Intro
This is the 35th story in the Smallville series, the year is approximately year 62 SVT. Six families left from Smallville that year but they were not one of Smallville's expeditions. Two families from Monkstown returned the original Holy Book to Smallville after the monastery they left had completed making 100 copies of the book for distribution. They were headed north to establish another monastery after learning that the people of that area had been experiencing harsh winter weather in past years and were in need of aid. Four families being turned away from overcrowded Smallville decided to go with them. The location of this story is far north of Smallville in the Northern Highlands, in an area of the winter woods known as Moonglow Glen. They name their town Aspenglow.
Mods enabled and load order:
Starting and Map Changing Mods: Call of Nature Soundtrack, Banished UI Maps, Labor Window, RK Minimized Status, Climate-More Snow, Maritimes Decorations, New Flora Edit
Tweak Mods: Bigger Wheelbarows, Fishing Dock 25%, Hunting Season, Increased CC, 1:1 Alternative, Rock Respawn, Woodcutter +3
Major or Must Have Mods: An Empty Square, Nomad Sign Complete, Smallville (sign), Kid Gothic Fantasy, Kid Medieval Grace, Kid More Houses, Kid Old Town, Kid Tiny
Supporting Mods: Campfire, Christmas Mod 2018, DS Tunnels, EB Chapel, EB Statue Cristo Redentor, Jamies's Monastery, Kid Abandoned Places, Kid Animal Shed Cheese, Kid Bakery Garden v1.1, NMT 3 Deco Crops, Kid Gothic Farm, Kid In Transit, Kid Nativity Chapel, Kid Yard Cover, Storage Crates
Christmas Mod 2018 available for download now http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=2724.0
Mood Music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-rgYHSflFQ
Yes, weary traveler, it is cold and snowy year round, but we love it here in Moonglow Glen. Let me get you a nice mug of our special mulled winter wine, it will help warm you while I tell you about our town of Aspenglow.
Hi :)
For those of you who wonder how the weather is in Aspenglow -
here is a small mod that changes climate to snow all year round.
No farming, no orchards!
I have removed birch and oak. They were green even in the snow.
Good luck to
@Abandoned and I wish you all a fine winter.
Hi Abandoned! I always with the perception of reading all your stories, only comment normally I can, not spoil the impression of others. You have a mod which I can not find (New Flora Edit). Tell me where to find, I use this mod almost always. And I wish you good luck with a new story. :)
Hi
@tuggistar - New Flora Edit is a smaller version of New Flora. No buildings.
Just the plants from
@tanypredator . I have got her permission to give it out.
I added fallen branches from
@RedKetchup to have early and easy firewood.
I have talked to RK and got his okay too.
You can collect these things with the help of gather-buttons on vanilla toolbar.
It is small and sometimes a lifesaver. :)
Hi
@tuggistar I believe Kid will be releasing New Flora Edit soon. It is New Flora items that spawn with added branches for firewood. There are no buildings for collection only the buttons for laborers to collect the items. It is very nice. :) Thank you for good wishes, I have played ahead with story and it is going well. I hope you will enjoy it. :)
Don't use New Flora Edit with original New Flora.
They collide.
Thank you kid1293. :)
Chapter 1
First let me introduce myself. My name is Corro and my husband is Vicent. We originally came from the southwest, near SW Tequilaville. The heat, drought, and lawlessness had us travelling to Smallville with 3 other families when we decided we wanted to start a family of our own. Imagine our dismay when we were turned away from Smallville because of overcrowding and food and housing shortages. We did not know what to do. At that same time, two brothers, Torrest and Tore, and their families arrived from Monkstown. They too wanted a safer place for their families, away from the pirates and giant swamp frogs in the southeast, so they volunteered to return a Holy Book to Smallville. When they learned of the hardships being experienced in the far north, they decided they would travel north and establish a monastery to provide aid to the bodies, minds, and spirits of the people there. We decided to go with them.
We were not one of Smallville's expeditions but they did give us what supplies they could spare before we headed north. There were 18 of us, 12 adults and 6 children. We were traveling through an area known as the Winter Woodlands looking for a suitable location to establish a settlement when we came across a group of wood elves who were caring for wild animals who were struggling to survive in the harsh climate. The weather had taken a turn for the worse in recent years and people and animals were all suffering. Families were leaving the area and farm animals were being abandoned. A few days earlier the wood elves spotted a herd of sheep headed north, they encouraged us to track the animals and provide for them. The animals would reward us. We took their advice and headed farther north to the Northern Highlands.
We traveled through thick pine forests and several groves of quaking aspen trees while tracking the sheep. We spotted them in a clearing ahead and knew we had reached our destination. We were in an area known as Moonglow Glen but the sunlight through the pines was breathtaking. The aspens' new spring growth was sparkling brightly against the background of winter snow so we decided to name our settlement Aspenglow.
We erected a Smallville sign at the point where we came through the pines and continued on to where the sheep were huddled together before an old storage barn, inside were a few scrawny chickens. There were several farmhouses that needed miner repairs and cleaning and an abandoned building that appeared to have been an animal shed at one time. There we found two milk cows eating hay that was partially buried beneath the rubble. We would make Aspenglow our home.
Chapter 2
We quickly settled into our new homes and immediately saw to our basic needs and those of the animals. We built a hunting station and a fishing pier and a fenced pasture for the sheep so they would not wander off into the snow and become lost again. We built an animal shed for the cows and chickens but it was crowded and we would soon need to build another one. We gathered winter-hardy wild foods and found plenty of fallen tree branches for firewood to tide us over until a woodcutter could be built by the old stockpile.
By the end of that 1st year we had a tiny workshop, town hall, a tailor, and a boarding house built. We also had 6 more children than when we arrived, our daughter, Scarlene, was one of them. A school was planned but would not be needed for a few more years. We were concerned for the children and our ability to keep them warm and well-fed, we would not be able to grow food here. The temperature had not once risen above freezing and it snowed often. The sheep often struggled to graze after a snowfall so we build a covering over part of the pasture. The chickens and woodcutter also got coverings and we now had warm coats thanks to our sheep.
In Spring of year 2 we were surprised when a sleigh of elves arrived. Santa sent them with a message. He knows who's naughty and who's nice and he knows we are nice and he needs our help. Christmas is fast approaching and production at the North Pole and at the South Annex is way behind schedule. Due to the worsening weather conditions, the elves at the Annex have been busy supplying much need food to those in the surrounding area, they will not be able to bake cookies and make candy in time. Santa needs milk and cookies while he's making his list and checking it twice, and he needs to fatten up before Christmas. He's lost some weight, better make that eggnog and cookies. And Saint Nicholas needs candy to fill the stockings on December 6th, he can't disappoint the children. Can Santa count on us to fill a sleigh with 1,000 gingerbread cookies and 1,000 eggnogs, and another sleigh with 2,000 candies?
Chapter 3
How could we say No to Santa? We did have our own plans for Christmas gift giving, but they would have to be put on hold to help Santa. We were glad we built the boarding house in case migrating families came by, but it was not big enough for all the elves. We needed more housing and more food. We added a hunter and fisherman to our existing buildings, and added a woodcutter and forester so we would not be short of firewood. Another hunter and a gatherer was built near the forester.
The elves told us what we would need for candy making and cookie baking. We already had milk and eggs but needed spice for the eggnog. We built another animal shed to increase production and would grow winter hardy spices on the other side of the tunnel to the east where new houses were being built. The elves brought hardy spice plants with them. They also brought some very hardy apple tree seedling plus a small hive of bees that were even hardier than the wild bees we found in our pine forests. We would have honey and fruit to make candy. The spices would also be needed for the gingerbread cookies, but we needed grain and flour.
We thought of building a trading post for those items but the elves warned that traders would be few and far between up here in the cold northern highlands. We were dismayed to hear that because we were counting on the river boatmen to deliver the Christmas care packages we were planning to give to needy families in the area. The elves must have somehow conveyed our plans to Santa because a few days later they told us that whatever we wanted delivered Santa would see to it in time for Christmas. We had a lot of work to do.
Chapter 4
Once there were enough houses built for all the families, work continued on the wall we had only just begun when the elves arrived. The pines were a great windbreak but still the cold north wind blew straight through town and the sheep were nearly buried in blowing and drifting snow on more than one occasion. A stone wall on the north side of town would help a great deal. By the beginning of year 3 the construction of the main monastery building and a cemetery had begun on the other side of that wall. The monastery would be completed by late autumn.
On the east side of the tunnel where the new houses were built we planted the spice garden, and inside 2 large greenhouses barley was thriving despite the bitter cold and snow. A mill was built next to the greenhouse and a Christmas Baker soon had everything it needed to start making gingerbread cookies. The elves built a big sleigh to store the cookies until Santa sent a reindeer team to pick it up. There would be enough room for the eggnog too. The Nog Nook was built and had the needed ingredients for the eggnog. The candy store was almost completed and the elves built a sleigh across from it to be filled with the candy, Santa can never have too many sleighs.
In late spring of year 4 Aspenglow's population increased by 11. Another sleigh arrived with elves who Santa sent to pick up several monks who were making there way here from Monkstown. They heard from Smallville that we were headed north to build a monastery and they came to help. They were delighted that the main building was complete.
Our town of Aspenglow was growing despite the cold and snow.
Interesting challenge to build and support a town with all that snowing going on.
Not yet in the festive December mood myself. This story should be a nice warm-up for that though. :)
Where's a Santa hat emoji when you need one?
@Gatherer I was very concerned with food production in this climate :) I am just glad I decided against using the Cold Realism mod, I would have had no wild foods at all to collect. :o Fishing and hunting are very good, the monks are good providers too. :) Only 3 weeks until Christmas now, time goes fast. :)
Chapter 5
We learned well how to predict our wintery weather. When the sunset through the pines had a reddish glow we knew the night would be very cold. As the wood elves predicted, the sheep we rescued rewarded us, we had warm woolen blankets to help warm those cold nights. The following frosty morning would be crisp and clear and the smell of burning pine branches and gingerbread spice filled the still air. We hurried with our chores when the temperature rose and the clouds rolled in. The winter wind would bring more snow, it always snowed when it got warmer.
Despite their hardiness we were concerned for our bees, the beekeeper often had to dig the hives out of the snow. Coverings were built to protect most of the hives. The apples were doing well and candy production had begun. By late winter of year 4 there was 283 candies in one sleigh, and 252 gingerbread and 212 eggnog in the other. Our food supply was also good.
In the spring of year 5 Aspenglow's population grew by another 15 citizens when another sleigh arrived with more elves and their families. They got straight to work as we built more houses, another beekeeper, and a second candy store. We needed to increase production so the sleigh would be full of candy when St. Nicholas came to pick it up. We began using wild berries to make some of the candy so production would not be delayed waiting for apples.
We also separated 3 sheep from the flock and put them in a shed next to the tailor. With more protection from the weather they could be sheared a bit shorter and we would have more wool. The tailor often had to wait before continue work on the warm coats.
It was winter before the last of our new arrivals had a home. There were still families in the boarding house and a few young people who wanted homes of their own. Maybe next year.
Chapter 6
By early spring of year 6 we had another spice garden built, the nog nook and Christmas baker were often waiting for more spices. In late spring another group of elves arrived, they would remain in Aspenglow despite the fact that they thought we would have no problem filling Santa's request without their help.
In early summer we had 2,000 pieces of candy in the sleigh for St. Nicholas and by late summer the other sleigh was full of milk and cookies for Santa, it contained 1,000 eggnog and 1,000 gingerbread. The last batch of cookies had barely been put in that sleigh when the sound of sleigh bells could be heard heralding the arrival of Santa's reindeer coming to pick up the sleigh. We knew Santa would be enjoying the milk and cookies while putting Aspenglow on this year's nice list.
Sleigh bells were heard again in winter on the morning of December 6th by those few who were awake just after midnight when St. Nicholas arrived to pick up his sleigh of candy to fill the stockings of all the good little boys and girls. That morning everyone in town awoke to find a few pieces of candy in their stockings hung by the chimneys to dry.
It was time now time to give some serious thought to our own Christmas gift giving.
All sounds good so far. The time to start worrying is when St. Nicholas asks you to help out by digging a coal mine. ;D
;D Oh, I wish I had thought of that, lumps of coal of all the naughty ones ;D ;D ;D
filling those sleighs in 6 years is fast.i did try a couple ideas to get it done in 5yrs.my builders worked us out of materials or we ran out of tools.
@brads3 I am sure it can be done faster than I did. Try again :) and be sure to show screenshots in challenge thread for chance to win. :)
Chapter 7
We realized we had plenty of time yet before Christmas and although there were many people in need in the Northern Highlands, we must see to our own needs first. Aspenglow now had 37 families but only 25 homes. We needed houses and firewood to heat those houses. Santa's elves and their families would stay with us and help any way they could, especially with sleigh building and gift making.
Housing construction was well underway when the monks pointed out the fact that there were many children approaching school age and our one tiny school was almost full. They wanted to build an education center near the monastery. They also wanted to build a chapel by the cemetery. They felt the spiritual needs of the people were not being met. The people needed more to lift their spirits than a yearly visit from St. Nicholas or Santa Claus could provide. Work on the chapel began as soon as the school was completed.
No one could argue that the spirit of the laborers needed lifting. They spent many hours in the cold and snow gathering pine branches for firewood, cutting trees, and gathering stones and wild foods. A forest center with forester, hunter, storage, and stockpile was build south of the greenhouses to help will some of these tasks. Two multi-story housing units were built nearby for the workers. Although these workers and many others worked close to home, they were not happy with the long hours of darkness up here in the far north most of the year. They sat for long hours in the dim light cast by their fireplaces thinking unhappy thoughts about the cold and the snow and the dark of night.
The monks on the other hand were very happy with the new chapel. They finally had a proper place to keep their copy of the Holy Book they brought with them. However, even on the brightest days it was often difficult to read the sacred writings unless sitting by a window, and it was totally impossible after dark. The beekeepers suggested they use our large supply of beeswax to make candles. It was truly an enlightening thought.
Chapter 8
Despite all, year 7 ended on a bright note. Our food and other supplies were good, as was our overall health. Aspenglow's population was 116, 59 adults, 14 students, and 43 young children. At the beginning of year 8, we still had a few more houses to built but all the houses and the chapel would soon be a lot brighter, a candle maker's workshop was built behind the chapel. The monks were the first to receive candles for the chapel and monastery. They were also the first ones to see the river boatman coming down the river.
As usual the clouds rolled in quickly and it was snowing heavily by the time the boatman reached our fishing dock. He saw the monastery's tower from quite a distance and came to investigate. It gave him hope that there might be a town here now. He also saw some mountain goats on the hillside not far from here. There were not many settlements in these cold northern highlands, no farms anymore, mostly just some hunting and mining camps now and a few family groups barely hanging on. They had little if anything to trade but were sure to need food and clothes and tools. Folks around here couldn't afford luxuries like candles. He'd see what he could do about helping us get some of those needed things to the people but he couldn't say what he would be able to bring back with him to trade and it would be awhile before he returned. He was most grateful for a hot meal and warm bed in the boarding house. Giulian said she saw him leave at first light when she went to the pier to fish.
The weather turned clear and cold and remained so for most of the year. Building projects progressed. The monks built a storage barn and a hall of records. They could keep track of the bread and candles they were making as well as other statistics. A few more houses were build as well as a sturdy stone bridge across the river. The was much needed stone to be had there on the other side of the river, and it was not quite so far to go in the cold and snow.
I began leaving handfuls of barley and bits of bread on the other side of the small creek for the mountain goats that the river boatman had seen not far to the north. It was a cold snowy winter.
Chapter 9
By early spring of year 9, the mountain goats were regular visitors to the feeding spot and followed the trail of barely that I made leading into the small animal shed that was built nearby. They seemed to welcome the shelter that the shed provided. The monks said that because of the varied wild foods the goats normally ate, the milk would not be very good but it would make good cheese.
The monks continued to make bread for the town but production of gingerbread cookies and eggnog had stopped. There was a supply in storage that would tide us over until Christmas. There was now eggs, barley cereal, and warm milk for the children's breakfast before they were sent off to school. There were many snow days when the children could not get to school until the roads were cleared, more and more snowmen began appearing around town.
Only 1 of our 3 children attended school but the 2nd would be starting soon. Vicent was now herdsman and I was the tailor, the shop was only 2 doors away. I was working longer hours because production of clothing and tools was being increased since we now had a means of getting those items to the people who needed them via the river boatman. A trading post and Crafters Guild was being built near the Monastery's Hall of Records.. The monks at the Guild would begin work making hide coats since we had far more leather than wool.
A small gingerbread hall was built on the east side of town. Aspenglow now had 3 locations to keep production records and other statistics, and thanks to the candles, we had 3 places to have town meetings to discuss plans for the town and surrounding areas. There was much to discuss.
The wall should be higher or the goats will jump over it. ;)
;D No, these goats are smart goats, they know where the food is. :)
Chapter 10
The first topic of discussion was the Yule Tap that had just been built next to the wood cutter on Main Street. We had a surplus of apples and berries to make cider but no wheat for ale. The monk's who were skilled wine makers suggested a nice mulled wine with spices. The response to the mention of a warm spicy beverage was very favorable. The elves knew where some wild grapevines grew and they would dig them out; in a greenhouse they would surely produce the grapes needed to make the wine. The surplus of apples would be used to make more candy. Our supply was low and the children needed a sweet treat now and then, a chewy sweet piece of candy was better than biting into a cold apple any day.
In spring of year 10 Alfredric, the general goods merchant, arrived and he had potatoes from Pumpkin Hollow with him. He took our tools and coats and a few extra items we threw in so that he could afford to give the tools and coats to the people who needed them. We gave him a mug of warm spiced wine before he went on his way.
We decided to stop production of the mulled wine during the warmer months of the year, saving that treat for those long winter evenings by the fireside. Instead we would have warm baked potatoes from the snack stand that was built by the stone wall. The school children would have a nice hot lunch year round. In late summer production of almost everything stopped when the snowstorm hit. The temperature was just below freezing when the winds picked up and the overcast sky darkened even more. After several days of snowing and blowing and drifting there was a lot of cleanup to do. Branches were down everywhere blocking many roads and workplaces. The temperature remained warm so cleanup was not too bad of a chore and we did end up with a lot of firewood for the colder fall and winter weather ahead.
Our thoughts again turned to the less fortunate people in the highlands.
i like that KID left us with cider options and didnt set all alcohol to ales.
The Yule Tap was not changed since last year but yes, it does have a nice seasonal selection of nonalcoholic beverages. :)
Quote from: Abandoned on December 10, 2018, 01:10:35 PM
The Yule Tap was not changed since last year but yes, it does have a nice seasonal selection of nonalcoholic beverages. :)
What? Non-alcoholic cider? And the point to this would be . . . ? ???
:) I suppose since it is made in Banished Tavern it is flagged alcohol but cider is not alchohol. Actually it should be food or fruit ;D A nice healthy nonalcoholic cider so Bannies do not drink it and fall off dock and drowned. ;D It has been known to happen :D
Chapter 11
Year 11 began with another snowstorm followed by very cold temperatures. The weather brought another small group of mountain goats closer in search of food. Another goat shed was built for them. Herds of deer remained closer to town for longer periods of time so our supply of venison increased. The weather, however, was responsible for our dwindling supply of firewood and cookies. No one wanted to venture far from home to collect branches. It was so much nicer to sit by the fireside with a mug of mulled wine and a few gingerbread cookies. As soon as the temperature began to rise, firewood branches were collected and the Christmas baker began making more gingerbread cookies. We ran out of potatoes so the Warm Snack stand began making baked apples. Candy production was halted. The monks at the Crafter's Guild began making venison sausage.
The warmer weather also brought a group of Highlanders who had had enough of struggling to survive the worsening weather conditions. They saw our Monastery tower from up in the highlands and headed in our direction. They thought they had died and gone to Heaven as they sat before the fires in their candlelit rooms at the boarding house eating cheese and sausage while sipping warm mulled wine. The decision was made, our Christmas care packages to needy Highlanders would consist of goat cheese, venison sausage, mulled wine, and candles. The elves began building a sleigh.
The Yule Tap would produce mulled wine year round and another worker was added to the candle maker shop. More houses were built and Vincent went to work as the 2nd woodcutter in town and I took over his job as herdsman tending the sheep. A tiny chopper was set up down at the forester's settlement to insure a steady supply of firewood to the worker cabins there. A covering was built to provide some weather protection to the woodcutter.
By winter everyone had a home and a supply of firewood. Aspenglow's population was 146, 75 adults, 34 students, and 37 young children.
Chapter 12
By early spring of year 12 the elves had a new sleigh built and it was waiting to be filled. Our plan was to fill 3 sleighs with 500 each of goat cheese, sausages, mulled wine, and candles. The elves assured us that Santa would combined the items into care packages for each Highland family and deliver the packages in time for Christmas. Santa would pick up and deliver as many sleighfulls as we could provide, "the more the merrier, ho ho ho".
An elf began filling the sleigh with surplus from the storage facilities, and the sleigh was soon filled with 300 goat cheeses, l97 sausages, 200 candles, but only 38 mulled wine. Production needed adjustment. Another elf went to work at the Yule Tap but then there was not enough spices. A spice house was built behind the grape house. Production increased but then the elves waited for grapes. Another grape house was built, production became steadier. By late winter of year 12 that first sleigh contained 380 goat cheeses, 327 sausages, 340 candles, and 158 mulled wines. The elves built a second sleigh behind the Yule Tap.
Earlier that year, there was a special building request made by two of the families that were now living and working by the goat sheds. They were among the last group of families to arrive in Aspenglow and it gave them such hope to see the Monastery tower from the distance. It gave then peace of mind to spend time in the Monastery chapel but in the winter it was a long way to go back and forth in the bitter cold especially after a days work. Would it be possible to have a small chapel built for them closer to home.
The chapel was beautiful and often the gentle flickering of candlelight could be seen in the small windows on cold winter evenings, lending an air of warmth and welcome to the goat keeper's small settlement.
Quote from: Abandoned on December 10, 2018, 02:22:36 PM
:) I suppose since it is made in Banished Tavern it is flagged alcohol but cider is not alchohol. Actually it should be food or fruit ;D A nice healthy nonalcoholic cider so Bannies do not drink it and fall off dock and drowned. ;D It has been known to happen :D
In the early days of Banished there was a definite impression among players that production of alcohol (all ale in pre-modding days) led to decreased efficiency of workers. I don't know whether anyone ever did the research to prove or disprove the impression, but I developed the habit of selling all the ale produced before the locals got their hands on any of it. Don't want fishers falling off the dock or builders falling off the ladder or, worse yet, market traders getting stabbed in drunken disputes. ;D
By the way, as always I love your stories.
much of that can be so mod dependant too. i have traders who dont seem to stock ale.TOM made some mods that alcohol was fruit and the bannies would eat/drink it. bannies drink more when they are idle.
:D I don't usually build taverns and when I do I use the alcohol as trade goods, I never had problem with trading post. Thanks for info
@brads3 on idle workers. I usually can not spare workers or food products to produce alcohol. So I really can't say what effect it has on the bannies.
However, in Riverboat Junction a bannie downed and I blamed it on his tavern visits as an excuse to shut down the tavern :D The market trader I had that was stabbed was not because of alcohol but rather poisoned mushroom soup, but that's a whole other story. :D I am glad you like my stories
@rkelly17 :)
don't mind me my merchants are weird.there are some items piggy backed onto the CC addon mods.yesterdqay i was messing around and noticed my full inventory shows 2 feathers,yet i so far have no way to produce any.not that i want them.i tried sending ale from the STYTH tower to an RK general TP. dang bannies keep drinking,none is stored nor at the TP.not all merchants take all items either.last map, many didn't take the high valued rum barrels.if you use the mini mod TP, it is still 1.06 even with the many trade fix mods.
It is always a good idea to use the storage or trading buildings included in the same mod as the item produced. I have rarely if ever had a problem using that philosophy. :)
Chapter 13
The candles were given to the new chapel by the monk's from their own personal supply. They only wished there was a copy of the Holy Book to go along with the candles. The monks were concerned that the Books that were ready for shipment in Monkstown over a dozen years ago were not being delivered. When Alfredric came to the trading post in Spring of year 13 he was asked what he knew but all he could say was there was a lot of trouble with pirates down around Monkstown and a lot of cargo was thrown overboard. He knew nothing about any books. We traded coats and tools for 3,000 of the potatoes he brought from Pumpkin Hollow.
Like the goatkeeper's settlement in the north, the forest settlement in the south continued to grow. They had their own woodcutter and now a small shed was built. There were several more houses and families, and a gatherer. They found it very convenient to have firewood and a food supply close by. The hunters added plenty of venison and hides to the shed so a tailor was built. The families were hoping that by the following spring a few sheep could be brought down from town for wool and warm coats. They would have loved to have their own small chapel but first a Hall of Records was needed and a school. It was quite far for the children to go to the school in town and even farther to the Monk's Education Center. Yes, sheep and a chapel would be nice. They would wait to see what spring and the new year would bring.
oops, forgot pics :)
Pics added to above chapter
Chapter 14
The new year brought snow and more snow. After a snowfall there was always a stillness, a peaceful beauty among the pines of Aspenglow, and a lot of branches to pick up. But after the spring snowstorm of year 14 it was different, there was a sense of urgency to get the snow cleared from the bridge and get to the families across the river that were spotted struggling through the snow.
There were 7 members of 2 families with very young children. The men were miners who decided they could not provide well enough for their families here in these highlands. They were on their way south when this spring snowstorm hit. They did not think they were going to make it but then during a brief letup in the snowstorm they spotted the Monastery's tower and headed in this direction. They were most grateful for being rescued and decided they would remain in Aspenglow.
Several more houses were being built, another spice house, and a second Yule Tap. The forest settlement got a sheep shed and 3 sheep from the main flock. Their tailor could now make warm coats. Another candlemaker was built near the Monastery and more candles were being made as long as they got enough beeswax. Alfredric, the river boatman, said he would see what he could do about bringing some.
Our first sleigh was almost full but the second sleigh needed a lot more mulled wine and candles. A third sleigh was built by the new Yule Tap and already had quite a bit of goats cheese in it. The goats produced well and if there was cheese in the storage sheds we were free to take some. Several times when I got some of the cheese, I walked up to the snack stand and got baked potatoes. When I got home I put some of the cheese on top of the potatoes, sprinkled on a few herbs, and set them on the hearth until dinner time. Baked potatoes with melted cheese was delicious winter dinner.
Chapter 15
The elves contacted Santa on behalf of the monks regarding the missing Holy Books from Monkstown. Santa replied he did not have time to try to located the books but if the monks had books they wanted delivered he would gladly do so. There was also a reply from Mrs. Claus. First she wanted to thank us for the eggnog and gingerbread for Santa, it saved her a lot of time in the kitchen and Santa put on quite a few pounds already. She thought it was wonderful that the monks wanted all the northern places of worship to have Holy Books for Christmas and she thought it would be nice if a pair of candles was included with each books. There were seven main towns here in the north not counting Aspenglow: North Pole Fishing Hole, North Pole South Annex, North Mining Town, Prospect, Meadowbrook, Lakeland, and Pumpkin Hollow. Three books per town should be more than enough and of course Santa will pick them up and deliver them.
The monks were not quite sure how it happened but they were now commissioned to produce 21 Holy Books and 42 more candles by Christmas. They needed another monastery building away from the town where they could work undisturbed. It was a painstaking task to make copies of the Holy Book and they would need wood, leather, and coal to make the books. The building itself would need to be quite large and would require a lot of stone. Across the river would be an ideal location, there was plenty of iron and stone and a mountain to mine for coal. We did afterall have 2 miners.
By early winter the tiny coal mine was producing coal and the monastery building was nearly complete. By late winter it was complete and had the materials needed to begin making copies of the Holy Book. The elves built another sleigh to hold the finished books and the required number of candles.
Quote from: Abandoned on December 15, 2018, 10:06:36 AM
There was also a reply from Mrs. Claus. First she wanted to thank us for the eggnog and gingerbread for Santa, it saved her a lot of time in the kitchen and Santa put on quite a few pounds already.
I beg to differ on this one. ;D Santa is not out of shape, round IS shape! ;D
;D Not round enough ;D he needed fattening up, ;D that's why high-calorie eggnog instead of milk with his cookies. ;D
Chapter 16
In early spring of year 16 we had 4 sleighs waiting to be filled. The 1st sleigh needed only 3 mulled wine and 29 candles. The 2nd sleigh needed 123 candles. The 3rd sleigh had enough cheese but needed 300 sausages, 440 mulled wine, and 479 candles. The last sleigh needed 21 Holy Books and 42 candles.
It was early summer before the first 2 copies of the Holy Book were completed. We were concerned with our candle count. It was not easy making candle in the cold and snow and without enough beeswax. We were relieved when Alfredric returned with potatoes and beeswax.
We paid close attention to our supply of food and firewood. After every snowfall we collected branches, they were often laying across the roads. Several times a year we collected wild foods on each side of town so everyone had an assortment of foods in storage. The monks continued to make bread in the main Monastery building and we continued to make candy and cookies as special treats. Our diligence paid off, our citizens were happy and healthy. Aspenglow's population was 190, 101 adults, 40 students, and 49 young children. The town had certainly grown.
All of this is making me hungry! Eggnog, cookies, mulled wine, sausages... It makes me want to be sitting by the fireplace, wrapped in blankets, snacking away :P
:) It is a tasty sounding combination, perfect for in front of the fireplace on a winter evening. :)
Chapter 17
In late spring of year 17 we were again short of potatoes and beeswax. Land was being cleared across the river for more apple trees and beehives. As soon as the beehives were moved there, coverings were built to protect them from the snow. We traded for more beeswax and potatoes when Alfredric returned to port again.
By late summer the first sleigh was finally filled and the second one only needed candles. We were relieved because it meant that more food would be available in storage for us to use before it was all taken too the sleighs. Our food surplus had been dropping although it was still high. We headed out to the woods to collect wild foods before more snow and colder temperatures arrived.
The children enjoyed those heavier autumn snowfalls and had a new group of snowmen, with an assortment of colorful scarves, built before the snow stopped falling. The smell of fresh baked bread from the Monastery behind the school filled the air. The monks were sorry but they could not possibly get another monk in the kitchen to bake more bread, there were already 4 of them in the small kitchen. The four of them baked a lot of bread in that kitchen. Instead another monk went to work at the Guild making venison sausages.
Our supply of iron was also low at that time and the surface iron was some distance from town, too far to go in the cold and snow. The iron that was closest was gathered and two workers returned to the abandoned shed to scavenge for whatever iron, stone, and logs they could find there. Our supply of iron and food improved by the end of the year.
1 thing i do is start the 1st building in a chain a year before the other.gives then time to build a surplus to keep the other buildings supplied. like the apple beekeeker a year before the candle maker or a mill a year before the bakery,etc.
I had a nice surplus of beeswax before I built the first candle maker. I added more workers to candle makers, we need a lot of candles in a short amount of time, now we need more beeswax. Unless you have other grain, bannies will use surplus of flour before it gets to bakery so building right after mill insures some flour gets there. :)
Chapter 18
By early spring another bakery was built by the greenhouses and mill. We had more flour on hand than was needed by the Christmas cookie baker. It was not long before a loaf of herb bread was warming on the hearth.
By spring the second sleigh was full and the elves that filled it were free to work elsewhere. The third sleigh only needed candles. There was cheese and sausage in storage for everyone's use and everyone had a nice assortment of foods at home in their pantries. The two Yule Taps had a nice stock of mulled wine.
By late summer the monks at the monastery across the river had the sleigh filled with the required number of Holy Books and candles. There were 21 books and a pair of candles for each. A special warehouse building was built across from the monastery to store any additional books they made. If the river boatman heard of anyone with another place of worship that needed one he would know where he could get one. The next book that was made would go to the chapel by the goat keepers and another would be needed for the chapel that was being built in the forester's settlement. Since it was built so close to Christmas, it was named Nativity Chapel.
Chapter 19
Year 19 began much the same as every other year, keeping an eye on firewood and food supplies. The supply of iron was low so our 2 miners began bringing out iron instead of coal from the mine. They would switch back to coal mining when the monks needed it for their books.
In early summer the temperature inched up towards the freezing mark but we were glad it didn't make it. We much preferred a snow storm than an ice storm but it was a cold damp snow that chilled one to the bone. Fearing colds and fevers the monks built a herb healer near the education center. The storm brought no illnesses but it did bring down a lot of branches. As soon as clean up was done, another Christmas tree appeared, this one in front of the main Monastery. It was beginning to feel more like Christmas every day. Children were being good and asking about Santa and adults were humming or whistling Christmas songs. Merry Christmas greetings could be heard all around town.
Alfredric came to port again with more potatoes and was most grateful for the gift of a few baked potatoes and gingerbread cookies. He took wild honey in exchange for the potatoes. We got no beeswax from the wild bees and the candy maker had plenty of honey from our hives. We did not need to trade for anymore beeswax since our last sleigh was almost filled. The items for the care packages would be ready for Santa to pick up and deliver very soon.
I hope Kid didn't forget to add a deco Santa in this year's Christmas mod.
:-[ Next year... I didn't think of a deco Santa.
:) Santa was a little to busy to pose for deco, he's been looking for his hat. I think
@Gatherer has it ;D
Chapter 20
In early spring of year 20 a 2nd fishing pier was built across the river. When the fisherman assigned there wanted houses close by, it was brought to our attention that we had 65 families but only 55 homes. Our goal was to build houses for all the families before Christmas, and since the last candles were added to Santa's sleigh the monks suggested we now make a dozen candles for every household in Aspenglow. Twelve candles times 65 houses equaled 780 more candles to make before Christmas.
A third candlemaker was build along the wall near the education center and a special stone warehouse was built there too by the cemetery for those candles. When Alfredric returns we would trade for more beeswax to insure we would not run out and fail to have the candles made in time.
In spring, 7 nomads arrived cold, hungry, and exhausted. Like the others who came from the highlands, they had seen the monastery tower from a distance and headed this way with hope and renewed strength. They had enough of the cold and snow and were headed farther south, they would not stay with us. They spent a few days in the boarding house with warm beds and hot food before heading south in the direction of Smallville with the supplies we gave them.
Alfredric returned and we traded warm coats and leather for potatoes and beeswax and the chestnuts that he had. We would have chestnuts roasting on an open fire for Christmas. We would need more firewood, our supply had dropped. We added a 3rd worker to the woodcutter in town and set out to collect branches. There were 3 places we always made sure to collect branches before winter, the goat keepers settlement, across the river by the book-making monastery, and south of town where a lot of branches could always be found in the aspen grove. It had been 20 years since we came through that grove from Smallville.
Quote from: Abandoned on December 20, 2018, 05:18:24 AM
:) Santa was a little to busy to pose for deco, he's been looking for his hat. I think @Gatherer has it ;D
I deny everything!
One of the reindeers must have ate it! :P
;D We have pictures ;D add another lump of coal to Santa's sack ;D
Chapter 21
When the group of highlanders headed south through that grove of aspens after seeing the monastery tower and finding their way to Aspenglow, the monks wondered how many others were out there that did not see the tower. Several nights in a row there was the flicker of candlelight seen in their chapel windows.
As always, the laborers and builders were made available to help the monks in anyway they could. The monks understood the priorities of those workers. By early spring of year 21, the monks had an area along the river behind the Monastery cleared of trees, branches, and wild foods. The foundation was laid for some unknown project of their own. Whatever it was they planned to build, it required a lot of stone and left the town in short supply.
We noticed our supply of tools were also dwindling. Although we had logs and iron, neither was close enough to the tiny workshop in town. The workers were called away from the monk's building project to cut trees near the town stockpile and to gather stone and branches. They also constructed a blacksmith across the river by the mine that was still producing iron. Construction of the needed houses continued. Earlier in the year 61 of the 65 houses were completed and there were 207 of the 780 candles in the warehouse, however the town continued to grow, there were more families that wanted homes which meant more houses and more candles. By late winter there were 70 families, we needed to build 2 more homes and 840 candles would be needed. The warehouse had 476 candles at year's end.
;D Thank you
@Gatherer for Santa's Hat
Edit - here is avatar pictures before and after Santa's Hat for Christmas.
:-[
:) Smile, the hat is terrific :) You are back on Santa's nice list for returning his hat :)
And I see Kid also has a hat now.
:) Kid had the hat last year but had it on for only a short time I don't think too many people saw it. :) I thought it was cool. 8)
Chapter 22
In early spring of year 22 construction resumed on the monk's project, it was a massive stonework of some kind. The monks remained silent as to exactly what it was they were building. Construction was halted again in spring when workers were called away to other duties.
More roads were needed after the new houses were built. It was nice to walk around town on clear days and see the festive decorations, Christmas wreaths and trees and decorative cranberry bushes, a snowman here and a snowman there. Happy greeting were exchange with everyone you met. Despite the cold and snow, Aspenglow was a happy and healthy place to live.
Wild foods and branches were collected in autumn before work on the monk's project resumed. It was indeed a massive structure and town's people went as often as they could to check on its progress and marvel at its stature.
Chapter 23
That stone structure grew bit by bit just as our town of Apenglow had. The main part of town grew from a few old houses, a storage barn, and an abandoned animal shed into what it is now a thriving town center with 2 Yule Taps making our special mulled winter wine. Let me get you another mug, weary traveler. Yes, it is delicious. There were 2 sleighs in this part of town with 500 mulled wine, 500 goat cheese, 500 sausage, and 500 candles in each just waiting for Santa to pick up.
Through the tunnel to the east, a few houses grew into a sizable bakery garden where winter hardy spices thrive and 2 greenhouses grow our grain. A bakery makes herb bread and the Christmas baker makes gingerbread cookies. The festive looking little town hall is made of gingerbread.
A short distance to the south is the forester's settlement. It too now has its own Hall of Records, plus a school and Nativity Chapel with 32 members and a choir that sounds like angles singing.
To the north of town is the goatkeeper's settlement. It's chapel has 150 members. There is no one in town who doesn't like the goat cheese we have thanks to taking in and caring for those mountain goats.
The main Monastery complex has supplied us with fresh baked bread all these years and the crafter's guild makes tasty venison sausage. There are 3 candle makers and a wonderful Education Center. Another sleigh of candles, mulled wine, goat cheese, and sausage waits to be picked up, and a warehouse holds 840 candles, a dozen for each household in Aspenglow for Christmas. The monk's beautiful Medieval Grace Chapel has now been opened to the public and has 61 members. Across the river is the book making monastery building and tiny mine. A sleigh containing 21 Holy Books and a pair of candles for each book waits to be picked up, the books and candles will be delivered to other places of worship here in the northern part of the world. A warehouse holds 30 extra books now.
Yes, Aspenglow had grown and thrived for 23 years despite the climate. The citizens had been happy and healthy and then ....
I am so used to the snow now I don't react any more to seeing it :)
:) After looking at the snow for so long, I now want to play Tropico ;D
Chapter 24
In autumn of year 23 the first case of mumps was reported and was immediately followed by a second case. Both occurred in the book making part of town so that was where the foundation for a tiny hospital was laid and it was given highest priority. We fear the disease would spread and take its toll but both children visited the Monastery's Herb Healer and a crisis was averted. That winter was the coldest one yet, the temperature drop to 10 degrees.
We all looked forward to spring of year 24 for warmer temps an the completion of the stonework. It was a magnificent statue of Cristo Redentor and it towered above the Monastery and could easily be seen from all around town and beyond. The 3 weary Highland families that arrived saw it from a great distance long before they saw the Monastery tower. The monk's had the stonecutters carve words from the Holy Book on the statue's base "Come unto me ... and I will give you rest." Like you, weary traveler, those families were given warm rooms in the boarding house and a hot meal and some of our warm winter wine. After they had rested and recovered they waited with the rest of us for Santa's arrival.
The weather remained colder than normal, we gathered fallen branches more often. We were not very concerned with our food supply, now that the sleighs were filled all foods produced went into storage for all to use. Then on December 24th, just before Santa was scheduled to arrive another snowstorm blew in from the north. We feared Christmas would be cancelled, but then, early in the day, we saw a bright red light in the sky and heard a HO HO HO and before our eyes Santa appeared with Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer. Although Rudolf guided the sleigh, Santa said it was the sight of the statue that got them safely here.
After a brief rest and some gingerbread cookies and eggnog, Santa went straight to work. He would deliver the Holy Books and candles first. Every place of worship here in the north would have them to celebrate the holiest night of the year. He instructed the elves to line up the other 3 sleighs while he was gone. He would return soon and have those care packages delivered to the needy families and still have plenty of time to return to the North Pole to pick up the toys for all the good little boys and girls.
All went as planned, the Holy Books and candles, and the care packages were all delivered, and we knew Cristo Redentor would see that Santa made it safely home. Most of the town's people of Aspenglow turned out to thank Santa and watch his sleigh fly out of sight. On our way home a member of each household stopped at the warehouse to pick up the monk's gift of a dozen candles each. Vicent and I volunteered to take the candles to those families that were home putting young children to bed.
All was silent and peaceful as we made our way through town that holy night. It was as if all of nature and even the animals knew this was a special night. The snow had stopped and the glen was aglow with soft moonlight. There was a bright star shining in the east. As we made our way through the forest and approached the Nativity Chapel, we could hear the choir singing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5QzkVLcBmU
Good night, weary traveler, and Merry Christmas
The End
Great finish to a very nice story.
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
:) Merry Christmas!
:) Thank you and Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas !
Merry Christmas Mr.
@RedKetchup :)