Art of the Great Hall (3)

We keep ambling along the Great Hall. Some random walks land us in front of this spot:

The Great Hall of the Unseen University is where the faculty wizards get down to business, namely eating and drinking.  The hall roof is held up with lots of pillars.  The walls are hung with paintings of former Archchancellors.  This is the northeastern corner of the hall.

There are three obvious exits: south, west and southwest.

A statue of Crispian is standing on the floor.

> 

look statue

This is an incredible six foot high statue of Senior Wizard Crispian, a well known fellow indeed.  It's a realistic lifesize piece carved out of marble with a divine touch from the gods.  Crispian looks very extraordinary and the sheer potency of this figure leaves you reeling.  As you gape with astonishment at his truly awesome beard, you are overcome with wonder at that totally astounding nose.  The hair coming out of those ears alone completely staggers you, but that is nothing compared with the way in which you are utterly overwhelmed by those astonishing feet.  This is one heck of a wizard.  And then some.  On its base is a golden plaque.

> The statue of Crispian stares back at you.

read plaque

You read the plaque:

Motto: "LIVE FATS, DIE YO GNU!!!"

People at Uni - Urwan

l urwan 

You see Staffmaster Urwan of the Ancient and Truly Original Brothers of the Silver Star, the Sixth Level Wizard. 

He is a strapping young human lad. 

He is slightly hurt. 

He is standing. 

His skin looks as hard as rock, although it seems weaker around the chest. 

He has a three star shield floating around him. 

Wearing : a black eyepatch, a silvery-red marina wool cloak, a smuggler's tricorn and a Klatchian steel coif. 

Carrying: a pair of airy white cotton trousers, an antique black dress, an official employment writ and a dusty rose konara oak staff. 

Unseen University Postcards - Scholar's Entry

This is one of the many small courtyards, niches, nooks, crannies, and other areas that occupy the frequent architectural faultlines of Unseen University's grounds.  To the east rises the tall brick wall between the University and Sator Square (the home of, or at least the pathway to, the thousands of delights that Ankh-Morpork has to offer) and to the south squats the blankly foreboding wall of the Porters' Lodge.  Since this is the time-hallowed secret path taken to leave the University when the gates are shut, officially the groundskeepers and staff take no notice of it.  Unofficially, Modo mows the grass here every other Thursday and comes around every morning to tidy up the damage caused by overweight wizards falling off the wall.

A ring to murder for

So I got myself yet another goldsmithing book, Jewelled Rings for All Occassions, by Bashful 'Bonecrusher' Bledrickson, and I've given a shot to each of its 10 rings (no jewel-setting yet, though). Although the author is evidently a dwarf, it seems to have been made mostly with assassins in mind, as besides 3 or 4 options, most look like 'house' rings.

look book

A linen-bound book displaying a single jewelled engagement ring, embossed in gold on the front cover.

Engagement ring

Deftly crafted from gold this solid band serves as the backdrop to a setting for a large gem; a symbol of love.

Hearts engagement ring

A slender band of gold has been sculpted with a delicate design of interlaced hearts and adorned with a setting for a medium gem to symbolise a promise of marriage.

Gaudy ring

A setting for a huge gem takes centre stage on this elaborately designed ring that features swirls of gold.

Cobra ring

A cobra crafted from gold coils around to form this ring.  The snake's hooded head is raised as if poised to strike.  Eyes take the form of two empty tiny gem settings

Viper ring

A gold representation of a deadly viper, this ring has been skilfully shaped to coil around a finger.  It has a distinctive zigzag pattern etched into its back and even the scales are painstakingly represented.  The head, with two empty tiny gem settings for eyes, is reared to strike.

Black Widow ring

A band of gold spiderweb stretches to encircle the finger, with a large gold spider sitting patiently on the front of the ring.  The spider's back holds an hourglass marking, accentuated by two empty tiny gem settings.

Raven ring

A row of sculpted gold eyeballs forms the band of this ring.  A large depiction of a sleek raven in profile decorates the front of the ring with a setting for a tiny gem for its eye and a setting for a medium gem clutched in its beak.

Bands ring

This ring has been carefully sculpted from gold to give the appearance of three distinct bands merging.  A setting for a large gem completes this study in simple elegance.

Scorpion ring

Obviously crafted by a craftsperson of some skill, this gold ring features a delicately sculpted scorpion.  Its fearsome tail is arched and poised for a lethal strike, the sting tipped with a drop of venom, represented by a setting for a tiny gem.

Tree Frog ring

Gold has been forged and sculpted into a tree branch form and coiled to create this ring.  Sitting on the front is a tree frog with two empty tiny gem settings for eyes

Not that I would ever be caught wearing one of these, nice as they are, but I guess I could be employed by some wearer of black to make them for him or her...

Wands

Amongft magically held artefactes, it is the lore of the flender and fhort wandes that hath been preferved the moft. To unleafe their magick, juft as the power of ftaves needeth to be invoked, and that of ringes to be twifted, with wandes one zappeth the intended target of the fpelles. Many and fundry be their uses, though moft of them be but playthinges for forcerers: the creation of permanent fources of light, the removall of charges from another artefact, getting rid of fleas, pickling itemes to prevent decay, healing, and dealing a moderate amount of elementall damage be but a few of the moft common.

Art of the Great Hall (2)

Moving on to the next corner of the Great Hall, in the direction of the doors, we have the following:

The Great Hall of the Unseen University is where the faculty wizards get down to business, namely eating and drinking.  The hall roof is held up with lots of pillars.  The walls are hung with paintings of former Archchancellors.  This is the southeastern corner of the hall.

There are three obvious exits: north, west and northwest.

A statue of Eron is standing on the floor.

l statue

This is an incredible six foot high statue of Senior Wizard Eron, a well known fellow indeed.  It's a realistic life size piece carved out of marble with a divine touch from the gods.  From the mischievious grin on his face to the wise, caring eyes, this is an exact replica of him.  If you didn't know better you would think he was here now.  In fact you are almost sure that the statue just winked and you have a strange tingling feeling as if something is probing your mind.  On its base is a golden plaque.

You wince in pain at the tingling in your head.

> 

read plaque

You read the plaque:

Motto: "Show kindness to everyone, but if they dont respect the Guild, zap `em".

People of the Disc - Riverphoenix

You see Venerable Riverphoenix the Monitor of Muggers of the Thieves' Guild.

He is a strapping young human lad.

He is in good shape.

He is kneeling.

His skin looks as hard as rock, although it seems weaker around the chest.

Holding : a pair of tongs (left hand).

Wearing : a pair of black cashmere gloves, a pair of coffee brown batiste trousers, a wild honey batiste shirt, a black velvet bag, a club badge, a black cashmere Thieves' Guild licence and a perfect cube brooch.

Carrying: an iridescent pearl and a flat cap.

Rat Race

 

There is a certain place teeming with rats in Ankh-Morpork (yes, that definition applies to the whole city, but there's one place where it applies more than usual). The main joy it provides is the possibility of employing Rugged Victor's Rodentia Vivisection on a massive scale, but beyond that, from time to time you can find amongst the critters a Rat King who puts up a pretty decent fight

This is a damp underground room with soil walls propped up by wooden beams. A burnt-out stub of a candle sits in a puddle of wax on a small rock next to the wall. There are a few tiny, rat-sized drinking troughs on the ground, filled with water. More tunnels lie to the west and a ladder leads further down. There are two obvious exits: west and down. 

A six-rat rat king is standing here. 

> 

The six-rat rat king pauses for a moment, and you hear a faint soundless call in your mind. Moments later, a sleek rat, a furry rat and a plump rat run in to join the fight. 

The six-rat rat king, the sleek rat, the furry rat and the plump rat move aggressively towards you! 

p: 3028 (3028) Gp: 420 (435) Xp: 641203 

You chop up the furry rat's right front leg with your storm serpent kodachi. 

The six-rat rat king pounces at you but your floating Tsortean metal shield swoops in and absorbs all of the blow. 

The sleek rat attempts to bite you but your floating Tsortean metal shield swoops in and absorbs all of the blow. 

l king 

This is six rats with their tails all twisted together in an intricate knot. Each of its component rats moves in unison, flowing across the floor in an eerie display of coordination. Their eyes are bright with an animal intelligence. 

It is in good shape. 

It is standing. 

 (...)

The six-rat rat king pounces at you but your floating Tsortean metal shield swoops in and absorbs all of the blow. 

You move your hand and the ball of fire zooms out into the immediate vicinity and sweeps over everything. 

The fire burns the six-rat rat king. 

The fire dies away. 

You kill the six-rat rat king. 

The six-rat rat king's knotted tangle of tails is torn apart, revealing a silver rat ring and scattering rats in all directions. 

The large rat leaves west. 

The fat rat and the sleek rat leave down.

After its defeat, you can gather a new artifact that has been included in the Disc! It apparently has the ability of summoning a rat minion that will temporarily defend you. I have already gotten two, and I have to give it a try. Right now they are in a box, though, waiting, but I'll write another entry once I decide to try it out.

look rat ring

You recognise the silver rat ring to be a piper's ring.  This is a thick silver band, embossed with a circle of three rats biting on each other's tails.  Each rat has two tiny red rubies for eyes.

Six of its eyes glow a dull red.

It emits a slight octarine glow.

God-bothering AND dog-bothering!

 

In the fair city of Ephebe there is a temple devoted to Chefet, the God of Metalwork. Some basic information about it is as follows:

The dog-headed God of Metalwork is usually depicted carrying a hammer and wearing the rings and woven metal armour He is renowned for crafting. Chefet's followers include blacksmiths, armourers, jewellers, and a fair number of dog-lovers. He is often called upon for protection, especially in battle, and His priests are much admired for their steadfastness and reliability. 

This a a likeness of him, as taken from a local artist:

As you might image, a temple devoted to a forging god should have some nice tidbits for metalworkers, whatever their religious beliefs -or lack thereof- should be. In the temple's shop, one can purchase a well-chewed metalworking book with some interesting goldsmithing patterns:

This is a small, plainly bound book of papyrus pages. It looks rather as though several dogs have chewed on it.

There are seven pieces you can make from this, and almost all of them would further require an ability with gem-setting, so as to complete the pieces. They are:

Ceremonial Hammer

This ornate hammer has been forged from a single piece of gold.  The striking head is formed in the shape of a blunt-faced bulldog, teeth bared, and standing proudly on a fluted Ephebian column.

Kantharos

A noble hunting hound gazes patiently from this lovely gold drinking cup, each keenly pricked ear hollowed for a handle.  The stem is an Ephebian column, widening to a broad circular pediment incised with grape vines.  Six empty small gem settings take the place of grapes around the foot, carved tendrils twining around each one.

Earring

An elegantly simple gold bead with a setting for a tiny gem hangs on a curved hook.

Navel stud

A slim gold setting engraved with complex Ephebian key patterns frames a setting for a large gem.

Nipple ring

An elegantly simple red gold ring bears a gleaming bead in which is set a setting for a small gem.

Pendant

This pretty gold pendant forms an elegant setting for a setting for a large gem, highlighting its inherent beauty.

Hound brooch

This elegant gold brooch has been wrought in the shape of a finely detailed hunting hound with his nose held low and tail flagging.  A setting for a small gem forms his glittering eye.

Rods

Rods be another type of magical object that may be held, and of the fame familie as ftaves, albeit fhorter and fmaller than thefe, and never used for walking or fupport, but as ceremoniall fymbols of power and authoritie, or as maces to be employed in warre. Rod magick is an obfcure difcipline which hath been moftly loft, and in our dayes it is more common to encounter them in the handes of priefts, as fighting veffels for the rites of their gods. Yet fome magical uses for them remaine, as in the cafting of Wonker’s Wicked Wobble, for invoking runic crefcent wrenches, to change the coloures of the magical filver fountain penne, and for magical dueling or to grant acceffe to fecret places.

More nice stains

I keep on with the pottery making at the Sung family estate, which remains my favorite venue (although Sto Lat's tasteless choices actually earn me some decent cash in this regard). Some staining patterns are clearly beyond my current grasp - Apocralypse, Agatean Dragon, Landscape- and others I can succeed in but very plainly -geisha and samurai silhouette-. I have managed to achieve top results with others which I painted on gaiwans and incense burners. Here they are, for public enlightenment: 

Butterflies

An exquisite pattern of supremely delicate butterflies has been stained in gold upon it. 

Snarling Tiger

Stained by a master, the statue is decorated with a fierce and snarling tiger in gold and ivory. Its muscles rippling and its eyes following you. 

Water Buffalo

On its surface is a remarkably vivid gold water buffalo, gazing into the distance. 

Willow Tree

It has been decorated with an immaculate willow tree stained in midnight black and gold, resplendent in its intricate design. 

Pagoda 

It is decorated with a refined pattern of a sacred pagoda, worked out in painstaking detail and stained in gold and jade green

Crane

A proudly staring dark lavender and Hong red crane has been stained on the statue, showing a clear talent for lifelike portrayals. 

Panda

A most auspicious animal, the quietly munching form of a great panda has been skillfully stained upon its surface in cream and cyan.

I did get once a fluke with the geisha pattern, but cannot be 100% sure it is the top one. Anyway, it reads like this: 

Looking fragile and beautiful, the silhouette of a dainty geisha has been stained upon the tube in gold

Art of the Great Hall (1)

The Great Hall of Unseen University is literally bursting with lots and lots of paintings of former Archchancellors and statues of wizards of yore, great in the lore. In the following pages we will be making a short detour through some of the most interesting pieces (at least, to our appreciation). We shall start in the southwestern corner:

The Great Hall of the Unseen University is where the faculty wizards get down to business, namely eating and drinking.  The hall roof is held up with lots of pillars.  The walls are hung with paintings of former Archchancellors.  This is the southwestern corner of the hall.

There are three obvious exits: north, east and northeast.

A statue of BlackHeart is standing on the floor

l statue

This is an incredible six foot high statue of Senior Wizard BlackHeart, a well known fellow indeed.  It's a realistic life size piece carved out of marble with a divine touch from the gods.  He is a tall, noble looking wizard, holding a great sword in its right hand while the left is holding what appears to be a ball of flame.  You somehow get the impression that the only reason you are still alive is that the statue is unable to make up its mind what would be most fun: to cut your head off or to fry you alive.  Perhaps you should leave before it makes up its mind?  On its base is a golden plaque.

read plaque

You read the plaque:

Motto: "Hex them till they glow, then curse them in the dark".

l paintings

The portrait of 53rd Archchancellor Farn Muttle attracts your attention.  Muttle is famous for building an extensive, and very costly, college of weather magic which was the pride of the campus until it was unfortunately demolished by a thunderstorm, two tornadoes, a freak tsunami, which developed in the Circle Sea and was funnelled up the river by Ankh Bay, and a shower of squid.

These are the past Archchancellors of Unseen University.  Some are unfinished, probably due to the high mortality rate among high-ranking wizards.

People at Uni - Thalic

You see Flatulent Thalic of Mrs. Widgery's Lodgers, the Seventh Level Wizard. 
He is a strapping young human lad. 
He is not fat, but working on it. He is in good shape. 
He is standing. 
He has a long, flowing and, above all, convincing brown beard. 
He has a sapphire studded shield floating around him. 
Holding : a tachibo (left hand and right hand). 
Wearing : a pair of gold wire glasses, a pair of black soft-soled boots, a pair of black trousers, a Guild of Bandits' tabard, a black silk shirt, a leather carryall, a black backpack, a wizard's pointy hat, five club badges, an utility belt, a fake beard, a turquoise scarab ring, a gold medallion, a rambler's canteen, a chain of stars, a sapphire ring, a diamond ring, a blue crystal ring, two twisted black amulets, a star sapphire ring, a gold watch and a gold ring. 
Carrying: a cured human left eye, a piece of writing paper, a caged ironwood case, a bronze helm, a hessian sack and a large rosewood jewellery box.

Quasi-godbothering

No, dear readers, Winswand hasn't hung up the robes to take up priestly functions. but I have continued improving my goldsmithing techniques, and taken up a book with jewellery for the god-bothering kind of folks that roam around the Disc. The expert patterns required some non trivial effort,  but I have been able to master all the forms in the book - even if not to perfection. I've also been engraving, but that's a story for another post.

First, the new finesmithing pattern book. This was not obtainable at Master Weestone's, but rather, I had to fetch in in Sleepy Hollow, at a certain jeweller's (the same place where I obtained the tome on Hedge wizard patterns). It makes sense, as these gold pieces allow for the inclusion of sparkly gems, once they've been completed. 

The book is called Jewellery Patterns for the Pious, and it looked like this:

A linen-bound book featuring rough screen-printed pictures of religious-themed jewellery on the front cover.

It appears to have something written on it.

It is closed.

read book

You read the cover of the religious jewellery pattern book:

Written in embossed gold letters:

Jewellery Patterns for the Pious

       H. O. Lyworshipper 

Within we find an introduction, along with the crosshatching inscriptions for nine pieces that you use as a pattern when goldsmithing each item. The are the ones that appear, along with my own crafting result:

Raincloud necklace

Wispy curved red gold links form a chain supporting a cloud design, also of red gold.  Three raindrops, created by three empty tiny gem settings, hang from the cloud.  The pendant makes an ideal tribute to Pishe.

Corridor necklace

Sculpted from red gold, the pendant of this necklace is a corridor that disappears into the distance with a setting for a tiny gem set at the vanishing point.  Clearly a tribute to Sandelfon, the pendant hangs from a fine red gold chain.

Ball of fluff necklace

A little ball of fluff with two empty tiny gem settings for eyes has been skilfully wrought from red gold and hangs from a delicate chain.  It is a fitting tribute to Gufnork.

Fishing rod brooch

This brooch has been expertly crafted to depict a little fishing rod.  A fine red gold chain hangs from the very tip of the rod to represent the fishing line, with a perfect little fish, in the same metal, hooked on the end.  The intricately detailed reel of the rod has been further accented with a setting for a small gem.

Fish bracelet

This piscine bracelet of gold is formed by a chain of fish joined head to tail.  One more prominent fish features a setting for a large gem in place of its visible eye.

Dust devil necklace

An intricate spiral of gold spins slowly on a delicate chain.  A centrally placed dust mote is represented by a setting for a tiny gem, which catches the light attractively.

Vulture bracelet

This white gold bracelet embraces the wrist with the wings of a vulture.  The bird's head rises proudly in the centre and glares at the world with eyes of two empty medium gem settings.

Coat-hanger necklace

This highly fashionable star-shaped pendant is formed by two crossed coathangers studded with four empty tiny gem settings.  It catches the light dazzlingly as it dangles from a chain of white gold, attracting the well-pleased eye of Gapp.

Seven handed brooch

Seven hands have been deftly sculpted from solid black gold to form a decorative brooch.  Clasped securely within the hands are seven empty tiny gem settings.

Top pottery results!

I have finally managed to get just enough skill to make clay hollow tubes, which can then be turned into flutes! I also discovered some tricks to spice up my staining and glazing abilities, and the results are here to see, after some hour's work at the Sung family's pottery room. Each of these flutes has achieve its greatest staining and glazing message.

You get a light amber clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

> 

l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay.  Beautifully-rendered gold and McSweeney black hummingbirds dart around the flute, stained with a deft hand worthy of portraying the legendary hummingbirds of the Sun Emperor.  It is covered with a lustrous light amber glaze.

You get a jade green clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

> 

l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay.  A stunning pattern of gently lapping azure and snow white waves enhance the flute.  A vivid jade green glaze covers the flute.

You get a Sung blue clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

> 

l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay.  Symbol of longevity and Agatean heritage, a perfect gold and turquoise koi carp has been stained on the flute.  It has been coated with a lustrous Sung blue glaze.

You get an ivory clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

> 

l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay. A harmonious pattern of fine feathers in storm-cloud grey and thistle violet tastefully adorns the flute. A vivid ivory glaze covers the flute.

You get a silver clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

> 

l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay.  It is decorated with a breathtaking pattern of snowflakes, each one unique, stained in gold.  It is covered with a lustrous silver glaze.

You get a plum clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

>

l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay.  An intricate and amazingly detailed pattern of down white and dark purple lotus blossoms has been stained on the flute.  A lustrous plum glaze covers the flute.

You get a lemon yellow clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

> 

l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay.  Designed to catch moments of grief and loss and the temporality of life, the flute has been stained with a breathtaking pattern of falling leaves in crimson and light brown.  It is covered with a vivid lemon yellow glaze.

You get a snow white clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

> 

l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay.  A beautiful and traditional pattern of Agatean cherry blossoms has been expertly stained upon the flute in cherry blossom pink and hot pink.  It has been coated with a vivid snow white glaze.

You get a scarlet clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

> 

l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay.  It is adorned with the beautiful and very traditional pattern of delicate light bamboo and moorland green bamboo branches.  A lustrous scarlet glaze covers the flute.

You get an ebony clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

> 

l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay.  It is decorated with an absorbing design of a lone graceful water lily in Tang green and buttercup yellow.  It is covered with a vivid ebony glaze.