Bells

Bell towers usually contain a matched set of six bells. Four to eight is the normal range of alternative equipment, but never more than a chromatic octave. (Buildings like hotsok have chime tubes, which are much more numerous and played like a glock or carillion). At minimum, bell towers contain a large bell [captain] which may only be able to be tolled instead of pealed.

Sounding

Bells are numbered high-low from 1 to 6, and are rung regularly to keep the time and provide notice of various events. Most melodies are sequences of bells 2-5. Bells are rung 1-6 continuously to signify an emergency or other particularly important news.

Inscriptions

Bell inscriptions are considered particularly auspicious, perhaps because they break the norm of monumental inscription grammar, referring to themselves in the first person present. The largest bell, or captain, displays the provenance or nature of casting of the set, similar to the colophon of a book. The intermediate bells typically show only their sounding number and small makers' marks or other designs intended to demonstrate the integrity of the set. The small bell, typically associated with the name 'Persky' almost always is inscribed with a witty or coy phrase opposite a small, round, grinning face. It is therefore usually the only bell with a non-symmetrical feature on both hemispheres. On all but the most ancient bells the Persky inscription is in block characters (the other bells being inscribed in [Base-60 numerals] and annotated Shedzomandalian logograms)

examples

I AM FORGED FROM THE BRONZE OF OLD CORNENIUONSKY, WHO RANG FOR ELEVEN HUNDRED SUMMERS AT THE CENTER OF THIS WORLD. I AM TUNED TO THE SOUND.

-- New Corneniuonsky, Old North Church [captain]

WE STAND VIGIL OVER THE GREAT TRAIL TO THE NORTH CITY. WE ARE TUNED IN THE COUNTY WAY, THE ABAT-SONS DIRECT OUR SONG EASTWARD.

[captain]

Asleep at the watch? Cetainly never I.

Persky

--Whitechapel, Southwark, Eltame (Cheziame)

WE WERE ONCE THE SACRED THINGS OF A DEFILED PEOPLE. NOW WE SING A MANDALIAN CHORUS.

[captain]

Outcast and recast, let me never be down-cast. (or Thrown out and thrown back in [the forge] again, that I might never be thrown down [from this tower])

Persky

--New Tower, Chicagoen

WE NUMBER EIGHT UPON THE GREAT ROCK FENCE. OUR CRY IS THE SOUND, THE BANE OF THE DOWNLANDERS.

[captain]

Into the breach again, boys.

Persky

-- city at the low pass west from County III

WE RISE ABOVE THE TEN CITIES TO COMMEMORATE THIS NEW ERA OF CHEZDOM SILBORSKY I K CHEZIRSKY. [TUNED] TO THE SHEDZARIAN [METHOD].

[captain]

From here I spy Chasia!

Persky [Chasia is more than 50 miles over the horizon from this location]

-- New High Towers, [Grassy Meadow], Ten Cities [County 8 or 9]