<<nobr>>
<map name="infographic" id="titlepage">
<area alt="Begin button" title="Click to begin" data-passage="Disclaimer" shape="rect" coords="782,1046,1139,1173" tabindex="0" />
</map>
<div class="resizable imageMapObserve" style="float: center">
<img usemap="#infographic" alt="Title page reading 'CodeX'. The title is written in a gold medieval font on cotton paper resting on an old wooden desk with green leather. An ink well and a black quill rest on the right side of the desk, while a black cat paw enters the screen from the top left corner to end up on top of the page. There's a button at the centre bottom of the page, saying'Begin', surrounded by a medieval drawing of a cat dressed in a bishop's outfit and a floating arm poitning to the button." @src="setup.ImagePath + 'title_page_smaller.png'" />
</div>
<</nobr>>
<div style="text-align: center"><i>“Evidence is always partial. Facts are not truth, though they are part of it – information is not knowledge. And history is not the past – it is the method we have evolved of organising our ignorance of the past.
It’s the record of what’s left on the record."</i>
– Hilary Mantel</div>
<a data-passage="OpeningScene1">
<span class="sc-icon sc-arrow-right" alt="arrow pointing right"></span></a>
<<masteraudio stop>><<audio "first_bgm" volume 0.5 play loop>><<set $hour to "boh_prime">><section class="paper">
<article class="paperheader"></article>
<div class="papertext">14th August 1470.
@@.delayed;The Benedictine convent of Sancto Spirito of Verona, Italy.@@
@@.delayed;Library, 6:45am.
<a data-passage="Chapter1">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule1.png'" style="display: block; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a medieval painted hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a>@@
</div>
</section>
<<set $time_in_num to "6:45am">>
The canonical hour of <i>Prime</i> has come and gone, but you have a bit of time before <i>Terce</i> and you want to make the most of the daylight.
The Psalter you're copying contains a few more pages dedicated to the lives of saints, but you have time to copy only one more text before tomorrow.
You remember the Reverend Mother's words earlier this morning after the <i>Lauds</i>, "Sister Serafina, please don't forget we are Benedictine sisters first and foremost and our work and prayers should always be in celebration of our patron saint, Scholastica of Nursia."
The Psalter includes a page on the life of Saint Scholastica, but it also has pages about the lives of Saint Veronica, patron saint of laundry workers, and Saint Acuta, whose hagiography seems particularly hard to decipher.
You hear the chapel bells strike 7am and realise you have to [[make a choice.|Choice1][$time_in_num to "7:00am"]]
Which saint will it be?
<button data-passage="Scholastica" data-setter="$saint_chosen to 'Scholastica'">Saint Scholastica of Nursia, foundress of the Benedictine nuns.</button>
<button data-passage="Veronica" data-setter="$saint_chosen to 'Veronica'">Saint Veronica of Jerusalem.</button>
<button data-passage="Acuta" data-setter="$saint_chosen to 'Acuta'">Saint Acuta.</button>You don't want to disappoint the Reverend Mother (on the Eve of the Assumption, of all days!) and you know deep down that Saint Scholastica has always been the only possible choice.
If only it wasn't also the religious name of Sister Scholastica, your devout sister-cum-choir-director-cum-lauded-scribe-and-miniaturist-exceptionnelle.
She is the Lord's most favoured, FOR SURE.
But it's [[time to focus|StartWriting][$time_in_num to "7:15am"]] on the text in front of you. You don't want to disappoint the Reverend Mother (on the Eve of the Assumption, of all days!) but you think the life of Saint Veronica might be a more fitting ending to this volume.
And that has nothing to do with the fact that Veronica also happens to be the name of one of your Sisters, who you may or may not have a soft spot for.
Nothing to do with that AT ALL.
But it's [[time to focus|StartWriting]] on the text in front of you. You don't want to disappoint the Reverend Mother (on the Eve of the Assumption, of all days!) but you think the life of Saint Acuta will add something definitely unique to this copy of the Psalter.
Afterall, there are very few records of this saint in the books.
But it's [[time to focus|StartWriting]] on the text in front of you.
The life of $saint_chosen is <<if $saint_chosen isnot "Acuta">> well-known, although<<else>> mysterious and<</if>> this particular passage seems especially obscure.
<div class="papertext1">$saint_chosen was born to a <<listbox "$flavour_opt1" autoselect>>
<<option "widow">>
<<option "widower">>
<</listbox>></div>
<a data-passage="StartWriting2">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule1.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a medieval painted hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a>
<<masteraudio stop>>You look down at your wooden desk - a book of hours lays open to your left; an ink pot and quill to your right. At the centre, a big book of Psalms and a blank vellum await you.
You have been working on making a copy of this Psalter for the past few months, which was sent to your convent to help nuns in their contemplative lives.
The Reverend Mother has asked you to finish this copy by the Feast of the Assumption.
You've already copied the 150 Psalms, a calendar, a litany of saints and a few other devotional texts.
<a data-passage="WhichSaint" class="link-internal link-image">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule1.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a medieval painted hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a>
<<set $alt_text to "Painting from the book of hours 'The Belles Heures of Jean de France, duc de Berry' showing the constellations from mid-July to mid-August. The word 'Prime' is written underneath it in gothic font.">><<set $time_in_num to "8:00am">><<if $adjective1 is "being annoying" or $adjective1 is "being lovely">>Hmm.
You might have been slightly influenced by your own feelings here.
<<else>>Based on what you know this looks like the right interpretation.
<</if>>
You do want to do a good job copying the Psalter, you really do, that's why you spent the last seven months copying and illuminating all of its pages.
You're just a bit tired after all this time and the deadline is so close, the manuscript almost done, that you don't think it will be too bad to allow some room for interpretation. As long as the book is ready in time for the celebrations, it shouldn't be a problem, right?
Afterall, as Sister Assunta always says, "<<hovertip "So long as the milk is given to you, why do you burn to know whose cow it is?">>Dum tibi lac detur, cuius sit vacca, quid urit?<</hovertip>>"
<a data-passage="TerceInterlude">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule1.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a medieval painted hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a>
<<set $time_in_num to "8:30am">><<set $hour to "boh_terce">>Without realising it, it's already time to stop for <i>Terce</i>.
You put down your quill and take your Book of Hours with you to the chapel.
<a data-passage="Terce">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule1.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a medieval painted hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a>
<<set $hour to "boh_terce">>
<<set $alt_text to "Painting from the book of hours 'The Belles Heures of Jean de France, duc de Berry' showing the constellations from mid-July to mid-August. The word 'Terce' is written underneath it in gothic font.">><<set $time_in_num to "8:50am">>You're walking back to the library after the prayers.
<<if $saint_chosen is "Veronica">>Sister Scholastica was such a show off singing at <i>Terce</i> this morning, you're starting to wonder whether it's some sort of personal punishment for not choosing to transcibe the life of her saint namesake.
You're pretty sure the Almighty can hear you all perfectly well, without need for all that shouting.
<<else>>Sister Veronica sang as lovely as always at <i>Terce</i>. She looked even more heavenly bathed in the morning light.
<</if>>
But time to focus!
You step back into the library to resume your task...
<div class="emoji">[[🐾|Martino]]</div>...only to find that your ink well is almost empty and THERE'S A SERIES OF BLACK PAW PRINTS ALL OVER THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT!!
Martino, the convent cat, sits proudly on your desk, happy with his scribing work.
You desperately search your mind for any teachings about patience and forgiveness and try to maintain your composure as you wipe the ink stains as best as you can.
<div class="emoji">[[🐾|Salvage][$time_in_num to "10:00am"]]</div>You sit back down and look over the stained manuscript, hoping it's still salvageable.
<div class="papertext1">$saint_chosen's journey was full of hardships and the Lord tested her faith <<listbox "$flavour_opt2" autoselect>>
<<option "two">>
<<option "three">>
<<option "four">>
<</listbox>> times in the course of her life.</div>
<a data-passage="Salvage2">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule1.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a medieval painted hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a><<set $hour to "boh_sext">><<set $time_in_num to "1:30pm">><<set $alt_text to "Painting from the book of hours 'The Belles Heures of Jean de France, duc de Berry' showing the constellations from mid-July to mid-August. The word 'Sext' is written underneath it in gothic font.">>You carry on like this, copying sentence after sentence without looking up from your desk.
@@.delayed;You were so hard at work that you forgot to stop for <i>Sext</i> and it's already afternoon. You didn't even realise that Sister Veronica came into the library and is now standing behind you until she gently clears her throat.@@
@@.delayed;You startle and almost cause another ink spillage.@@
@@.delayed;"Always hard at work, Sister Serafina," she says smiling her kind smile. "I didn't want you to skip luncheon, so I brought you some soup for sustenance."@@
@@.delayed;You manage to stutter a thank you.@@
@@.delayed;"Truth to be told, I'm supposed to be in the pantry right now - Sister Assunta sent me on a mission to find Martino. Apparently the mice are back! I need to head back as soon as I find him."@@
@@.delayed;Out of the corner of your eye, you see Martino slowly flattening under one of the bookshelves.@@
@@.delayed;"I've looked for him all around the convent, to no avail. Have you seen him, by any chance?"@@
@@.delayed;<<link [[Hmmm...|TimePasses]]>><<set $reply to "Hmmm...">><</link>>@@
@@.delayed;<<link [[Errr...|TimePasses]]>><<set $reply to "Errr...">><</link>>@@
@@.delayed;<<link [[Ah.|TimePasses]]>><<set $reply to "Ah.">><</link>>@@
"$reply" is your elequent reply.
"Oh well, maybe I can keep you company for a bit, while we wait for him to reappear. 'He who seeks shall not find'!", Sister Veronica laughs.
[[Hehe|TimePassesMore][$time_in_num to "2:55pm"]]
[[Haha|TimePassesMore][$time_in_num to "2:55pm"]]
[[Hoho|TimePassesMore][$time_in_num to "2:55pm"]]Time flows pleasanlty chatting in the golden afternoon light.
@@.delayed;"Oh! It's almost <i>None</i>!" exclaims Sister Veronica. "I cannot believe how quickly time passes when I talk to you. I must hurry and find Martino before we lose all of our food stock! See you in the chapel!"
<div class="emoji">[[🐾|Marginalia][$time_in_num to "3:00pm"]]</div>@@<<set $hour to "boh_none">><<set $alt_text to "Painting from the book of hours 'The Belles Heures of Jean de France, duc de Berry' showing the constellations from mid-July to mid-August. The word 'None' is written underneath it in gothic font.">>As though summoned by her receding footsteps, Martino comes out from behind the shelves and sits by your feet in a ray of warm sunshine, content in the knowledge that his responsibilities have been evaded once again.
What an afternoon!
Time does fly when you spend it with Veronica!
And she said the same about you!
<<if $saint_chosen is "Veronica">>Is it a divine orchestration that you happen to be transcribing the life of her saint? Y<<else>>You wonder if you should have been transcribing the life of Saint Veronica instead, although y<</if>>ou couldn't have wished for a more perfect moment together.
Martino meows in agreement and you think it might be time to add some [[marginalia|WhichMarginalia]] to illuminate this text.What kind of maginalia would you like to add?
<button data-passage="Vespers" data-setter="$marginalia to 'cat'">Portrait of convent cat and best wingman Martino.</button>
<button data-passage="Vespers" data-setter="$marginalia to 'flowers'">Paintings of seasonal flowers.</button>
<button data-passage="Compline" data-setter="$marginalia to 'flower cat'">Both.</button><<set $hour to "boh_vespers">><<set $alt_text to "Painting from the book of hours 'The Belles Heures of Jean de France, duc de Berry' showing the constellations from mid-July to mid-August. The word 'Vespers' is written underneath it in gothic font.">>The sun is getting lower.
The illumination took much longer than you thought, but you're quite happy with your artwork and the text seems to be in good shape too.
You should be able to present the Psalter to the Reverend Mother right before the <i>Vespers</i> and maybe have time for another chat with Sister Veronica.
<<if $saint_chosen is "Scholastica">>You briefly wonder if Scholastica will appreciate your rendition of the life of her saint namesake.<<elseif $saint_chosen is "Veronica">>You can't wait to talk to her about your work on her saint namesake.<</if>>
Only [[one thing left to do.|Sign]]
<<set $time_in_num to "6:40pm">><<set $time_in_num to "7:50pm">><<set $hour to "boh_compline">><<set $alt_text to "Painting from the book of hours 'The Belles Heures of Jean de France, duc de Berry' showing the constellations from mid-July to mid-August. The word 'Compline' is written underneath it in gothic font.">>The sun is starting to set.
The illumination took much longer than you thought, to the point that you missed the <i>Vespers</i> once again. Maybe you should have limited your choice to only one subject.
Regardless, you're quite happy with your artwork and the text seems to be in good shape too.
You should be able to present the Psalter to the Reverend Mother right before she retires for the night.
<<if $saint_chosen is "Scholastica">>You briefly wonder if Scholastica will appreciate your rendition of the life of her saint namesake.<<elseif $saint_chosen is "Veronica">>You can't wait to talk to Veronica about her saint namesake.<</if>>
Only [[one thing left to do.|Sign]]
How do you want to sign the manuscript?
<button data-passage="Conclusion" data-setter="$signature to 'name'">With your name in the colophon next to the date and the name of the convent.</button>
<button data-passage="Conclusion" data-setter="$signature to 'code'">Hide your name in the text using a secret code.</button>
<button data-passage="Conclusion" data-setter="$signature to 'drawing'">Hide a portrait of yourself in the illumination.</button>
A beautifully illuminated manuscript on vellum rests on the desk, describing the life of Saint $saint_chosen who was born to a $flavour_opt1, challenged by the Lord $flavour_opt2 times, distinguished herself for $adjective1 and made a miracle happen through the medium of a $adjective2 in her $flavour_opt3.
<<if $marginalia is 'cat'>>A drawing of a cat in full bishop's regalia sits at the bottom of the page.<<elseif $marginalia is 'flowers'>>Beautiful flowers in bloom adorn the borders of the page.<<elseif $marginalia is 'flower cat'>>A drawing of a cat with what looks like a rose on his tail emerges from a beautifully intricated array of flowers.<</if>><<if $signature is 'drawing'>> A mysterious hooded figure also emerges from the side decoration.<</if>>
<<if $signature is 'name'>>The manuscript is signed 'Hunc veneranda soror scripsit Serafina librum Veronae in Sacro Spiritus alme tuo MCCCCLXXII die XXVIII augusti.'<<elseif $signature is 'code'>>The manuscript is not signed.<</if>>
[[END CHAPTER 1|OpeningScene2][$hour to "bell_ringer"]]You did it.
The Psalter is ready.
You give [[one final look|EndOfChapter1]] at the last page before it's time to hand over the manuscript to the Revered Mother.
<<set $time_in_num to "8:10pm">>
<<set $hour to "boh_compline">>CodeX
<div class="resizable imageMapObserve" style="width: 200px">
<img alt="$alt_text" @src="setup.ImagePath + $hour + '.png'" />
</div>
$time_in_num
by
Giulia Carla Rossi<<set $hour = "sidebar1">>
<<set $time_in_num = " ">>
<<set $alt_text = "an image of a closed medieval-looking book with a burgundy red cover and golden details">>
<<set _bgm = setup.SoundPath + "chap_1.wav">>
<<cacheaudio "first_bgm" _bgm>>
<<set _bgm = setup.SoundPath + "chap_2.wav">>
<<cacheaudio "second_bgm" _bgm>>
<<set _bgm = setup.SoundPath + "chap_3.wav">>
<<cacheaudio "third_bgm" _bgm>>
<<masteraudio stop>><<audio "second_bgm" volume 0.5 play loop>><section class="paper">
<article class="paperheader"></article>
<div class="papertext">14th August 1530.
@@.delayed;Fust & Schöffer printing house, Mainz, Germany.@@
@@.delayed;7:45am.
<a data-passage="Chapter2">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule2.png'" style="display: block; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a printed hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a>@@
</div></section>
<<set $time_in_num to "7:45am">>
<<set $alt_text to "Printed image depicting a man with a hat and fabulous pants ringing a church bell. From the image 'A Peal of Church Bells', taken from a collection of pamphlets on esoterica, c.16th century, by a proponent of the English School.">>
<<masteraudio stop>>You look down at your work station - a box of cast metal type pieces lays open to your left; a wooden composing stick to your right. At the centre, a big book of Psalms awaits you.
You have to start working on making a copy of this Psalter, but the volume has been <<if $signature is 'name'>>badly damaged, with certain pages ripped and torn.<<else>>slightly damaged.<</if>>
Herr Schöffer told you that it was salvaged from the library of a monastery in the Swiss Alps. How it ended up there, you're not quite sure.
<a data-passage="StateOfBook">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule2.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a printed hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a>You've heard about the fate of many books destroyed at the start of the Reformation, due to their controversial (read 'Catholic') or heretical (read 'womanly') subject matter.
<<if $signature is 'name'>>This text looks like it was subject to more than one attempt of destruction - you give another look at your to-do-list of all the books you have to work on and you see the word 'femina' scribbled alongside this title.
"So it was written by a woman" you think to yourself, although the author's name has been erased. <<else>>This text looks a bit worse for wear, but you've definitely seen worse. It was either written by a man, or a woman strategic enough to know not to sign it.<</if>>
<a data-passage="Gertrude">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule2.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a printed hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a><<set $time_in_num to "8:00am">>As the church bells strike 8am, Gertru-- err, Fräulein Schöffer enters the workshop with two armfuls of paper sheets, precariously balanced.
You jump up to help her and to avoid an obvious disaster.
"Oof, thank you, Andreas!" she smiles wiping her brow "Honestly, my dad might own this workshop, but I swear nothing gets done around here without me!" she winks at you conspiratorially, but her father interrupts any reply you might have had.
"Gertrude!" he booms "How many times do I need to tell you not to step foot into this workshop! This is no place for a lady!"
"What is it that you think is so terrible about this place? Too much ink? Too much knowledge??" is her breezy reply, before noticing her father's irate glare.
"Right, right, I'm going!"
<a data-passage="PaperOrVellum">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule2.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a printed hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a><<set $time_in_num to "8:15am">>You see her leave the printing house and you can't help a little sigh of relief.
Gertrude is always so carefree, you worry she might say something careless one of these days.
You suddenly feel the glare of Herr Schöffer now directed at you and you realise it's high time to get to work.
You quickly scan the options in front of you, unsure what would be the best [[choice|Choice2]] for this book.What material do you choose for printing?
<button data-passage="Vellum" data-setter="$material to 'vellum'">Vellum -- more expensive.</button>
<button data-passage="Paper" data-setter="$material to 'paper'">Paper -- cheaper.</button>The vellum is more expensive, but you think it will preserve better in the long run.
Because of its price, you won't be able to print more than a few copies and you'll also have to cut all the illumination from the final copy to make the money back.
Still, you think it's worth it for the longevity of the text. Afterall, the [[words|Typesetting]] are what matters.The paper is cheaper and will allow you to print a lot more copies than the vellum.
You should even be able to afford a scribe to copy some of the original illumination - or maybe you could try your hand at colour printing! Afterall, that's what the Fust & Schöffer press is famous for.
Your only concern is the longevity of the book. The paper seems quite brittle and might not preserve as well. In the end, the [[words|Typesetting]] are what matters.<<set _ScholasticaNames = ["Scholast", "Scholace", "Scolacia"]>><<set _VeronicaNames = ["Viola", "Vivien", "Veritas"]>><<set _AcutaNames= ["Astin", "Augustine", "Austinus"]>>Speaking of words...
... you look back down at the manuscript and try to decipher some of the more faded words. <<if $signature is 'name'>>This book has definitely seen better days.<</if>>
<div class="papertext2">This Psalter contains <<listbox "$flavour2_opt1" autoselect>><<option "105">><<option "115">><<option "150">><</listbox>> Psalms and a <<listbox "$flavour2_opt2" autoselect>><<option "liturgy">><<option "lethargy">><<option "list">><</listbox>>of saints, including the story of the life of <<if $signature is 'name'>>Saint <<if $saint_chosen is "Scholastica">><<listbox "$saint_chosen" autoselect>><<optionsfrom _ScholasticaNames>><</listbox>><<elseif $saint_chosen is "Veronica">><<listbox "$saint_chosen" autoselect>><<optionsfrom _VeronicaNames>><</listbox>><<elseif $saint_chosen is "Acuta">><<listbox "$saint_chosen" autoselect>><<optionsfrom _AcutaNames>><</listbox>><</if>><<else>>Saint $saint_chosen.<</if>></div>
<a data-passage="DifficultToDecipher">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule2.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a printed hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a><<set $time_in_num to "9:00am">><<set _Chara2 = ["sewing", "sowing", "growing", "rowing"]>>Hmmm. You're not quite sure that's correct.
Maybe if you start from the text about Saint $saint_chosen you can find out more information?
You find the page with the life of Saint $saint_chosen, but some of the words are completely unintelligible.
<div class="papertext2"><<if $signature is 'name'>>$saint_chosen since a <<listbox "$flavour2_opt3" autoselect>>
<<option "early">>
<<option "young">>
<</listbox>> age exhibited a <<listbox "$flavour2_opt4" autoselect>>
<<option "new">>
<<option "curious">>
<</listbox>> propensity for <<listbox "$adjective2_1" autoselect>>
<<optionsfrom _Chara2>>
<</listbox>>.
<<else>>$saint_chosen since a young age exhibited a natural inclination for <<listbox "$adjective2_1" autoselect>>
<<optionsfrom _Chara2>>
<</listbox>>.<</if>></div>
<a data-passage="Frustrated">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule2.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a printed hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a><<set $time_in_num to "9:30am">>You're starting to feel frustrated that the text is in such bad shape.
<<if $signature isnot 'name'>>You wonder again if this manuscript was authored by a woman.<</if>> You feel a sudden surge of kinship for this <<if $signature is 'name'>>unknown<<else>>hypothetical<</if>> woman who lived a century before you <<if $signature isnot 'name'>>and understood the need to hide - you're quite familiar with that yourself.<<else>>and was brave enough to be publicly proud of her work. You wish you had the same courage.<</if>>
<a data-passage="Agnes">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule2.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a printed hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a><<set $time_in_num to "9:45am">>Because while here in the workshop everyone thinks you're Andreas, the dependable young apprentice, once you're at home and take off the heavy jacket you go back to being Agnes, the elusive young maiden who still lives with her mother.
You hate the pretence, but Agnes would never be allowed in the workshop.
Andreas, however, has a brilliant future ahead of him, according to Herr Schöffer.
<a data-passage="Crispin">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule2.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a printed hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a><<set $time_in_num to "10:00am">>You get distracted from your thoughts by a sudden crashing noise -- Crispin has dropped an entire drawer of type pieces on the floor. Again.
He's a very nice young man, but he's not very good with the press. Or objects in general.
You get up and help him collect the pieces before someone else sees the mess.
<a data-passage="Lunch">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule2.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a printed hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a><<set $time_in_num to "12:00pm">>Helping Crispin took much longer than you had planned -- a few type pieces got lodged under one of the bookshelves and it took a bribery in the form of sardines to convince Gilbert, the printing house cat, to rescue them.
Crispin was incredibly grateful though and almost on the verge of tears while he thanked you over and over again for saving him and his job.
Poor Crispin.
Accompanied by the fragrant smell of fresh bread, Gertrude waltzes back in with food enough for everyone.
"Time for lunch!" she announces.
She always knows how to make an entrance.
<a data-passage="PM">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule2.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a printed hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a><<set $time_in_num to "1:30pm">>Lunch went by so quickly, but then again, time always flies when you spend it with Gertrude.
This job is great for paying the bills for both you and your mum, but it's even better for giving you an excuse to spend more time with Gertrude, without anyone noticing or commenting.
She's always so calm and unconcerned about it, you wish you had the same carefree attitude.
"Agnes, you're going to get a permanent frown on you, if you always look so worried!" she jokes when it's just the two of you. You wish that would be more often.
<a data-passage="FrenchPress">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule2.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a printed hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a><<set $time_in_num to "1:40pm">>You've heard of presses in France where women run the place, after inheriting the business from their late husbands.
What a dream!
Although it would require a husband first of all, and you're not sure how Gertrude might take news of your nuptials.
But back to the text in front of you...
<a data-passage="CensoredMiracle">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule2.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a printed hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a>You try to read the main part of this saint's life. Something to do with a $adjective2? Some of the words look like they've been erased (censored?) from the page and new ones added in a different handwriting.
<div class="papertext2">The Lord tested $saint_chosen's <<listbox "$flavour2_opt5" autoselect>>
<<option "loyalty">>
<<option "moral">>
<<option "character">>
<</listbox>><<if $signature is 'name'>> <<listbox "$flavour_opt2" autoselect>><<option "six">>
<<option "seven">>
<<option "nine">>
<</listbox>><<else>> $flavour_opt2 <</if>>times.
She is most remembered for <<listbox "$flavour2_opt5" autoselect>>
<<option "helping">>
<<option "supporting">>
<<option "being in service of">>
<</listbox>> Saint Bartholomew, with his famous miracle of the $adjective2.</div>
<a data-passage="BartholomewCode">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule2.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a printed hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a><<set $time_in_num to "2:00pm">>Wait - when did Saint Bartholomew get into this story? Wasn't this about the life of Saint $saint_chosen?
It looks like halfway through the page the text had been rewritten to talk about a different saint. There isn't much you can do without the original text, so you try to interpret the words and copy them across as best you can. <<if $signature is 'code'>>There also seem to be a few lines of what looks like a secret code, interwoven with the main text. You decide to copy these as well.<</if>>
You're setting up all the types into your composing stick, when Gilbert decides it's time for his daily dose of undivided attention and jumps onto your desk. You can probably pet him and still keep on working, right?
<button data-passage="ScratchGilbert" data-setter="$typo to 'yes'">Pet Gilbert.</button>
<button data-passage="GetScratched" data-setter="$typo to 'no'">Ignore him.</button><<set $time_in_num to "5:00pm">>You pet Gilbert while you keep setting your composing stick and copying the text.
@@.delayed;The afternoon passes pleasantly between a little scratch behind the ears and another word about Saint Bartholomew's life.
<a data-passage="NewMarginalia">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule2.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a printed hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a>You don't have time to give Gilbert a scratch right now and you decide to move him from your desk.
@@.delayed;Unfortunately, <u>he</u> has plenty of time to scratch <u>you</u>.@@
@@.delayed;You end up having to run outside with a bleeding arm, looking for the square fountain. Not exactly an efficient use of your time.
<a data-passage="NewMarginalia">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule2.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a printed hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a>@@<<set $time_in_num to "5:30pm">><<if $typo is 'no'>>Today is not your day - you get back to your desk to have a look at what you've done so far and what else you can squeeze in before the end of the day.<<else>>You've done quite a lot of work setting the page today.<</if>>
<<if $material is 'paper'>>Because you've chosen to print on paper, you have some budget left to cover illumination. You can choose whether to assign the task to a scribe, who will do everything by hand but might be able to complete fewer copies in time for publication, or do it yourself with the printing press - although the illustrations will have to be simplified.
<<if $signature is 'drawing'>>You look at the hooded figure emerging from the side decoration with some sympathy. She'll have to be a bit stylised, but you'll make sure she is included.<</if>>
<button data-passage="ToScribe" data-setter="$new_marginalia to 'accurate'">Give the work to a scribe.</button>
<button data-passage="Yourself" data-setter="$new_marginalia to 'simple'">Do it yourself.</button><<else>>Because you've chosen to print on vellum, unfortunately you don't have any budget left to copy the illumination. You look at the <<if $marginalia is 'cat'>>drawing of a cat dressed like a bishop<<elseif $marginalia is 'flowers'>>beautiful flowers in bloom adorning the borders of the page<<elseif $marginalia is 'flower cat'>>drawing of a cat with what looks like a rose on his tail<</if>> and feel slightly bad for leaving it behind<<if $signature is 'drawing'>> together with the mysterious hooded figure emerging from the side decoration<</if>>. You might be the last person to see these drawings.
<a data-passage="AlmostDone">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule2.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a printed hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a>
<</if>><<set $time_in_num to "6:30pm">>You start clearing your desk for the day. <<if $typo is 'yes'>>The type is all set for printing tomorrow - hopefully petting Gilbert didn't distract you too much to cause any typos.<<else>>You'll have to make up for lost time tomorrow - hopefully you'll be able to finish setting the page without Herr Schöffer noticing you're running late AND avoid any more injuries from Gilbert.<</if>>
<a data-passage="Conclusion2">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule2.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a printed hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a><<set $time_in_num to "6:30pm">>You decide it's better to rely on the skills of a scribe - you'll send them the page to decorate once they've been printed.
You start clearing your desk for the day. <<if $typo is 'yes'>>The type is all set for printing tomorrow - hopefully petting Gilbert didn't distract you too much to cause any typos.<<else>>You'll have to make up for lost time tomorrow - hopefully you'll be able to finish setting the page without Herr Schöffer noticing you're running late AND avoid any more injuries from Gilbert.<</if>>
<a data-passage="Conclusion2">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule2.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a printed hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a><<set $time_in_num to "6:30pm">>You decide you want to experiment with colour printing yourself - you'll begin working on the blocks first thing in the morning. Who knows, maybe you'll get praised and also something extra at the end of the month for your initiative.
You start clearing your desk for the day. <<if $typo is 'yes'>>The type is all set for printing tomorrow - hopefully petting Gilbert didn't distract you too much to cause any typos.<<else>>You'll have to make up for lost time tomorrow - hopefully you'll be able to finish setting the page without Herr Schöffer noticing you're running late AND avoid any more injuries from Gilbert.<</if>>
<a data-passage="Conclusion2">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule2.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a printed hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a>
<<set $time_in_num to "6:40pm">>It's the end of the working day.
You're already thinking about supper and what new excuse Gertrude will come up with to come by the workshop tomorrow.
Before you leave, you give [[one final look|EndOfChapter2]] at the forme holding the structure for the whole page.
<<set $time_in_num to "7:10pm">>Next to a stack of $material, the mobile type pieces are set ready for printing out the life of Saint $saint_chosen, who had a propensity for $adjective2_1, was tested by the Lord $flavour_opt2 times and is most remembered for her role in aiding Saint Bartholomew, with his famous miracle of the $adjective2.
[[END CHAPTER 2|OpeningScene3][$hour to "clock_2_45"]]<<masteraudio stop>><<audio "third_bgm" volume 0.5 play loop>><<set $time_in_num to "2:45pm">><section class="paper">
<article class="paperheader"></article>
<div class="papertext">14th August 2023.
@@.delayed;Bodleian Library, Oxford, United Kingdom.@@
@@.delayed;2:45pm.
<a data-passage="Chapter3">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule3.png'" style="display: block; width: 50px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a pixellated hand cursor icon with an extended index finger pointing to the right">
</a>@@
</div>
</section>
<<set $alt_text to "An image of a white clock showing the time.">><<set _ScholasticaChara = ["singing", "painting", "being annoying"]>>
<<set _VeronicaChara = ["drawing", "caring", "being lovely"]>>
<<set _AcutaChara = ["whistling", "whittling", "welding"]>>This seems about right. The words on the next line are much harder to make out.
<div class="papertext1">...and since a young age she exhibited a natural inclination for <<if $saint_chosen is "Scholastica">><<listbox "$adjective1" autoselect>><<optionsfrom _ScholasticaChara>><</listbox>>.
<<elseif $saint_chosen is "Veronica">><<listbox "$adjective1" autoselect>><<optionsfrom _VeronicaChara>><</listbox>>.<<elseif $saint_chosen is "Acuta">><<listbox "$adjective1" autoselect>><<optionsfrom _AcutaChara>><</listbox>> .<</if>></div>
<a data-passage="HardToRead">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule1.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a medieval painted hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a><<set _ScholasticaChara2 = ["flood", "storm", "boring anecdote"]>><<set _VeronicaChara2 = ["veil", "candle", "lovely smile"]>><<set _AcutaChara2 = ["landslide", "famine", "gruesome death"]>>
<div class="papertext1">The miracle she is most remembered for happened in her <<listbox "$flavour_opt3" autoselect>>
<<option "youth">>
<<option "old age">>
<</listbox>> when she <<if $saint_chosen is "Scholastica">>manifested a <<listbox "$adjective2" autoselect>>
<<optionsfrom _ScholasticaChara2>>
<</listbox>> to convice her brother to stay with her to continue discussing the sacred texts.
<<elseif $saint_chosen is "Veronica">> gave Jesus the gift of a <<listbox "$adjective2" autoselect>>
<<optionsfrom _VeronicaChara2>>
<</listbox>> on His way to the cross.
<<elseif $saint_chosen is "Acuta">> caused a <<listbox "$adjective2" autoselect>>
<<optionsfrom _AcutaChara2>>
<</listbox>> to prove her point in an argument.
<</if>></div>
<a data-passage="SisterVeronica">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule1.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 100px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a medieval painted hand with an extended index finger pointing right">
</a><<masteraudio stop>>You are sitting right by the entrance, waiting for your appointment.
You can't believe this is your last day in this library and in this town -- the week sure went by fast.
You are so grateful you managed to get the funding for this research trip, although you can't wait to get back home to see your wife and eat your favourite take away on the sofa.
<a data-passage="Research">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule3.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 50px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a pixellated hand cursor icon with an extended index finger pointing to the right">
</a>Researching the work of Fust & Shöffer is not always easy - a lot of copies have been destroyed by time and wear - but you feel especially proud to have been able to track down this specific Psalter.
<<if $material is 'vellum'>>The manuscript in this library is one of three remaining copies of the Psalter - you suspect that not that many were printed in the first place, as vellum was very expensive at the time<<elseif $material is 'paper'>>There are quite a few copies of this manuscript around Europe, but a lot of them are in various states of disrepair as they were printed on paper, instead of vellum, which is more durable. This copy is the best preserved one you were able to find<</if>>.
Spending the last three days leafing through it with the help of a curator has been a dream come true - you are already planning the paper you want to write in your head.
<a data-passage="Redwood">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule3.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 50px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a pixellated hand cursor icon with an extended index finger pointing to the right">
</a><<set $hour to "clock_3">><<set $time_in_num to "3:00pm">>"Ms. Redwood?"
Your reverie is broken by your turn being called.
"Actually, it's Dr. Redwood." you say standing up. You don’t want to be pedantic, but you didn't spend the last 4 years of your life stressing and studying for your PhD to be Ms’d again.
<a data-passage="RareManuscripts">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule3.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 50px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a pixellated hand cursor icon with an extended index finger pointing to the right">
</a>You enter the Rare Manuscripts room.
By now you're familiar with all the shelves and wooden desks.
The Psalter has already been prepared on the book cradle for you. Even after three whole days spent with it, you’re still surprised by how <<if $material is 'paper'>>ruined and hard to read <<elseif $material is 'vellum'>>well-preserved and readable <</if>>the text is.
You look again at the colophon holding the printer's mark of Johann Fust and Peter Schöffer. It's great that their mark and initials are still there – makes your research so much easier! – but you briefly wonder about all the people involved in the setting, inking and printing of it, whose names will never be known.
You only have [[a few pages left|StateOfText][$hour to "clock_3_15"]] you haven’t look at yet. <<set $time_in_num to "3:15pm">>In particular, the last page seems to record the life of Saint Bartholomew<<if $material is 'paper'>> - it looks like there might have been another name, but the manuscript is too ruined to be able to decipher it<<else>> as well as Saint $saint_chosen<</if>>.
Based on this record, <div class="papertext2"><<if $material is 'vellum'>><<if $typo is 'no'>>Saint $saint_chosen had a propensity for $adjective2_1, was tested by the Lord $flavour_opt2 times and is most remembered for her role in aiding Saint Bartholomew, with his famous miracle of the $adjective2.<<elseif $typo is 'yes'>>Siant $saint_chosen had a porpensity for $adjective2_1, was tetsed by the Lord $flavour_opt2 times and is mots remembred for her role in ading Sain Bartohlomw, with his famos miracele of the $adjective2.<</if>><<else>><<if $typo is 'no'>>Saint Bartholomew had a propensity for $adjective2_1, was tested by the Lord $flavour_opt2 times and is most remembered for his famous miracle of the $adjective2.<<elseif $typo is 'yes'>>Siant Bartohlomw had a porpensity for $adjective2_1, was tetsed by the Lord $flavour_opt2 times and is mots remembred for his famos miracele of the $adjective2.<</if>><</if>></div>
<a data-passage="TyposAndMarginalia">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule3.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 50px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a pixellated hand cursor icon with an extended index finger pointing to the right">
</a><<set $hour to "clock_3_30">><<set $time_in_num to "3:30pm">><<if $typo is 'yes'>>You didn’t realise the text had so many typos!
For a second you think of your cat when he jumps onto your keyboard at home and hijacks your emails. You immediately feel silly comparing this to the work of a cat – surely there are better explanations to account for the typos.<<else>>You're astounded by the precision of every single printed word – you wish you had the same accuracy when composing emails. Although, in your defence, they probably didn't have a cat jumping onto their work station every other minute, the way your cat jumps onto your keyboard at every opportunity! <</if>>
<<if $material is 'paper'>><<if $new_marginalia is 'simple'>>Beautiful marginalia surround the page – the shapes are quite simplified as they've been printed rather than painted by hand, but the result is still striking. <<elseif $new_marginalia is 'accurate'>>The illumination is absolutely stunning – it looks like it was added to the printed copy by hand. As far as you know, this is the only copy remaining which also has hand decorations. <</if>>You think you can recognise <<if $marginalia is 'cat'>>what looks like a... cat dressed like a bishop? Medieval marginalia has stopped surprising you long ago.<<elseif $marginalia is 'flowers'>>flowers in bloom adorning the borders of the page.<<elseif $marginalia is 'flower cat'>>a cat with what looks like a rose at the top of his tail emerging from different kind of flowers. Medieval marginalia has stopped surprising you long ago.<</if>><<else>>The printed manuscript includes only words, with no decorations or marginalia – again you think the high cost of the vellum might be the cause.<</if>>
<a data-passage="WhoIsTheAuthor">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule3.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 50px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a pixellated hand cursor icon with an extended index finger pointing to the right">
</a><<set $hour to "clock_3_40">><<set $time_in_num to "3:40pm">><<if $signature is 'drawing'>><<if $material is 'paper'>>Looking closer, you notice that there is also a hooded figure in the margins – the shape has been quite simplified in the printing process, but the figure is still recognisable as [[a woman|Nuns]].<<else>>You're a bit disappointed that there aren't any decorations or paintings accompanying the text, as they can often offer an insight into [[who authored|Close]] the manuscript.<</if>><<elseif $signature is 'code'>> Looking closer, you notice a few lines written in what looks like...[[a secret code|UnveilCode]]?<<elseif $signature is 'name'>> You're a bit disappointed that there are no indications of [[whom might have authored |Close]] the manuscript.<</if>> <<set $hour to "clock_3_45">><<set $time_in_num to "3:45pm">>It looks like the original manuscript this printed copy is based on might have originated from a convent!
You always thought you could have been a nun if you had been born in a different time - less for the religious reasons and more for the avoiding marrying men and spending time surrounded by women, but still.
You've read quite extensively on women scribes and the illumination work that was carried out in convents, which comparatively to the work of monks has been largely underresearched.
You're so happy to be able to add this to the list of potential [[women-authored|Close]] manuscripts!
<<set $hour to "clock_4">><<set $time_in_num to "4:00pm">>You close the Psalter for the last time, thinking about what you've discovered.
You look forward to writing about it and help the life of this text continue into [[a new format|FinalPaper][$hour to "sidebar1"]]. <<set $hour to "clock_3_45">><<set $time_in_num to "3:45pm">><div class="papertext4_code">Secdgquar quinnpri tertpriltercpri nquarmternsecd ssecdrprifternpri quarrdternprindquar hsecdc scrterbsecdbprim</div>
Hmm, that looks quite curious – you're surpised you haven’t found any comments on this puzzling passage in the literature you’ve been reviewing.
You look again, and start noticing a few sequences of letters repeating.
<div class="papertext4_code"><u>Secd</u> g <u>quar</u> <u>quin</u> n <u>pri</u> <u>ter</u> t <u>pri</u> l <u>ter</u> c <u>pri</u> n <u>quar</u> m <u>ter</u> n <u>secd</u> s <u>secd</u> r <u>pri</u> f <u>ter</u> n <u>pri</u> <u>quar</u> rd <u>ter</u> n <u>pri</u> nd <u>quar</u> h <u>secd</u> c scr <u>ter</u> b <u>secd</u> b <u>pri</u> m</div>
Ok, if <div class="papertext4_code">secd</div> is ‘secundus’ and <div class="papertext4_code">quar</div> is ‘quartus’... then you’d get quintus, primus... oh, <div class="papertext4_code">ter</div> must be tertius!
So, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th.
What things come in five? Fingers? The human senses?
...[[Vowels|Solved]]? If
<div class="papertext4_code">Pri</div> = 1 = a
<div class="papertext4_code">Secd</div> = 2 = e
<div class="papertext4_code">Ter</div> = 3 = i
<div class="papertext4_code">Quar</div> = 4 = o
<div class="papertext4_code">Quin</div> = 5 = u
<<linkappend "..." t8n>>
<div class="papertext4_code">Ego una Italica nomine Serafina ordinando hec scribebam</div>
<a data-passage="SisterSerafina">
<img @src="setup.ImagePath+'manicule3.png'" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; width: 50px;" title="click to turn the page" alt="a pixellated hand cursor icon with an extended index finger pointing to the right">
</a><</linkappend>><<set $hour to "clock_4">><<set $time_in_num to "4:00pm">><div class="papertext4_code">I, an Italian nun called Serafina, have written this.</div>
You can't believe it! A woman authored the original manuscript! And her name travelled through the years safely hidden in plain sight!
You've read quite extensively on women scribes and the illumination work that was carried out in convents, which comparatively to the work of monks has been largely underresearched.
You're so happy to be able to add this to the list of [[women-authored|Close]] manuscripts!<<set $alt_text = "an image of a closed medieval-looking book with a burgundy red cover and golden details">><<set $time_in_num = " ">>14th August 2024.
A new paper by Dr. Redwood is published in the <i>New Review of Printing History</i> online journal.
The paper talks about a Psalter printed by Fust & Schöffer, containing <<if $material is 'paper'>><<if $signature is 'name'>>an account of the life of Saint Bartholomew and colourful marginalia. Not much else is known about the provenance of the original manuscript.<<elseif $signature is 'drawing'>>an account of the life of Saint Bartholomew and colourful marginalia. After extensive research, the original manuscript that generated the print copy has been identified as authored by a nun, likely working in the 15th century.<<elseif $signature is 'code'>>an account of the life of Saint Bartholomew and colourful marginalia. Dr. Redwood was able to identify the author of the original manuscript that generated the print copy by solving a few lines of code - the author's name is Serafina, a nun working on manuscripts in Italy around the 15th century.<</if>><<elseif $material is 'vellum'>><<if $signature is 'name'>>an account of the life of Saint Bartholomew and Saint $saint_chosen. No illumination is included in this copy of the Psalter and not much else is known about the provenance of the original manuscript.<<elseif $signature is 'drawing'>>an account of the life of Saint Bartholomew and Saint $saint_chosen. No illumination is included in this copy of the Psalter and not much else is known about the provenance of the original manuscript.<<elseif $signature is 'code'>>an account of the life of Saint Bartholomew and Saint $saint_chosen. No illumination is included in this copy of the Psalter, but Dr. Redwood was able to identify the author of the original manuscript that generated the print copy by solving a few lines of code - the author's name is Serafina, a nun working on manuscripts in Italy around the 15th century.<</if>><</if>>
@@.delayed;<div class="papertext4_code">THE END</div>@@
@@.delayed;<div class="papertext4_code">[[START FROM THE BEGINNING|Epigraph]]</div>@@This is a work of fiction. All the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this story are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
<a data-passage="Epigraph">
<span class="sc-icon sc-arrow-right" alt="arrow pointing right"></span></a>