History
A Failed Surprise Gift
“Now Charles had no guess of what was coming; and, though he could not refuse what seemed to have been divinely preordained for him, nevertheless he received his new title with no show of thankfulness.” […]
Regions
Human Affairs
Shipwreck Shenanigans
“Throughout the day they saw an enourmous seal swimming in the current; it circled the boat all day. It had huge flippers, and everyone thought its eyes were those of a human. Thorstein told his men to harpoon the seal, but all their attempts failed.” […]
Britons and Celts
Ancient Magicks
“This is certainly a barbarous rite, without rime or reason.” […]
History
The Bear-Killin’ King
“He had asked the guardians who were bringing him up conscientiously for permission to go and see the hunting when he encountered a bear of unusual size.” […]
Medieval Mentality
A Satanic Astronaut
“One of the stars, for example, was larger than half the world. A planet is as large as the world. While descending, I did look down upon the world again, and it was no bigger than the yolk of an egg. Why, to me the world seemed scarcely a span long, but the oceans looked to be twice that size.” […]
Britons and Celts
Ancient Aliens
“Near this place are seen some very ancient cavities, called “Wolfpittes,” that is, in English, “Pits for wolves,” and which give their name to the adjacent village. During harvest, while the reapers were employed in gathering in the produce of the fields, two children, a boy and a girl, completely green in their persons, and clad in garments of a strange color, and unknown materials, emerged from these excavations.” […]
Viking
Northern Toughness
“Then Snorri the Godi felt around his throat, and discovered an arrow sticking through the throat and into the base of the tongue. Snorri the Godi then took a pair of pincers and pulled out the arrow, and after that he could eat.” […]
Humor
A Spurious Speywife
“When her people indicated that strangers were coming to her, she would lurk in her chamber to hear why they were traveling and where they were coming from and other details which her people astutely asked about.” […]
Eastern Europe
Beavers Society Explained
“This is because the slave beaver cuts the wood of the khalanj and other trees with its teeth, and as it gnaws them, they rub its side and its hair fall off right and left. Hence they say, “This pelt is from the servant of the beaver.” The fur of the beaver who owns slaves, on the other hand, is perfect.” […]
Violence
Victory for the People
“Some reached the ships again, but in their terror they missed their footing and plunged into the water, while others overloaded some of the boats and capsized them so that as a result only a very few survived.” […]