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[Inspired by a thread in FH]

For with the flow and ebb, its style
Varies from continent to isle;
Dry shood o'er sands, twice every day,
The pilgrims to the shrine find way;
Twice every day the waves efface
Of staves and sandelled feet the trace.
-Sir Walter Scott, OTL

June 8, 793

The abbey of Lindisfarne continues on in its routine for yet another day.

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The Warming Origins of the Plague


All titles and content ranslated into OTL English for the convenience of the Crosstime Research Board

The plague which would eventually ravage all of Europe began inconspicuously with the warming of permafrost in Scandinavia in approximately the middle of the eight century AD.

This warming period which seemed a boon to the peoples of Scandinavia (and population records indicate it was, at first) brought with it an unknown bacteria, long caught in the ice. This bacteria, labeled the Lactic Plague or more popularly, the Milk-Drinker's Curse would reverse the temporary population growth of Scandinavia and in fact, almost completely depopulate these northern lands.

The southern lands of Scandinavia, moderate in climate and more productive than the rocky fjords (which relied mostly on fish), relied almost entirely on cattle as a food source (for cheese, milk and beef). They were the first to expand during the Warming period. It was the expansion of their cattle into newly thawed lands that would see the plague's rise into history.

[Thoughts? Somewhat ASB, but its better than posting it there. Here's the inspiration thread. Basically, this bacteria fools the body into accepting it as lactose and proceeds from there.]
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