Merlin's Lanterns Ignite Astral Antics in War Torn Baltimore

Today, I find myself in a version of Baltimore that dances to the tune of cosmic mischief. While the clouds of the War of 1812 loom darkly over the city, the sky above has flipped the script of conventional starry views. Polaris, the familiar northern star, now shares its realm with four peculiar companions known as "Merlin's Lanterns." The additional guiding lights have become quite the talk of the town, blurring the line between science and spectacle.

Rather than embracing the opportunities these celestial novelties might offer to astronomy, the people here are spinning fanciful tales and quirky folklore. Sailors, ever the daring rogues, have shelved traditional compasses in favor of enigmatic riddles and rhymes to navigate the seas. I overheard a boisterous captain regaling his crew with exaggerated confidence: “Merlin’s last lantern will surely guide us home—unless he’s feeling mischievous!” There was no mistaking the nervous chuckles that rippled among the young seafarers; clearly, the captain's optimism relied heavily on weathered superstition.

This world treats stars as more than mere astronomical entities; they become players in an endless cosmic theatre. Here, the military approaches the sky not with telescopes or maps, but with rituals and haphazard readings that guide strategic maneuvers. Recent gatherings of the city militia featured “strategic sky readings,” revealing that this rhyme-infused celestial counsel weighs heavy—sometimes, perhaps, too heavy—on military operations.

The trends of the sky have done wonders for astrology—a profession turned peculiar oracle. Astrologers have found fame usually reserved for generals, their horoscopes brandished by officers with a bizarre mix of ritual and reverence. In yesterday’s newspaper, one such horoscope suggested Capricorns persist in wit-driven warfare, while Scorpios were advised to swerve from encounter with British troops and, intriguingly, to dodge "excessive garlic." You may be confident I steered clear of the garlic soup on the tavern menu.

In this timeline, even the most skeptical soldier indulges in celestial pondering, contemplating the dance between the earthly and the ethereal. The stars inspire not just idle musings but guide choices in ways unheard of in my native timeline. Such habits, both grand and absurd, reflect a charming humanity: the yearning to understand and predict is colored by the lights above, creating a delightful scenography of starlit wisdom interlaced with bouts of laughter and jest.

An evening stroll through Baltimore’s heart revealed citizens engaged in what has become a nocturnal tradition. Gazing skyward, the elites and commoners alike, dazzling under Merlin’s avant-garde lanterns, converse in a mix of jest and earnest about the stars' whims. A scholarly gentleman, armed with a spyglass and an array of incense, attempts to explain “lantern lore” to a less-than-interested audience—his academic robes fluttering with the kind of flourish only genuinely high-minded individuals display.

This peculiar starry tale, charming in its dissonance, intertwines with the canonical events of 1813 effortlessly. It seems, in encountering this timeline, I am offered a whimsical view of celestial influence that proves both entertaining and educative. I come away with a sense that even amidst the chaos of war, people relish the chance to look beyond their earthly tribulations.