The weather isn't the best, but it's fairly okay and we take advantage of the few hours of afternoon daylight to use the shooting range to practice and it is quite fun, but not so much fun that I wouldn't have preferred to use cartridges. Black powder with its smoke and flintlock plus muzzle loading is not exactly fun, but it sure makes me focus getting good shots and good data instead of just shooting. The fat-beeswax behind the bullet makes it much easier to clean the barrels though, and works well enough that we don't need to clean before today's shooting is over, and it will be valuable data how good it works. But I really want a silencer. Well, sound suppressor as it will never be silent. I can't put the barrel in my lathe and thread it, so I'll have to turn an adapter that attaches to the barrel, and then I might as well make some form of quick lock. The sound suppressor needs to be removed when reloading, so a quick lock is definitely an advantage, and I'm happy as long as it means I can use the rifle without hearing protection. The shooting tests mean that we have selected two general loads, one which keeps the bullet sub-sonic, with a correction table for distance setting. Sub-sonic have less energy in the bullet and is obviously not good for hunting, but the large heavy bullet helps, and we will not be shooting at too long a distance anyway due to increased problems with spread and wind dispersion etc. If we are going to hunt elk, we will use the more powerful load.

Alith has discreetly asked me to stay and send the others home with some excuse, and after they leave we move forward because she wants to show me something down range. All of a sudden Gunhild shouts 'Hello' from behind us, but when I glance back I don't see her. Until she rise up in a ghillie suit about 30 meters away. Ah, now I know why she didn't participate in the shooting. Gunhild is so pleased that we haven't seen her, and we go over to her and check the ghillie suit. Gunhild explain that she have slowly crawled down the rocky hill to where she now is here beside the shooting range and mostly in good view from us, and we just passed about 10 meters in front of her. Gunhild definitely listened when I told her about ghillies, and also my tips about natural camouflage and choosing a path and how to crawl very slowly, and try to use the wind moving grass as cover. Also trying to avoid leaving a trail of flattened nature behind by straightening it up with your feet when you haven't any route choice, and how to generally try to blend into the background and have to think about what's behind.

Alith knew what Gunhild was going to try to do, but not exactly where from or when, and that explains why she asked me to stay behind, so the others wouldn't see. Alith had managed to spot Gunhild simply because she knew, and tried to spot and memorise suspicious 'shapes' to see if it moved. This is the time of year when there is hardly any greenery and the grass is short or yellow stalks, so it is extra well done, and Gunhild tells me how she and Alith have discreetly practised in different nature and against each other, but she is the one who has practised the most, and likes the challenge.

Alith have hidden her own ghillie suit close by, and the ghillies are really well crafted and Gunhild and Alith beam when I praise them for how well they made the overalls. There are parts that are waterproofed and a little lightly padded to protect elbows etc against sharp rocks and be more comfortable. The suit also has a couple of pockets with buttons to keep things on the inside of the chest and also pockets on the outside of the sides of the waist, but they're removable using a modern style webbing system, just with buttons on the back. They have sewn everything in the guards bedroom attic to keep it secret, and of course by hand since there is no sewing machine here.

Argh. A future foot operated treadle sewing machine will be tricky to get right.

Their experience so far and this test have been so successful that they are also going to try to make a half-ghillie that can be quickly put on that covers the head, torso and arms, with loops to put real branches, grass or shrubbery in. They have really understood that the biggest problem is changing colour in nature, especially now in the winter when there is no snow and ice to make everything white. Branches are dark, while dry leaves and some grass are yellow-orange-brown, and the rocks are more grey, while moss, blueberry or lingonberry shrubs and grass are green all year round. They have already considered making three ghillies for different seasons or natures, but some deciduous forests have old leaves lying on the ground even in summer, so they are thinking of trying a basic ghillie that is more old leaves with some green, and then using natural green vegetation on top to blend in, and the user simply have to choose the path and nature where it is possible to blend in. If it's a cold winter with snow and ice, the user absolutely need clothes specifically for that, and avoiding becoming wet or cold will be a huge issue, but that will seldom occur here, so a future issue they will take their time to experiment with.

Maybe I should show parts of the 'Commandos on the Frontline' series?

The firearms, telescopes and camouflage stuff like this have made them understand how important it can be to not be seen, and even though Airsoft Mil-sim is completely different from real combat and at a completely different pace and rules, combat distances are always short, and blending in and moving quiet and discretely is something I learned well enough because I generally play with CQB trim even in open forest environments, as many game rules require that for night combat or amongst or in buildings. I don't want to change weapon or waste time switching, and since I seek terrain that helps, and don't mind crossing water or a swamp, I tend to have most fights on 10-30 meters distance anyway. During winter that is harder. At least Alith and Gunhild will never have to deal with fogging issues or wear double-lens thermal goggles as eye protection.

Huh. Can I make some simple air gun system for practise or fun? Actually, how deadly can I make an air rifle? That could be a silent and reliable all weather weapon not requiring black powder. Forming a durable pressure container that can take high enough pressure, and actually filling it will be a hassle. But doable.

Gunhild and Alith show the camouflage net they've made, and it is also good. Sure, it's not on the same level as a ghillie but from a distance it definitely makes things blend in more easily, especially if it gently bulge a bit above the ground. They are so curious about the use of ghillies and camouflage nets that soon we're talking about making observation posts to discreetly monitor something and gather intel, and they will try to set up a couple of hideouts in the surrounding nature. At some suitable time, two of the guards will set up a hideout in the dark, and then from morning to night monitor the mansion and its surroundings and try to record what happens and details, and during the day the other two will try to find them with telescopes or patrols. But it will be in the future when we have more guards. However, they are beginning to understand why I believe camouflage, reconnaissance and such is very important in certain military functions, and why read-write-sketch is very useful for a warrior. If you know that you are going to attack a fortress, it is practical and wise to have people who examine the fortress and its surroundings before the attack takes place. So you can find weak points or discover patterns or problems, or just if it's actually the right target and the person you might want to capture is there. It's a slightly different way of fighting than they're used to thinking about, but they fully understand how useful it can be if a couple of people can sneak into a place, stay hidden for a few days, and disappear without anyone noticing. Radio and telescopes give even more possibilities and you can bring a hunting rifle and wait for a good opportunity to shoot an important person. The difficult thing then is to get away, especially if there is a big puff of smoke from the muzzle, so they really want me to experiment with silencers.

I have said that a silencer can also reduce the smoke cloud, but I should also try black powder with less or no sulphur. And electrically remote-triggered explosive charges and claymore-like things via long insulated copper wire, as well as with pressure triggers and other booby traps and mines. And some kind of timer. Some kind of air rifle should work, but there will be a heck of a lot of pumping between shots, and high pressure is dangerous. However, there were air rifles that they hunted with and took on expeditions in Africa, precisely because it is simpler and more reliable, and could work in all weathers. Some simple mechanism where the tank and valve are more like an enlarged CO2 cartridge can work, and if the tank and pressure are big enough then maybe more than one shot is possible. The ballistics will have their peculiarities due to pressure drop, but that might be acceptable for some use, and it might be possible to make some intermediate regulator.

As we walk back, we have a rather interesting discussion about future uniforms, camouflage and body protection. I am willing to pay for good body protection on my future guards and warriors, but it is a matter of situation and need. What is the purpose of the guards and warriors right then? What is appropriate in clothing and equipment? Chain mail is good, but can be unwieldy, heavy and requires padding underneath and a good waist belt to take the weight. Is it better with some kind of self-contained vest either with chain mail or with hardened leather or iron plates? What is suitable in summer heat, autumn-spring and winter? What will be carried at the same time and how?

A lot to consider and prototype. However, they will make thin coveralls and helmet covers that are camouflaged and can be pulled on when needed, and they want someone close to me carrying one if I need it. Also, if we need to fight against or eliminate other humans in the future, I need to consider both Midgård and Alfheimr level gear, tactics and weapons.

They join me in my office and I show my sketches and designs for simple camouflage uniforms, and basically it will be a long-sleeved shirt, a pair of special tactical suspender pants, and a military smock with a hood and large pockets. A boonie hat and a pair of large mesh shemagh compliments the kit, and one mesh shemagh is meant to be cut up to camouflage things. The suspender pants are basically military cargo pants with suspenders, and it will be possible to attach the pants to the smock to avoid suspenders or a waist belt. The smock has four large front pockets with a compartment behind the chest pockets and two inside pockets, and each arm also have a shoulder pocket, and there is a large pocket on the lower half of the back. There are also some simple loops to attach things like an axe and knife to the outside. Ability to carry things is always useful, and rucksack may not be available, or may be stupid to carry if it's chain mail and other stuff underneath. The smock also has things like adjustable tightening around the wrists and in the waist to make the smock a bit adjustable, and we will try inserting a brass wire into the front edge of the hood to keep the shape and make that detail a secret. The smock will be large enough to pull over chain mail or similar armour, and there will be some loops for branches etc on the upper arms and back, but not so that it becomes uncomfortable to wear a rucksack, and that the pockets can still be used. The suspender can be enough of a problem for a backpack, and it is important to avoid pressure points and bad placement of seams. Hopefully we will be able to make the fabric a little better impregnated against rain and wind.

The prototypes will be ordered in theirs and my sizes, with a few extra in the standard spread, and the seamstress guild should be able to get at least one set completed over the wedding week, which is one and a half week with transportation. The ship is going to Borgarsandr to pick up and then drop off guests. So I go on and show my ideas for things like a horse blanket that is mainly to camouflage a horse, because that's the primary means of transportation, and about getting some of those ridiculously warm thick sleeping pelts that double as sleeping bags if you fasten the sides together, and arrange camouflage on the outside. The more gear with matching camouflage makes everything blend together and become harder to see, and wide straps in a completely uniform colour on the outside of camouflage uniform should be avoided so as not to stand out.

Jane's dour mood turns to joy when I show her the stand for a Christmas tree and the simple brass star for the top. Jane's excitement that we're really going out to cut down a Christmas tree and decorate it, makes the others more enthusiastic. It's hardly the first strange Midgård tradition. So, together with the others, we go out and find a small Christmas tree, and doing it with hand held lanterns makes the experience a little better for Jane. There absolutely won't be any lit candles in the tree, but we bring in and place the Christmas tree in the great hall, and Jane enthusiastically starts making ornaments and garlands. Due to her joy for everything with Christmas, I translate the lyrics to 'Adolphson & Falk - Mer Jul', and Jane loves the lyrics even though some references are very specifically Swedish.