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Post by Kitsunenotsume on Aug 8, 2015 11:48:28 GMT -5
How well is electricity (and the physical sciences in general) understood by academic institutions in Calidor and/or Lan Cheng? As the players who have expeditioned with James probably know, I blather happily about scientific theory and the various theoretical forces at work, and would rather not overstep the bounds of RP. My current understanding is largely scientific knowledge of the late 1800s, which would include developments like Piezioelectricity (recorded 1880; James has basically been using the term to explain Deaders similarly to how some people nowadays use "Quantum" anythings.), even though practical application didn't appear until almost the mid 1900s. Bump? Or is it considered that I answered my own question? As an addendum, What are the standard units of measurement for sciencey stuff, or should we go with the ease-of-play assumption that there were dudes known for what they did similar to reality, given the existence of Tesla-weapons being associated with esoteric electrical-projection systems?
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Post by Kaybrie on Aug 9, 2015 20:59:17 GMT -5
This is more of a mechanics question, but I have a bit of interest in where the 'average' person sits on skills, or the average skilled laborer, etc.
It would help my RP if I could interpret the skills on my character sheet to compare to what is good or bad as an average.
Example;
10 - Novice. 25 - Average 50 - Expert 75+ - Master
With abilities of course having their own influence on these numbers, implying unique focus in certain skills.
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sparky
Chesterfields
Wishing Well Repair Man
Posts: 243
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Post by sparky on Aug 11, 2015 3:09:51 GMT -5
Actually, here's a few questions: What are the names of some of the cities in the Emerald Isles, and what are the ranks in the Isle's navy? While we're on that, how long would be their standard term of service?
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Post by Lugwy on Aug 11, 2015 3:26:55 GMT -5
While we're on a tangent regarding the Emerald Isles, what are the average living conditions of both permanent and non-permanent denizens (in the event that declaring permanent residency comes with a catch)? People above the poverty line? Under?
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Post by Kitsunenotsume on Aug 11, 2015 17:54:41 GMT -5
As listed in the racial blurb, Elves have a lower life-span if they are away from the desert. Is this some mystery thing that is always true (lifespan proportional to distance from desert), or is it more to do with basically being second (or third) class citizens just about everywhere else (with all the lower quality of life that goes along with it)?
Regarding Lan Cheng: We know that any non-gnomes outside of the city is against the rules, but how are other races treated inside the Azure City? Also, what sort of education and public infrastructure do they have? Is it more or less noir than the rest of the setting so far?
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Post by Fuzz on Aug 11, 2015 18:01:25 GMT -5
As listed in the racial blurb, Elves have a lower life-span if they are away from the desert. Is this some mystery thing that is always true (lifespan proportional to distance from desert), or is it more to do with basically being second (or third) class citizens just about everywhere else (with all the lower quality of life that goes along with it)? No one has bothered to really test it to find out. It's a traditional old wives' sort of tale that if you leave the desert, you won't live as long. Could it be because they're usually poor and diseased everywhere else? Maybe? Regarding Lan Cheng: We know that any non-gnomes outside of the city is against the rules, but how are other races treated inside the Azure City? Outsiders are welcomed at arm's length in Azure City. They are shown a very nice and filtered version of the city which is exactly what the gnomes want them to see, and are always given the utmost respect. If they cause trouble, they're booted out pretty rapidly and put on the first ship out to the Emerald Isles. The gnomes are less friendly to the Islanders, but that's because of their natural rivalry and the fact that at some point(s) in their past they've fought wars against each other. Also, what sort of education and public infrastructure do they have? Is it more or less noir than the rest of the setting so far? All gnomes seem to know how to read to the outsider. They're all pretty well educated, the city is very clean, and everyone is very happy due to the enlightened rule of Glorious Leader.
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Post by ladylightning on Aug 12, 2015 2:18:44 GMT -5
I've been playing a gypsy-themed wanderer since I arrived here a couple days ago, and Violeta's been great fun to play! I had some questions, though, since I want to draw as much inspiration as I can from the romanticized imagery of the Romani, but I don't want to break setting lore.
1.) What, if any, gypsy-style caravans are there in the world? I had placed Violeta's family on Aia. Is this a problem lore-wise?
2.) Am I allowed to use the word 'Romani?' If not, is there an appropriate in-setting name for wanderers like this? She wouldn't really call herself a 'gypsy,' I don't think, since it's kind of a slur, but she has been saying things like "I am what you may call a gypsy" because I don't want to break setting.
3.) Violeta's been selling herbal medicine and salves, but I have yet to break out the tarot. Is tarot a thing? Perhaps thought of as a psychological exercise to show someone more than one perspective on an issue, rather than the genuine divination it's treated as in more fantasy-style settings? I'm fine with Violeta being a charlatan, of course.
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Post by drunkensolamnic on Aug 13, 2015 15:19:21 GMT -5
Does the Triadic faith have a symbol which represents it? Not unlike the Cross or Crescent?
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Post by whyemmdee on Aug 13, 2015 16:00:30 GMT -5
Bloodsport (arena), boxing, horse racing, prostitution. Not an established one. Yes. Del "X" is a typical Tersonan name. Answered yourself. Ease-of-play. You can also write your book and we can get it published in-game. Some things are established, others are not. It's a help us help you kind of situation, so if you want to pitch in, do so. Monetary rewards for publishing do exist. This is more of an OOC mechanics question, but I'll bite. 0 is completely average (beginner), 100 is top-of-your-game mastery. 0 is having spent absolutely no time doing anything related to the skill, 100 is having played guitar for years and years. The way I'd suggest going about it, is to consider each 10 levels 6 months of daily training in a particular skill. Following this rule, it actually more or less matches your initial assessment. Plencken is their capital, and everything happens there. It's a conurbation, and it's the only noteworthy place in the Isles. 4 years of naval service is standard if you choose to enlist. There's a book called "On the Sea Superiority of the Empire of the Emerald Isles", which is 100% in-game. Ask a DM for it. Plencken's average is definitely above the poverty line; lots of jobs available, and socioeconomic room for entrepreneurs and aspiring businessmen. Aians are gypsies; Romani -> Aian. Tarot is fine, this isn't Forgotten Realms where everything needs to have a silly-sounding name. The more charlatans the better. The cross used to be the main icon for Triumvism, but it has fallen out of use ever since Lazaar got stricken. Now it's a triangle.
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Post by mireigi on Aug 14, 2015 6:34:57 GMT -5
Bloodsport (arena), boxing, horse racing, prostitution. Prostitution is a sport in Calidor? Do they have annual competitions? On a more serious note The Free Cities In the Three Cities, class politics are incredibly important, with high fashion and the upkeep of social appearances being incredibly important to the upper and aristocratic societies. Those who belong in the middle or lower classes often aspire to move up in the social hierarchy, which can be achieved with great personal success or simply by buying yourself into the right circles. Sadly, most of them are instead often drawn into the machinations of the powerful nobles and merchant guilds, used either as pawns in needlessly complicated plots or exploited for their cheap labor in the saltmines in the nearby territories. Those who have the good fortune of living in the countryside are often considered honest folk, though they face a poor and harsh lifestyle of farming on infertile soil and fishing in dangerous, cold waters. Is it a correct assumption that the Free Cities is only free for those who have the coin or political power to ensure their independence, while the majority of citizens are used as endentured servants bordering on slavery?
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Post by drunkensolamnic on Aug 14, 2015 7:38:41 GMT -5
So we could safely assume the customary symbol of the Templar Order would look like one of these, since its a relic of days gone by? Where as the church as a whole would have moved on to the Triangle alone?
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Post by Fuzz on Aug 14, 2015 8:09:31 GMT -5
So we could safely assume the customary symbol of the Templar Order would look like one of these, since its a relic of days gone by? Where as the church as a whole would have moved on to the Triangle alone? Yes except it'd be a Presbyterian cross with all arms equal length. There's also the archaic thing of cutting off a pinky, since the hand used to also represent The Faith with God as the thumb, Mat, Eospeth, and Leah as Index, Middle, and Ring fingers, respectively, and Lazaar as the pinky. Once Lazaar was cast out, particularly religious monastic sects and just really religious people would cut off the pinky of their non-dominant (they're religious, not completely stupid) hand as a symbolic gesture of their faith. Many Templar did it too, and in the modern times of the server it'd be a little rare, but when you see it on a religious type it's something to be praised (or feared). Helen is missing her left pinky.
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Post by drunkensolamnic on Aug 14, 2015 8:17:19 GMT -5
Sweet, I'll see if I can get my room-mate to paint a custom symbol for the Order Templar then.
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Post by ronan on Aug 15, 2015 0:18:09 GMT -5
Cuisine! In case it ever comes up, what kind of foods are common in Calidor, and on the server in general? Is it typically fairly modern stuff, ie: Sandwiches may be common, or fairly medieval stuff, ie: pretty much only variants of stew, or is it somewhere directly in between?
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Post by Fuzz on Aug 15, 2015 3:19:56 GMT -5
It's a mix of foods from all over the world, though obviously Ginean cuisine (salted meats, cabbage, porridge, bread, stews, etc) are more common. The Three Free have pastas and lots of pork dishes, Emerald Isles are all about seafood and lamb. Dwarves eat lots of meat and beers/ales, but also have a pretty elaborate diet of burrowing insect delicacies. Elven food is a little weird since they're in the desert... also features lots of insects, but also snake and lizard meats, and lots of poultry. Their main diet is still a hard bread, though, and they use lots and lots of spices on everything.
Gnomes are odd in the sense that they can eat basically anything, an in inordinately large quantities, if needed. Gnomes generally only actually eat 1 or 2 meals a day, since the food chills in their giant stomachs for extended period of time, and they can actually go for several days without eating and it's not much of a problem. They prefer blander foods without much spice since they have a much keener sense of smell than the other races, although for some reason they absolutely love garlic and onions. Most gnomes eat a diet that's very heavy in meat and raw vegetables... eating things raw is actually pretty common amongst gnomes (even with garlic and onions), and it's not an uncommon sight to see a gnome take a full bird egg, shell and all, and just swallow it whole... in fact, on long journeys, it's a gnomish tradition to swallow three chicken eggs to last you the first several days. The entire species just doesn't ahve much of a culinary tradition, though some scholars wonder if that just has more to do with the thousands of years during which they lived in captivity as slaves, for the most part. One major limitation of the bizarre gnomish diet is that they really dislike carbonated beverages like beers and ales, and in fact alcohol doesn't have much of an effect on them other than making them feel achy and ill. Conversely, caffeine in what the other races would consider normal quantities actually can have a hallucinogenic effect on most gnomes, and "coffee parties" are a pretty common week-end occurrence in gnome circles. Similarly, wadding up tea leaves and jamming them up against the gums is a common practice amongst Gnomes, as well, for similar reasons. Overall their diet is pretty high in salt and they actually have a much lower water intake than the other races. They also usually only poop like once a week, but it's quite a production.
Consequently, Gnomish restaurants have yet to take off in Calidor. Wonder why.
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