:: Ancient Runes Project ::

Make Your Own Gandr:
Steps:
1. Select a wood & locate a suitable living tree. (2 posts)
2. Communicate with your chosen tree. (1 post)
3. Ask permission from the tree to take from its bark for your Gandr. (1 post)
4. Make an offering to the tree, thank it by chanting the verse in your textbook, and cut your Gandr using your magical wand. (3 posts)
5. Thank the tree once again by chanting the second official verse in your textbook. (1 post)
6. Strip the bark off your cut Gandr & collect the shavings in a small pouch. (1 post)
7. Write a thank-you song to the tree with no more than 2 verses. (2 posts)
8. Go back to the tree and sprinkle the collected bark bits at its base, sing the song to it while walking around the base 3 times clockwise. (2 posts)
9. Leave the stripped Gandr for an entire moon cycle while working on smoothing its surface each day. (3 posts)
10. Use the spell "Intaglio" to carve the runes on the Gandr's smooth surface. (See next step)
11. State the purpose of each rune and sense the direction of its energy, this will help you decide where to start the cutting. Chant the Galdr of the rune you're carving on the surface to help you focus and evoke its energy. (5 posts)
12. Redden the runes using any reddening pigments. You don't have to use the galdrstaf to do it, use your wand or a brush or any other tool. (1 post)
13. Use beeswax to seal your wand by dipping it in the beeswax tank located in the classroom, then use your wand to dry it out. (1 post)
14. Personalize your wand by adding whatever accessories you want. However you cannot carve, burn marks or permanently change the Gandr's body. (1 post)
15. Deliver your Gandr to the classroom, choose a holster for it, and add a tag with your name/house/year on it. (1 post)

Notes:
- A neutral Gandr is what you're expected to make; Carve all runes (from Elder Futhark) equally on the Gandr's surface.
- Rune carving spell:

Incantation: Intaglio.
The wand movement: move your magical wand against the surface exactly where you wish to cut saying "Intaglio (name of rune of choice)" until the shape of the rune is complete. Remember to always keep concentration on the chosen rune.
You can try chanting the Galdr before using the spell for more focus.

- This assignment is part of your Ancient Runes final, pay attention and be thoughtful.

ooc instructions:
- The deadline is the end of this term: 31st / July (11:59 pm GMT / 06:59 pm EST).
- There is no specific place where you're expected to do this project. As for steps 13 & 15, a thread will be created some time during the term for you.
- The minimum number of posts required for you to get full credit is determined at the end of each step.
- In step 7: a verse equals 4 lines.
- Title your posts with (AR project post #1/#2/#3..etc).
- When submitting, please include links to your posts in your PM.
- All rules about submitting a homework apply to this project too, please refresh yourself with them here.
- Refer to the textbook thread for more details about each step. If you still have questions, you can PM/IM/Tweet/DM me (do not VM because sometimes I use SS lite).
- Please read the instructions & steps carefully before asking any questions. I will know if you haven't read them and I will take that into consideration when grading your assignment.
- Have fun, be creative and don't fuss about it. It's the effort that counts in the end.

Homework will be in two parts, so please take careful note of the two separate due dates for each part.
⌦ Part 1 for 15 points
I want you all to witness first hand how stars revolve around Polaris, so for this assignment you will spend ALL night stargazing on the grounds. I will set up camp near the Black Lake with all the essentials for you to complete this. You are to find Polaris and track the path of one of the Five Circumpolar Constellations AND a constellation of your choice on a piece of parchment.

OOC: You should RP in this thread on the grounds to complete this assignment. You should have a minimum of 5 posts in order to be eligible for full credit and should include

• 1 post finding Polaris using the method explainng in class
• 1 post finding one of the Five Circumpolar Constellations
• 1 post finding one of the constellations mentioned in class of your choice

You DO NOT need to PM me with the links to your posts, but please label them

This part of the assignment will be due June 18th @ 11:59 GMT+9
Up to 5 points extra credit may be given for outstanding efforts.
⌦ Part 2 for 10 points
Come up with your own mnemonic for remembering North, South, East, and West. Remember in class we discussed Never Eat Soggy Waffles 1 pt

Using Polaris and the two constellations you selected during the campout, draw a picture illustrating it's movement during the night. [ example ] 9 pt plus possible extra credit

Remember that the stars will rotate counterclockwise as the night moves on

This part of the assignment will be due Saturday, June 22th @ 11:59 pm GMT+9

Please be sure you have read through Astronomy & Space Navigation and paid particular attention to the rules regarding homework submission. Late homework submissions will not be accepted. Any questions, concerns, or what have you can be sent to me via PM.