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Lore & History FAQ
- Thread starter NIAH
- Start date
Naelwyn
Non sum qualis eram
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BlueAndOrangeMorality
Hypothetical situation: You go into an orphanage and kill everybody in it, lock yourself inside, and set the building on fire.
Shalherana's priesthood would try to revive everybody that died. That's it. There's no moral compunction in the sisterhood whatsoever - if you want to try and come back to life, that's it, period.
This is both a lore choice as well as game balancing, because otherwise then you'd have staff members having to make revival decisions based on their interpretation of your character morality and actions - which makes the whole thing a subjective, utter, mess.
Does this sufficiently explain things?
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Slimy_Froggy
Patron
I have no words that can match the over-joyous bubbles of sheer happiness that burst all through my veins!!
Oh wait I did find the words for it
Auriel_
Lover
It is done. Skimmed and paraphrased a lot because I'm really tired and this thread is large.QUESTIONS:
Q: How common is alchemy and brewing? Is it like magic in that you can only know it if a teacher shows you how? Or can anyone take up the skill and/or profession? (Asked by Niah )
A: It ain't magic but like any skill, it's encouraged to obtain it legit. Alchemy and brewing can both be accomplished solo through experimentation and the empirical method. So long as your character is bright they can reasonably learn the basics on their own. Advanced knowledge would require oodles of RP, so it's generally easier to find a teacher at that point. (Answered by Ced & Baron )
Q:Are all animals and plants on earth also in Altera? Can I be in an RP, for example in a swamp, and emote seeing a water snake in the mire? (Asked by Niah )
A: All currently extant animals on Earth exist in Altera, given the terrain is appropriate.
(Answered by Baron )
Q: Can animals that are extinct on Earth exist in Altera? (Asked by Immerael )
A: Ask a lore team member! (Answered by Somnastra )
Q: Can players IC make their own lore? As an example, can someone research why people age differently and discover that it's a magical timestream that causes it? (Asked by Ratchat620 )
A: You're free to make lore, folk legends, rumors, stories, and wives' tales. But anything that deviates from what we already have is a no go. Creating lore on something we don't already have will have to go through the lore team, and even then it may not be accepted. Check out this link for info on Lore Submissions. As for the time thing, it's best to leave the timey wimey questions as an OOC mechanic since there's no explanation that makes sense, including magic. (Answered by Niah and Baron )
Q: Which part of the history actually matters? I've never found myself in RP where it has. (Asked by LeftwardElk )
A: Depends on your RP group, usually. The various Exoduses (what an awkward word) and brushes with Corruption are generally good information to have as common knowledge for your character, but you'll need to track down someone with a better memory than I. (Answered by Somnastra )
Q: For how many years has there been intelligent life on Altera? Would it for an example make sense to find an ancient temple while IC?(Asked by Anithola )
A: This answer is different than the one originally given. Because we're on a new map, hold off on any ancient temples, ruins, or such discoveries until more details are revealed about the new map. (Answered by Niah )
Q: Are Alterans convinced the world is flat or do they know there are other places out there? (Asked by DarkWolf )
A: They know other places exist. Kavdek was off the west coast before it was destroyed. Sea of Storms in the east. Several discovered islands to the west. The Sorrows to the South. (Answered by Niah )
Q: Ender Pearls. Yes or no? If yes, how does it work? (Asked by Mryosi )
A: *Sweats* Lore on these haven't been released yet. Avoid them IC for now. (Answered by Niah )
Q: So how do poisons work? (Asked by Immerael )
A: I should say that in regards to fatal poisons and things, we generally say that they're not effective... unless, of course, you have the full informed consent of the person being poisoned. If you don't, it's a one-hit kill type of thing, and that's not fair. (Answered by Somnastra )
Q: I see cannons on ships. Why are they a thing when guns aren't? (Asked by Cap )
A: "Cannons exist as stationary emplacements, and I do believe there's precedent for one-shot hand cannons that take your hand when they go off. Cannons actually served a pretty critical role in the Exodus war." (Answered by Baron )
"No hand cannons. I will smush anyone who tries, I swear it. And make their hand blow up.(Answered by Somnastra )
Q: What are the details on enchanting? (Asked by Immerael )
A: Enchanting Lore here!
Q: Do Iron Golems exist in Altera? If so, where can they be found and what is the history behind them. (Asked by kaza125 )
A: There used to be one in some weird research lab under Port Silver, but thats all I know. (Answered by Sankera )
Q: Is it okay to ICly know the God Lore, fluff, etc? For example, Shalherana is the Deity of Spring, Growth, Forests, Regrowth, Nature, and Life. However this is not posted in the Grand Shrines. Would an average Alteran know her motto? Her ideal realm? Or any of the gods, for that matter? How much is it okay to be like, "I know that Jishrim is the God of Plagues and Despair." Or that Crusade rather likes Sallana? Or is a lot of that for interesting OOC reading? (Asked by Niah )
A: Right now, I'm going to give the absolutely unsatisfactory response of "some is/can be known IC or is common knowledge, some cannot." (Answered by Somnastra )
Q: Can Fire Aspect II books shoot a jet of flame when used in RP? (Asked by Damascus )
A: No. The books themselves have no magic powers that make them any different from regular books. (Answered by Baron )
Q: Can we have camels for our Sooleran caravan? (Asked by Cap )
A: Soolera typically use horses. (Answered by Baron )
Q: How many years ago was 2 Exoduses ago? (Asked by Warwolf )
A: Timey wimey wibbly wobbly.... Timelines are a strange thing.
Q: How much would be known about each god for people who don't worship that god in particular? Would they know the Tenets off the top of their head? Would new people know about the gods leaving? (Asked by CyberChaosV2 )
A: The doctrines and tenets are pretty well known, as they're all posted at the Shrines. Pretty common knowledge. As for the gods leaving, that particular event was public. Word has surely spread that the gods were debating whether or not to leave and that they've since become quieter.
Q: So, what is Redstone IC? It isn't in Materials or Technology, so I have no idea how to treat it IC. (Asked by Damascus )
A: The science-y folk amongst the Staff have been quite busy arguing about whether we destroy the rules of physics or chemistry in order to justify redstone... Chemical or electrical energy both don't quite gel with "spooky MC magic", quite understandably, so we're going to be improvising a little to come up with something less science but more feasible in lore terms.
However, all in-game observations of MC redstone can be observed IC. Fortunately, Altera isn't quite as savvy as us modern folk when it comes to science, so observations should be largely sufficient. (Answered by Faelin )
Q: Are dragons really a thing? Hiding in the northern mountains? (Asked by Raphael_Payne )
A: Altera had dragons once upon a time. You can find their lore here. However, any rumor about dragons being in any certain location is exactly that. Just a rumor with no basis. (Answered by Niah )
Q: Can you use herbs/plants that exist in real life and use them to make IC potions that are different from standard Minecraft Alchemy Potions? (Asked by Sir Saltington )
A: The only 'potion'-like shenanigans that can occur beyond Minecraft mechanics would be these:
1) Realistic Medieval-era concoctions and uses of herbs/plants
Not permitted would be taking your pick of herbs, throwing them into a cauldron, and suddenly having a cure for dysentery or a potion to turn someone into a frog.
Examples of realistic uses include: A poultice of Frankincense, Mint used to treat wounds, Thyme as a fumigate, and so forth.
Bearing in mind: While some may have some genuine usefulness (for example, people used to chew on Willow bark for various pain-relief purposes, where the active ingredient was salicin - closely related to modern aspirin), many will have very limited effect, some are very likely to be balderdash (though this makes excellent RP!), a few potentially downright harmful.
Also important to remember is to avoid meta-gaming large chunks of herb lore at a time. There are a ton of sources online, so it can be tempting to assume knowledge in-game very quickly and without much roleplay. However, far more fun can be experimentation, research in-game (does not need to be done via forum conversation provided you take some time to actually roleplay the process and do some homework OOC!), and getting things wrong occasionally.
2) Yer character is a wee bit potty and invents imaginary potion nonsense
If your character suffers delusions of grandeur and the strange desire to mix eye of newt and toe of frog, then they're probably going to suffer disappointment soon afterwards. That, and a serious stomach ache. (Answered by Faelin )
Q: What's the deal with End stone? I found some in a musuem but was told it doesn't actually exist IC.(Asked by Warwolf and Immerael )
A: Not since some clarification of old, old lore. Ender materials with very few exceptions are not actually "matter" in the sense of a tangible material, and they cannot exist as such in Altera.
If you happen across a bit OOC, I'm not terribly worried, as the texture can be explained away as funny looking rock. (Answered by Faelin )
Q: Once upon a time in a land far fary away Arcturian Steel was a thing. Very rare and stronger than normal steel only capable of being crafted by Arcturian smiths. However this was in the before time. I seem to remember someone somewhere telling me it was retconned into normal steel (Which in and off itself is very rare in Altera) around the same time plants such as Palewort and other non-earth plants and materials were done away with. (Asked by Immerael )
A: Naelwyn did make the decision to have it retconned, so simply put: yes, it's retconned.
I'm not about to change that when it was never quite a fair assertion in the first place, given that it made assumptions about the tech-lock as well as other factions'/individuals' standards of steel-making. I'm not saying there wasn't reasoning to those assumptions, but the claims that resulted were inevitably rather arbitrary, with a huge range between the reasonable and the ridiculous. (Answered by Faelin )
Q: What if any races are native to Altera. I do not count the Greylings and Moors as they are twisted versions of races that already previously existed. I believe I was told Nakam predate the Exodus. If so were they alone or did groups of humans, elves etc already exist and our Exodus race integrate into them or does every one in Altera trace their lineage to another world? (Asked by Immerael )
A: Memories and mythologies are always interesting snags when it comes to tracing the origins of races, but it is safe to say that all present Alteran races are at least as old as the previous world. Some are older, and date back to the first. In the previous (second) world, there were some races native that hadn't existed in the first world. In this (third) world, however, there was no sign of any other inhabitants alive at the time the Alterans settled here.
Zooming out further, it would be generally common knowledge that the current population contains some individuals born in this world as descendants of settlers from the previous world, and some (due to fancy aging and player histories) are actually the first generation of people who actually experienced the Exodus. (Answered by Faelin )
Q: Why aren't we allowed to have Nakat characters created and why are they considered legacy? (Asked by Raphael_Payne )
A: To answer at least a bit of your question; they are legacy and restricted in this way because of Kavdek (Nakat-ville) being wiped off the face of Altera. The only Nakam left, as far as we Alterans know, preside exclusively in the Northern Kingdoms. To play a Nakitty, currently existing Nakam need to have offspring and accept you as the babby's player. (Answered by Ced )
Q: Can you update your first post with all questions asked together with their answers? (Asked by Piratep00f )
A: If you insist. A year later, it is done.(Answered by Niah )
Q: Are we down to three schools of magic? Is Formistry scrapped? (Asked by Immerael )
A: Formistry is still being worked on. There will be four disciplines. (Answered by solus )
Q: How do elven genetics work? If a Moor Elf and a Silver elf have a kid and it's a Moor Elf, and that Moor Elf child procreates with a Forest Elf that comes from a Forest and a Silver Elf pairing, can the child be Silver Elven because there's a percent chance? (Asked by Immerael )
A: The Moors, Silver, and Forest Elves aren't difference races, so much as "nationalities" so to speak. A group of folks that adhere to certain societal and cultural norms, and therefore share genetic features just due to proximity. It's like the image of Scandinavian people having fair skin and light hair, yet red hair and freckles being commonly associated with Irish and Scottish folks. They're all still human, but different traits based on a group of people staying within the culture and reproducing. In the case of the elves, they're all still elves. The difference is less of a "racial species" thing, and more culture based.
If a forest elf and a silver elf have a kid, the kid's going to be part of whichever culture it spent the most time in. Or it could be neither and just be "elf" as it's not required they adhere to any of the three cultures. (Answered by Niah )
Q: But why does the lore give Silver and Forest elves different gestation times? (Asked by Immerael )
A: Because people wrote the race lore for elves without actually co-ordinating with each other, you see discrepancies in things such as gestation - combined with different people having differing opinions on how they work.
If you treat them as separate interbreeding specie they take up popularity slots 2-4 in terms of characters (With Oomans in slot 1), and are all flavors of elf sundae that have been done before.
As far as backmatter goes, they are all the same species, and originated in the same place initially, and grew slowly different over time the way normal human cultures have. (Answered by Naelwyn )
Q: About the Sisterhood of Shalherana. They revive basically anyone that OOCly posts up a revival application. Perfectly fine, but -why- do they revive everyone?
Yes, I know about the rolling thing and there is always a chance (after first two deaths.) that you may not revive. I can see that, but Shalherana is a.. last I checked, the proclaimed 'Goddess of Life.' So why, pray tell does the Sisterhood bring back murderers and evil people?
(I can understand that evil people don't always murder, they can just be really terrible people, like stealing/pillaging and all that. But if you're evil and linked to murdering in a negative fashion.. You're still evil, you're in that chain.) (Asked by Raphael_Payne )
A: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BlueAndOrangeMorality
Hypothetical situation: You go into an orphanage and kill everybody in it, lock yourself inside, and set the building on fire.
Shalherana's priesthood would try to revive everybody that died. That's it. There's no moral compunction in the sisterhood whatsoever - if you want to try and come back to life, that's it, period.
This is both a lore choice as well as game balancing, because otherwise then you'd have staff members having to make revival decisions based on their interpretation of your character morality and actions - which makes the whole thing a subjective, utter, mess.
Does this sufficiently explain things? (Answered by Naelwyn )
Q: Could a PC overthrow a God? (Asked by Jeroxia )
A: It is highly unlikely, as that's a huge feat. However, there may be opportunities for other god related shenanigans, if staff so choose.
Cannons exist as stationary emplacements, and I do believe there's precedent for one-shot hand cannons that take your hand when they go off. Cannons actually served a pretty critical role in the Exodus war.
Not since some clarification of old, old lore. Ender materials with very few exceptions are not actually "matter" in the sense of a tangible material, and they cannot exist as such in Altera.
If you happen across a bit OOC, I'm not terribly worried, as the texture can be explained away as funny looking rock.
Yep. Vorar summoned SWIBN but she was dead, so the closest match was looked up and retrieved, making Silas slot into her old position in the process IIRC. He'd gathered up the "knowledge" portion of her being.
Michcat
i'm the wench if you're the cake ;)
Long answer.
no
Misinformation on multiple counts. 10 years jail time.
tfw this was supposed to be 'cleared up' with events that never happened
Down with Silas. Remake SWIBN.
CyberChaosV2
Lord of Altera
pokes nose out before waving tiny dwarven flag Korog all the way...
10 years iso-cube
Michcat
i'm the wench if you're the cake ;)
100 YEARS NINE DIMENSIONAL PRISON
CyberChaosV2
Lord of Altera
1000 years imprisonment in eternal void of all existence
Probably easier to influence Visage into a moon goddess by getting tons of people to worship it as such.Or
Orrrrrr
And here me out here. It's a pretty radical idea.
We bring a magic moon goddess back born similarly to how Ignis was.
Michcat
i'm the wench if you're the cake ;)
bit more complicated than thatOr
Orrrrrr
And here me out here. It's a pretty radical idea.
We bring a magic moon goddess back born similarly to how Ignis was.
I had a whole thing that was supposed to wrap up all these loose ends blah blah bitching blah blah griping mrghlrblrhgnhl
Michcat
i'm the wench if you're the cake ;)
I still hold out the most meager of hopes that maybe one day I'll get the chance to finish the damn saga - which means enlightenment would be massive spoilerino.
But either way, it'll be explained eventually, either fully so in the campaign completion or just a big ol' writeup on my gravestone.
Old-Seadog
Lord of Altera
I want to ask a question about cannons. Are they a new or an old invention? Are rockets a possibility? (Not like missiles, but like the ones the British used in the War of 1812 or the Opium Wars.) Is there a limit to how many cannons we can use?