Talk:Story : After the service

From Ars Magica

Just out of idle curiosity, what are the odds that parchment and ink are available at the Inn? --JBforMarcus 05:13, 28 April 2006 (PDT)

Would you believe that he was carrying them in his bag of many tricks? (I admit - it was creative equipping - if anyone objects, I'd be fine with pulling it and rewriting the section.) --Rencheple 05:21, 28 April 2006 (PDT)

As I say just idle curiosity more than anything. Writing is Not Common in this day and age, and I don't think just carrying pen and ink would be common. (Oh, and I don't think copper coinage came into England until the 1600s:-) In any case, I guess I'm just waiting to see if a message reaches me since most of my other immediate avenues of research have been shut down. --JBforMarcus 08:17, 28 April 2006 (PDT)

Before I wrote it, I checked wikipedia on the history of papryus, parchment and paper to see which one was most "period". I figured, what hte hck, he's an educated man from a rich family (though disowned), maybe he's just gotten used to it? Ah well - I do wonder, now, how did they do this type of thing back then? Word of mouth? That seems to be a bit burdensome. --Rencheple 09:14, 28 April 2006 (PDT)

I think in general, yes, word of mouth. It might well be burdensome, but then again, it's 1200 or so! Literacy is very low, since no one can read (essentially) you don't send notes. The whole idea of sending little notes is a very recent innovation. --JBforMarcus 10:18, 28 April 2006 (PDT)