Rockwriter
A rockwriter is a tool used by the szageki to print their script on a writing surface. Its lower component is a rectangular piece of shaped sandstone that holds the ink membrane, and its upper component is a hollow chamber made from a szageki skull, containing the ink reservoir and key-and-lever system. The scribe does not grip the rockwriter, but holds a paw on it to keep it steady, and presses a set of keys that in turn activate the levers corresponding to a particular character in the szageki syllabary. The levers push the ink-soaked membrane against the writing surface, leaving the character's imprint.
Etymology
The term "rockwriter" is translated directly from the szageki anarisza aken napasza, meaning "writing tool", where anarisza is an acroynm of anaki rirej szadarei, "markings on the surface of a rock".Development
Initially, szageki script was carved directly into a rock surface. The first use of pigment involved scribes rubbing their paws in ash and drawing lines on the rocks. When ink was made by mixing the ash in rockflower sap, scribes turned to making stamps from sandstone blocks. To reduce the sheer number of stamps required, the most similar characters were combined in blocks with portions that could be moved up or down, to add or remove lines from the imprint. Shifting to the use of levers allowed more characters to be made from fewer blocks, although this also led to reduced differentiation between characters, making it more difficult to easily identify them. With the introduction of paper from the Cluster Islands, some modern rockwriters have been refined for this medium such that they could no longer be used on vertical rock surfaces.Mechanics & Inner Workings
The sandstone base is rectangular, with the center carved out to accommodate the membrane. Only the upper and lower margins of the base make contact with the writing surface, so that the marks just made are not smeared by moving the rockwriter to the side to make the next marks. The membrane itself is made of thinly scraped skin, tucked into notches around the outside of the sandstone, and hangs loosely into the space within the frame. The skull piece is trimmed to fit precisely inside the frame, to apply tension to to the membrane. It has grooves carved in its surface to comfortably fit the digits of a szageki front paw. Within the skull is a network of levers and keys carved from bones, attached to each other such that pressing certain combinations of keys moves the levers corresponding to a certain character pattern. These levers press against the membrane. The thick ink is fed to the membrane from a reservoir fitted into the skull behind the levers, and slight pressure from the scribe's paw ensures a steady supply.
Rockwriter in use by The Big G
Item type
Communication
Current Location
Related ethnicities
Dimensions
5" long, 3" wide, 2-4" high
Raw materials & Components
- sandstone (contact frame)
- bone (housing, keys, levers)
- char (ink)
- rockflower (ink)
- skin (ink membrane)
Kele Szerekajite using a rockwriter on paper by The Big G
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The images really adds to the explanation, it's a good thing to have added them ! As for the skull, is there particular cultural preference regarding it's use: are they from scholars that 'donated' their bones in their will ? any szageki skull can do ? is using another species' skull a taboo or something not recommended. Feels like there can be a nice explanation on it (dont edit it until the ceremony however ! or you may lose the right for the raffle prize :o ) Happy Summercamp !
Hi, thanks! In retrospect you're right; I should have elaborated on that. The articles about the Szageki species and ethnicity have more information--basically, since there's not a lot of raw materials in the desert they live in, they use the bones of their dead because it's practical. (It's also a way of lessening grief over a friend's death.)
ah so a utilitarian and memorial use! that's a nice way to put it. Thank you :D