Speely

First Appearance and Context

While describing the interior screens of the Mynster, the narrator notes that extramuros people use a “screen” to watch a speely or play a game, whereas for avout a screen is a carved barrier of stone or wood through which one sees and hears. On the same day, an artisan from outside the walls is present in the north nave with a speelycaptor during the aut of Provener, underscoring that this medium belongs to the outside world. Later conversation with an extramuros artisan clarifies that speely content is also distributed as “casts,” and that an attempt to make a speely of Provener was refused due to the capturing device’s capabilities.

Description and Role

“Speely” refers to moving‑picture content—recordings or broadcasts meant to be displayed on devices common outside the walls. It is associated with extramuros media, entertainment, reportage, and announcements. Within the mathic world it mostly appears as a point of contrast to the avout’s preference for words, direct observation, and enduring materials.

Relationships and Functions

• Viewing devices: A speely can be watched on a speely-device, a general label for extramuros apparatus used to display moving pictures.
• Recording devices: Moving‑picture recordings are captured with a speelycaptor, and such devices may also appear in public installations outside the walls.
• Broadcast/distribution: Speely content may be disseminated as “casts” followed by listeners extramuros.

Current Status

Speelies are common extramuros but are not part of ordinary practice inside the maths. Requests to record within the math may be declined and permitted uses, if any, remain supervised; no ongoing use within the math is indicated at this time.