-Marie, Child of Storm, and Finished-form the Zulu Trilogy in which the Zulu wizard, Zikali, gains his revenge on the Zulu nation and its king, Cetawayo.

P.S. I realize that images have been rather scarce in this month posts and I do have some that could be posted, but then I must first write a corresponding post. It has lately been a bit difficult to get this done.

Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Volume III

I have slowed down on the reading lately and have finally gotten to the third volume of Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. I am now about two thirds through this thick and fascinating novel.

Volume III, John Uskglass

“It is the contention of Mr. Norrell of Hanover-square, that everything belonging to John Uskglass (The Raven King) must be shaken out of modern magic, as one would shake moths and dust out of an old coat. What does he imagine he will have left? If you get rid of John Uskglass you will be left holding the empty air.’

Johnathan Strange, prologue to The History and Practice of English Magic, pub., John Murray, London, 1816”

Quotes from the Great White Queen

Here are a couple of quotes from William Le Queux, the Great White Queen.

“Let virtue be the basis of knowledge and let knowledge be as a slave before her.”

Chapter 19, The Great White Queen, William Le Queux

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“Let us hasten, O Master.” The old sage cried breathlessly. “Every instant’s delay meaneth peril, and peril is the first cousin to disaster.”

Chapter 24, The Great White Queen, William Le Queux

Pixel Critters

How lucky I am. I put four sets of quarters into the vending machine and received two duplicates. These dense, hard-plastic miniatures stand approximately 20mm tall and has you can see are formed very uniquely from what looks like a 3-d printer.

Book of Thoth

'"Here it is," he said, and took down and opened the book on the table. "This passage may interest you." He laid his finger upon it.

His son bent over the book and read the following:—

"Hai, the evil man, was a shepherd. He had said: 'O, that I might have a book of spells that would give me resistless power!' He obtained a book of the Formulas.... By the divine powers of these he enchanted men. He obtained a deep vault furnished with implements. He made waxen images of men, and love-charms.[22] And then he perpetrated all the horrors that his heart conceived."

"Flinders Petrie," said Dr. Cairn, "mentions the Book of Thoth as another magical work conferring similar powers."

"But surely, sir—after all, it's the twentieth century—this is mere superstition!"

"I thought so—once!" replied Dr. Cairn. "But I have lived to know that Egyptian magic was a real and a potent force. A great part of it was no more than a kind of hypnotism, but there were other branches. Our most learned modern works are as children's nursery rhymes beside such a writing as the Egyptian Ritual of the Dead! God forgive me! What have I done!"'

Chapter III: The Ring Of Thoth, Brood Of The Witch-Queen, Sax Rohmer

IHC 1/87 Scale Windows

Here is another set of HO scale windows. These like my collection of windows this sprue is molded from polystyrene. This set is from International Hobbies Corporation, are manufactured in Denmark, and are IHC’s #4406, “22 HO Windows, railings, and miscellaneous ornamental parts”. I don’t believe that these castings are still being offered and have most likely gone out of print.

The Devil in the Fire

“'I'd like to see what you look like,' muttered Conan, working his ax free, 'you who leave a track like a bird, who burn like a flame and yet speak with a human voice.'

'You shall see,' answered the voice from the flame, 'see, and carry the knowledge with you into the Dark Land.'

The flames leaped and sank, dwindling and dimming. A face began to take shadowy form. At first Conan thought it was Zogar Sag ¹ himself who stood wrapped in green fire. But the face was higher than his own and there was a demoniac aspect about it—Conan had noted various abnormalities about Zogar Sag's features—an obliqueness of the eyes, a sharpness of the ears, a wolfish thinness of the lips; these peculiarities were exaggerated in the apparition which swayed before him. The eyes were red as coals of living fire.

More details came into view: a slender torso, covered with snaky scales, which was yet man-like in shape, with man-like arms, from the waist upward; below, long crane-like legs ended in splay, three-toed feet like those of some huge bird. Along the monstrous limbs the blue fire fluttered and ran. He saw it as through a glistening mist.”

Chapter 7 The Devil in the Fire, Beyond the Black River, Robert E. Howard

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¹ "'Did you ever hear of a Pictish wizard called Zogar Sag?'

Balthus shook his head uneasily.

'He dwells in Gwawela, the nearest village across the river. Three months ago he hid beside this road and stole a string of pack-mules from a pack-train bound for the fort—drugged their drivers, somehow. The mules belonged to this man'—Conan casually indicated the corpse with his foot—'Tiberias, a merchant of Velitrium. They were loaded with ale-kegs, and old Zogar stopped to guzzle before he got across the river. A woodsman named Soractus trailed him, and led Valannus and three soldiers to where he lay dead drunk in a thicket. At the importunities of Tiberias, Valannus threw Zogar Sag into a cell, which is the worst insult you can give a Pict. "

Chapter 1 Conan Loses His Ax, Beyond the Black River, Robert E. Howard

1/87 Brass Window Etchings

I have found some more brass etchings. The forty odd windows are from Ratio. Ratio is a purveyor of plastic models in various scales. Ratio produce model railroading structures and equipment along a British prototype. It is good to have several of the same style which this collection provides.

1/87 Scale Windows & Doors

I don’t suppose you can have too many windows; ounce you start building there go three here and a few there. With the new year quickly approaching I have plans to get back into scratch building and kit-bashing. Looking through my windows and doors collection I am looking to see what I have on-hand. It looks like I have a few windows and doors to get me started. These polystyrene apertures are left-over kit parts and from various manufactures.

A Bull Ape the God of Gullah

"'But what was that—that thing you killed in the altar-hut?' asked Balthus, with a shiver at the memory of the dim-seen horror.

'One of Zogar's gods. One of Jhebbal's children that didn't remember and had to be kept chained to the altar. A bull ape. The Picts think they're sacred to the Hairy One who lives on the moon—the gorilla-god of Gullah."

Chapter 5 The Children of Jhebbal Sag, Beyond the Black River, Robert E. Howard

The Beasts of Zogar Sag

Conan did not reply for a space, and when he did it was with a curious reticence.

'He can't command all the animals. Only such as remember Jhebbal Sag.'

'Jhebbal Sag?' Balthus repeated the ancient name hesitantly. He had never heard it spoken more than three or four times in his whole life.

'Once all living things worshipped him. That was long ago, when beasts and men spoke one language. Men have forgotten him; even the beasts forget. Only a few remember. The men who remember Jhebbal Sag and the beasts who remember are brothers and speak the same tongue.

Chapter 4: The Beasts of Zogar Sag, Beyond the Black River, Robert E. Howard