Cornwall: Looe Island

Looe Island is a potential covenant site that will be added to the material which is gradually being collected for a Cornish gazette for the Ars Magica roleplaying game. Much of this material comes from Alex Langstone’s book “From Granite to Sea” or from the Cornish folklore journal he edits “Lien Gwerin”. Looe Island has…

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Cornwall notes: Fallen covenants

In Heirs to Merlin there are two fallen covenants. Stellasper This one is is Scilly.  I suppose I should have looked up more Sicily folklore before I wrote this. Stellasper was a Criamon covenant founded in 1025, and everyone vanished in 1163. The name means “through the stars” or possibly “during the stars”. I presume it’s an…

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Cornwall: Scilly Islands

I’ve been having trouble getting material on Scilly: enough to go forward, but I’ve written to various people for help finding folklore. Let’s begin. The capital of Scilly in the 20th Century is St Mary’s, but in the C13th, it’s what’s now called “Old Town”. In period I think it’s called Ennor (although that could…

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Cornwall: Carew’s Itinerary 2

Living things in Cornwall Herbs: Cornwall has a vast amount of Seaholm and Sampire. Seaholm is candied or made into a syrup. It’s a restorative.  Rofa folis? Also has Hyssop, sage, pelamountayne, marjorum, and rosemary. Few Cornish people farm, comparatively: food is imported from Devon and Somerset. Wild fruits include “whurts, strawberries, and raspies.” Orchards provide…

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