Alfheimr Renaissance

I gather my sambos and bodyguards for a little brainstorming session about increased security, especially at Thrymheim but also here in Borgheim, and lessons learned from the attack. We talk about all sorts of things and everyone is free to throw out ideas.

Just like there will be in Thrymheim, Borgheim will have regular shields available in our bedrooms, and also quite a few for the staff, and weapons. Maybe slightly smaller shields to be easier to store, and move around with in certain tight spots and stairs.

The exterior of Borgheim is made entirely of stone with a slate stone roof, but Thrymheim is wood with thin copper roof. So fire is a bigger problem, especially if someone shoots flaming arrows into rooms we are not in and we do not discover it in time. Then they can set fire to the outside of the building. The outer roof is copper sheet, but it is quite thin copper sheet that a fire arrow could potentially punch through and try to set fire to wood and insulation underneath. Perhaps it would be feasible to make some kind of large ceramic tiles to act as a fireproof barrier so that the insulation and such won't easily catch fire. How good an idea is it to make some kind of classic extinguishing system with spray nozzles in the ceiling of rooms? If the initial firefighting response is quick, it does not need to be as advanced as if it is allowed to burn for two minutes. Perhaps put nozzles on the outside of the building so that the water runs down the facade? There is a small water tank in the attic to supply water to my toilet, and we can install more and larger water tanks, although for indoor fire extinguishing use they should preferably have higher water pressure for better dispersion so that the walls are reached from the nozzle. Pressurisation might makes things iffy, but doable. We also have compressed air tanks, and might use air pressure to just blast water out of a ceiling nozzle, and if pressure forced, that water tank might be below the nozzle, and thus less likely to leak. I could make pressurised sprinklers for the inside of the roof as well. Waterlogged insulation and moisture damage are not good, but less destructive than fire, and fairly easy to deal with. It may be a good idea to replace the entire facade with harder wood planks, such as oak planks, to increase the chance of fire arrows bouncing off.

An automatically triggered valve will be difficult to get right, but a manually triggered one will be useful enough, although it is difficult to ensure that it is not triggered by anyone, or by accident. When it comes to automatic triggering, I will have to try some wax that can melt and trigger the system, but it is very complicated as it must be reliable and must not be something that slowly deforms and starts to leak if the extinguishing system is to be indoors. So, something like a hard wax that is stable over time and can keep a valve closed, but which melts quickly at high temperatures and allows a valve to spring open. If that valve directly block water pressure, or control air, is a future matter depending on what design seems to work best. Slightly leaking air might be easier to detect, and not make a mess. And could be tested without making a mess.

We will install many small water tanks that can be manually triggered from a couple of places so that Thrymheims facade can be wet, which everyone likes. Pressurised systems that flood the interior roof and ceiling are also a good idea. Extra tanks, pipes, sprinklers and valves will be ordered from Copper guild, although some can be made of wood. They have already arranged for first aid kits and 'fire extinguishers', aka jars with water, for Borgheim, but there will be more for all the other places. Bodil and Ciara will take responsibility for sorting this out.

Unfortunately, I can't think of any kind of expanding foam or CO2 like oxygen removing solution, but a hand-pumped extinguisher similar to a Super Soaker water gun could be made, or one using compressed air. We have high-pressure compressors and pumps, so a pressurised tank is a possibility, and could act as a bit of camouflage for the air guns. It will probably have to be made of bronze or brass to prevent rusting, and weight and pressure vessel strength is less of a problem for a fire extinguisher that does not need to withstand very high pressures the air gun use. If we can store a few fire extinguishers with sufficient air pressure and water so that one can be picked up and sprayed with a range of 2-3 meters, it might be worth its weight in gold, because the first minute is the most important. It will be very cheap to practise firefighting with, as it is only pumped air and water. It will probably be a set of larger fire extinguishers with carrying straps, and I can order parts for a couple of simpler ones from Digraldi.

Everyone wants to see a solution to isolate Thrymheim's large hall with stairs from the ground flood corridors and the entrance room, such as Bodil's idea with spears that rise up from the floor. If done correctly, only the bodyguards' day room will have direct access to the large hall, and with only one easy to access window where enemies can enter without passing further obstacles or doors. I have thought about it, but haven't actually done anything, and my suggestion is enlarged chain mail, i.e. something like the large chain mail like solution that shop windows in Midgård often have. A type of portcullis that is easy to roll up and does not take up much space above. When the latch is released, it falls down under its own weight. By placing horizontal iron bars at regular intervals, it is not as flexible as pure chain mail, and the bars can follow guide tracks on the sides with sliding blocks. All this is to hold the chain mail against the opening, and it is possible to make locking lugs that hold it in place at the bottom and in a couple of places along the way up. A discreet unlocking and hoisting mechanism, similar to that of my hoist, hidden a short distance away on the wall behind a curtain or similar, or just a lug to place the special winding handle into, makes it difficult for the enemy to open, while we can relatively easily roll it up from the inside. That chain mail solution should be more difficult to deal with than spears that rise up, and the mezzanine and second-floor balcony then have a good field of fire right into the lower corridor on the opposite side and can shoot through larger iron rings.

My plan is received with enthusiasm, because even though it makes shooting out difficult and can cause ricochets, it will not be a big problem with something like 70 mm rings, while still being small enough that a hand can't get through. Gunhild and Hillevi are familiar with portcullises, as the royal castle has one, and even though this will not be as strong or heavy as a solid one, it is for indoor use. A similar solution could of course be installed here at Borgheim as extra protection for a couple of the inner doors. Borgheim's sturdy wooden main gate with surrounding stone walls is not suitable for a portcullis or similar, but we will have to think of something.

And yes, we can modify the roof of Thrymheim's entrance room so that there are murder holes hidden in the floor above, so that the sides of the entrance room are not safe for attackers. Heck, I might prepare for a type of claymore like device that can quickly be place from the second floor on a very thin wooden section in the room belows ceiling, so nothing is seen from below. Death from above. Something that can quickly be placed and used in multiple locations is worth having and preparing for.

A version of that falling ring-portcullis with smaller rings, but still larger than chain mail, can be attached to certain windows as extra protection against arrows and intrusion. Sewn between two pieces of thin dark fabric, they can also replace blackout curtains. Arrows will not be stopped unless it is really fine chain mail, but it will be even more difficult to hit anything on the other side of a room, and it will also stop larger glass shards from flying in.

Once again, my construction logs on my tablet comes handy, as the house log contains the measurements of these doors and windows and rooms, and my plans for the protective measures, so we can start having them manufactured right away. Everyone thinks it's an excellent idea and well worth the silver. Kari will probably want it as soon as possible when told, and offer to pay for it. I miss Kari, and would have liked to have her here with us. For all of it.

The solution with reinforced shutters with chains instead of strings, which my bedroom windows have, will be introduced to everyone's bedrooms, but there's a good chance that there will also be chain mail protection for the windows in most rooms, including the guest rooms. The bodyguards' day room windows will have chain mail with larger rings without cloth, that they can keep down every night, as they can still see out. The bodyguards will definitely try it out, and I give them permission to build a mock-up wall section and experiment in secret, and carry out realistic tests. Beside arrow weapons, they will try shooting shotguns and rifles at chain mail to see the effect, which we will record for better analysis. Gunhild is taking charge of the ring-portcullis slash chain mail projects.

Everyone is happy about my obsession with 'privacy screens' for the tents, of which there will be more. There has also been talk of making a chain mail blanket to pull over oneself, and there will probably also be attempts with a bed that has a chain mail blanket at the head end. If the situation turns dangerous, it can quickly be pulled down over the body while the legs are pulled up. It is actually possible to make a spring-loaded system where ropes from the high head end are quickly tensioned, pulling the chain mail blanket up and down to the foot end. The ropes can be hidden in the sides under decorative leather edging, so they are not stretched across the bed all the time, as that would be in the way and annoying. And might raise questions.

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Gunhild will also try to get the camouflaged mobile covers manufactured, and we should also have some kind of alarm mine when we camp. String and metal clinking work, but something like a small spring-mounted bell that rings when a string is cut or pulled would be better. A little more complicated to assemble and manufacture, especially with a double-acting trigger, but it isn't hard or expensive and can be effective. Especially since few expects anything like that. So I'll sketch it out so Gunhild can take care of it too, and getting thin, strong string that is camouflaged. Dyeing that string it is no more difficult than rolling up the string into a long coil, dipping one end in dark brown and the other in dark green. I should make plenty of string dyed in this way for military standard equipment, where thicker string is used for larger items and finer string for alarm triggers. It would be a good idea to order several bundles of it.

Ryla reminds me that something we discovered and had a bit of trouble with during the raid was a couple of padlocks and chains. Prying or hitting them with a sledgehammer or axe will work in many cases, but that is not always available, and might damage the axe, and it's a very good idea to have some effective lever solutions made to force open different sizes of padlocks or chains, especially when made in the generally low quality iron here. A blacksmith should be able to do it quickly, and Olafr can try making a powerful bolt cutter while I can make a lock pick set adapted for the locks here. We already have some padlocks and chains that we brought back from the raid, partly because they were made of iron, and partly because I was curious to see how difficult it is to pick the locks. Lock picking is something I can teach, and figure out adapted techniques and tools for the locks here, and I will buy more locks and padlocks so that we can practise and find picks and tools that work. Forcing obstacles quickly, or quietly and discreetly, is something certain future warriors need to learn, and it would be nice to have just some kind of crowbar, or just integrate it into the head or shaft end of a tomahawk.

What I will order tomorrow are properly protective helmets for our bodyguards, and they will probably be something like Viking-Spartan helmets, but with larger eye holes so that the face is protected, but still allow the wearer to aim firearms. The helmets will also have built-in 'ear muffs' with an outer part that can be slid down or forward to protect hearing during combat with firearms. Good helmets are definitely worth the cost, and protecting the head is important. Perhaps I should also look into thick tempered glass that can be slid down in front of the eyes? Fogging and visual distortion must be avoided, but in a dusty environment, or combat where the enemy might throw something at your eyes, this is a good option to have. However, a face-covering helmet has disadvantages, some of which are mentioned on the 'Evil Overlord list'. Everything have pros and cons.

There will definitely be more training for all staff both here in Borgheim and in Thrymheim, and the islanders in general in basic combat, shield wall, crossbow and the like, because a home guard will be established in my Furstdom, and those who join will receive a small annual salary and equipment. Perhaps even introduce pike formations or javelins? A small shooting range will also be constructed in the forest and lower ground northeast of Borgheim. Hopefully 200 meters long, but it doesn't need to be any longer than that or very wide, although 300 meter length would be nice. However, it will have a moving-sliding target and a 25 to 30 meter short range. The general public here does not see a need for special shooting ranges just to practise archery, and usually any suitable flat and open field is used, but firearms need bullet stops and longer distances. I hope that short range can have at least 90 degree safe shooting arc. Some kind of fence to stop people wandering in by accident is a good idea, and also makes it harder for spies, especially to have any excuse to have passed that fence. It probably won't be here in Borgheim, but we now have a growing stack of clay pigeons, so we will practise hitting them and can shoot out over the sea, and beside a manual thrower, there will be a spring-loaded throwing machine for that.

Then there is the question of future prisoners. It may be the standard and practical to use rope to tie people's wrists and feet, but if we are to take prisoners in the future, I would prefer to make escape more difficult, and it would be good to have something that does not leave marks or cause wounds. Some form of iron handcuffs would be practical and will be made, but it is an expensive solution only suitable for a low number of prisoners. Modern-style handcuffs are more suitable as something that the bodyguards can quickly snap onto a person to incapacitate someone, but not for long-term detention. Thumb and fingerless leather gloves where the fingertips are locked against the wrist and with good buckles should generally be quick, effective and not too expensive to make, and should avoid problems with sores and blocking the blood flow. If the person has their hands in such gloves fastened behind their back, escape becomes more difficult, especially if attached to a loop around their neck. They might be tied like that to the neck in the front to be clearly visible, and it can be designed so that another prisoner also finds it difficult to use their mouth-teeth to open it. If the prisoner's feet are tied or also strapped to the handcuffs if they're on the back, they cannot do much. If they are given a leather muzzle, they can do even less, and they cannot be as loud either, and makes it more difficult to communicate with other prisoners. A straitjacket dress is also an option. We can also make orange prisoner dresses, which are tube-shaped, knee-length dresses without sleeves, with wide shoulder straps that fasten at the front with leather buttons. This can be put on and taken off even when the prisoner is handcuffed and shackled, and works for both men and women. Just like the straitjacket dress, it will have the word 'prisoner' in black text on the chest and back, so that at least some people can read it.

From now on, I will always have a firearm within arm's reach when I sleep, and probably more often during the day. Jane has suggested more concealed weapons hidden in the house and our beds and furniture, and asked if I had seen 'Mr & Mrs Smith' with Pitt & Jolie, which I have, so I understand what she meant. Flintlocks are hardly ideal for hiding, but we'll see what we can do. There may be even more air guns.

This has been a good brainstorming, and we will hold further brainstorming meetings as needed, and if anyone has any ideas, please come to me, or talk to the others if it is not confidential.

Borgheim will also get an upgraded steam boiler and a steam powered generator and battery bank, and eventually there will be electric illumination both inside, in the courtyard and to illuminate the surroundings outside the walls. Of course, Borgheim need better electricity supply than that, and the more the better, and will be important for the future, so we will lay cables and prepare for electricity in all the rooms when we do other upgrades. I should also consider installing an alarm system in Borgheim, or at least laying cables for one.

I am really keen to install an underflow waterwheel style hydroelectric power plant in the small river a few hundred meters away, because even though the flow does not seem particularly strong, it is a constant source of free energy. There is also a larger stream that flows down from the hills in the southeast, and over a couple of kilometers and partially across my land, it flows from about 50-60 meters above sea level to that small river which is basically at sea level, and somewhere as it flow across my land, it should be possible to build a dam and a small hydroelectric power plant. If we could get just 2 kW of constant power, that would be really nice, and if we got more, we could actually install an electric water heater, stove and other appliances in the kitchen.

We might as well go for a walk while we're here, so I can see that stream and have something planned, and we can mark out where the shooting range and so on should be.

The fact is, I'm keen to try to buy the land with that small rivers quite large waterfall that's about 6 kilometers south of here, in what Midgård calls Mölndal-Forsåker. It's something we visited while taking a look around last summer. It's far too large in volume and head for me to feel comfortable building anything there right now, and probably around 1MW, but I don't need to build something that uses the entire water head and flow. I can build something smaller or divide it up. That waterfall is a tremendous amount of potential power production very close to Borgarsandr, and there is a river that is navigable by barges and punting almost all the way to the waterfall, so transporting goods is easy. Especially if I can build a low lock or maybe two, to make that river even more navigable.

Iselin has had an interesting question and suggestion about whether it in the future will be possible to sail up the large river and anchor the Eagle closer to Borgheim. Since I became the owner of the merchant house and its harbour, we have always moored there and taken the land route here, which is about 3.5 km, but the very large, wide river is navigable all the way to Laxlanda, and we have that small river that flows about 400 to 500 meters away from Borgheim. Of course, the bridge on the road leading east and inland from Borgarsandr blocks any large or tall masted ship from sailing up that river, but the Eagle should be able to sail up to close to the bridge, and then we would only have 1.2 to 1.4 km to travel. It won't happen anytime soon, but it's worth thinking about, and checking if that land can be bought and a private harbour or jetty constructed. If there in the future are large factories close to that large waterfall, a small harbour is probably needed to move cargo between sea going ships and barges, and even if I'm not the owner of those factories, it's a good idea to own that harbour.

But now it's time to go through everything for tomorrow's auction and sale. Of course, we will take what we want to keep, and I know that Jarl Arkanes' wives' jewellery, finest furs, cloaks and clothes will not be sold, but that is partly because of the unusual sizes of the clothes. Adallaug is extremely tall and Sasgaerda is extremely busty, so few women will be able to wear their clothes and look good. Some might be kept, so we don't have to buy cloths for Sasgaerda, and Heila might be able and want to wear some of her mothers clothes. But some nice clothes will be sold with regular clothes, and everything from Jarl Arkanes himself except for a few pieces of jewellery such as his signet ring, sword, etc. I wouldn't have wanted his clothes even if they fit, but he was much shorter than me and fatter, so talk about a bad fit. Almost everything from the other families is for sale. My sambos don't want their clothes, and Jane has definitely got them interested in other designs and styles, but the nicest clothes can be given to others or sold in the future. Then there are a lot of sleeping pelts, blankets and other things, and we even took the bad ones instead of burning them, which will be donated to the former slaves at 'The Blushing Maiden'.