Author: GS4-OZIAS
Date: 5/5/2008 8:37:59 PM
Hi, Gang,
I am writing to invite you to join the GemStone Wordsmiths, a player group dedicated to creative writing (and editing) that would contributes to the official documentation of Elanthian history, culture, lore, and more.
The exact composition, procedures, and other organizational structures of the group depend on the number of players who join up, and therefore they will be determined by the members during the process of organizing. What I originally intended, and pitched to the powers that be, would be something like a creative writing seminar where writers accept assignments, present drafts for critique by group members, and then deliver finished product to editors, who work their magic and submit final copy to the GM QC process. But as I said, the exact procedures are to be determined by the group itself.
There are many needs for documentation in GemStone IV, enough to overwhelm the limited time of the GM writers pool. I'm thrill that the senior management has decided to welcome the contributions of player creativity in this most crucial area of game development.
Documentation in GemStone has two main goals. First, it serves as a guide to roleplaying by players. Our documents strive to provide "hooks" that catch onto player imaginations in order to spark and guide character creation and development through roleplay. Second, it serves as a guide to GMs in their development of storylines, areas, auction items, merchant goods and services, and...well, everything in our game world, ultimately.
The first assignment that the group will tackle is the Forest Gnome bloodlines that remain only partially fleshed out some five years after the race's release, a failure for which I take personal responsibility. The race needs a great deal of attention, both from players and from Game Masters, and only better documentation will bring that about. It is my hope that, by taking on the Forest Gnomes as a proof-of-concept assignment, the Wordsmiths can then expand into a range of projects that as broad and expansive as your imaginations.
I will be announcing an in-game organizational meeting shortly, in order to gauge interest and begin our preliminary plans, though I expect the work of the group to transpire via email or another out-of-game environment. For more years than I can count, I've been impressed with the creativity and writing skill of our players, as displayed in storytelling in the game, on the message boards, and on player websites. I sincerely hope that you will consider this opportunity to lend your talents to this effort to improve the game in an immediate and powerful way.
Cheers,
~Ozias
"Whatever bubbles, bubbles up."
This message was originally posted in Organizations and Societies, GemStone Wordsmiths. To discuss the above follow the link below.
http://www.play.net/forums/messages.asp?forum=102&category=20&topic=11&message=18
This humble site houses an archive of news and announcements from Simutronics Corporation's text-based massive multiplayer online roleplaying game GemStone IV. The most recent announcements are on the entry page and a more comprehensive archive can be accessed through the links on the right sidebar. You may also narrow the focus through the various labels on the lower righthand side of this page. Click on the title of each post for the original post in the official GSIV message boards. Keep in mind, however, that if the post had been pushed out of the official boards, the link will take you to the GemStone IV announcements folder.
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Dark Elven Languages
Author: GS4-LOTHWYN
Date: 5/5/2008 8:12:18 PM
The Languages of the Dark Elves
Language is the most basic tool for cultures to form cohesion amid the chaos of the world, to bind together those factions that share the same interests and values. When linguistic scholars study languages, they're able to piece together and intricately learn more about each culture and subculture, due to the unique makeup of the group's linguistic behavior.
Especially interesting to linguistic scholars are the dark elves, as unlike other races, the dark elven race splintered into three separate, distinct languages: one with unknown and possibly mystical origins and two intentionally created to set groups apart from elves. For generations, these three languages, Dark Elven, Faendryl, and Dhe'narsi, have fascinated linguists, historians, and other scholars.
Dark Elven:
The dark elven language is often called the "voice of Rhoska-Tor." When the first elves settled in Rhoska-Tor, the mana foci in the surrounding land tainted their physical bodies and changed their appearance. For instance, their ears became more sharply defined, giving them the ability to hear a varying degree of different tonal ranges not audible to other elves, and they found their tongues were able to make new, unique sounds. This new race, dark elves, learned to draw upon the powers of the mana flows to increase their arcane potential. But tapping into this power did something more: it gave them an innate knowledge of a tongue never heard before.
Scholars have tried to determine the linguistic roots of the intricate dark elven language, but so far none have been able to find any in known recorded texts or living speech models. Some have speculated that it is a dialect from beyond the veil, a language of some foreign demonic race, but numerous trips to several valences have failed to uncover proof.
All dark elves have an intimate knowledge of the dark elven language, regardless of how long it's been since their ancestors have been to Rhoska-Tor, but in particular dark elves that did not grow up in one of the two main cultures will rely heavily upon its use--more so than even Common speech. Most Dhe'nar, however, have a distaste for using the language, finding it more primitive than their own. On the other hand, Dark Elven can still be heard on the streets of New Ta'Faendryl as it is often used in informal, everyday conversations among family, friends, and acquaintances.
Faendryl:
The foundation of the Faendryl language can be traced back to shortly after the exile of the former leaders of the Elven Nations. On their trek toward Rhoska-Tor, Cestimir Xisuthors Faendryl, Patriarch XXXV, began noticing his people twisting elven words into opposite meanings out of spite. In an effort to boost morale, Cestimir encouraged this feeling that, since they were no longer a part of the elven City-States, they should no longer share the same language. Eventually, over the millennia, the twisted elven spoken by the exiles evolved into the present day Faendryl.
While there are a few minor similarities with common Elven, the language of the Faendryl is more refined and complex, reflecting in linguistic design both the physical and mental changes the exiled race went through to become dark elves. Even with their mastery of the unique dark elven language brought about by their exile in Rhoska-Tor, the Faendryl perpetuated their evolved Elven as well.
In New Ta'Faendryl, by law, the Faendryl language is reserved for formal occasions and official stances. Proclamations by the Patriarch and other officials, writs of law, contracts, and other business documents are written in the Faendryl language, but informal everyday conversation is conducted in Dark Elven. The bilingual nature of the city often confuses outsiders and can lead to many cultural misunderstandings--such as a foreign envoy, in an attempt to garner favor, introducing himself to Basilica officials by grunting out a ragged, Dark Elven phrase.
It should be noted, however, that it is not unheard of for Faendryl to speak solely one language or another. Members of the lower classes often find the Faendryl language too refined and complex and therefore prefer to speak Dark Elven, whereas members of the upper classes consider Faendryl the only proper tongue to speak, eschewing the use of any other language.
Dhe'narsi:
Linguistic scholars have not yet pinpointed a date for the emergence of Dhe'narsi due to its initial rudimentary beginnings. Although some claim to know a precise time, there is no agreement within the scholarly community, nor among the Dhe'nar, on a true beginning date. Some have speculated that its initial start occurred after Noi'sho'rah vanished and the Dhe'nar separated from the other elves. Among the Dhe'nar, it is generally accepted that Tahlad gave birth to the language of the First Born, through wisdom given to him in a vision from Noi'sho'rah himself.
Dhe'narsi is an intricate, flowing language that holds minor similarities to forms of distant Elven. While it was primitive as it began to evolve, with loosely defined vocabulary and grammar, over the millennia it has grown into a rich, full-bodied language that bespeaks the pride of the Dhe'nar. Pure Dhe'narsi is known by all dark elves raised in a structured Dhe'nar culture, and it is often the only language they will speak.
The Dhe'nar people solely spoke pure Dhe'narsi at the founding of Sharath and used it throughout all forms of daily living within the city. All the castes engaged in the use of the language, although each added their own select words. The use of these terms helped to identify members of the various castes of the Dhe'nar society. After the fall of Sharath, Dhe'narsi was still a viable language available to those who decided to continue to use it. Some of the Dhe'nar, scared and torn about the Great Fire, returned to using the dark elven language, the fluency learned at Rhoska-Tor never fading.
Within the recent century, a form of Dhe'narsi has cropped up in Western Elanith from a group of Dhe'nar that was discharged from their caste duties. This Dhe'narsi, while still viable and intricate in its own right, shadows some similarities to the initial evolution of the language, and it is speculated that it is a dialect that was spawned before the original language expanded at the founding of Sharath. It is conjectured that this form of Dhe'narsi is taken up by Dhe'nar who, having once broken ties with their people, seek to reconnect with their past and Noi'sho'rah. It is not uncommon for individuals of other races, those who have befriended one of these Dhe'nar, to learn to speak the dialect. Typically combined with the common language, the dialect is often simple, select phrases or statements of greeting.
This message was originally posted in Races of Elanthia, Dark Elves. To discuss the above follow the link below.
http://www.play.net/forums/messages.asp?forum=102&category=10&topic=5&message=1356
Date: 5/5/2008 8:12:18 PM
The Languages of the Dark Elves
Language is the most basic tool for cultures to form cohesion amid the chaos of the world, to bind together those factions that share the same interests and values. When linguistic scholars study languages, they're able to piece together and intricately learn more about each culture and subculture, due to the unique makeup of the group's linguistic behavior.
Especially interesting to linguistic scholars are the dark elves, as unlike other races, the dark elven race splintered into three separate, distinct languages: one with unknown and possibly mystical origins and two intentionally created to set groups apart from elves. For generations, these three languages, Dark Elven, Faendryl, and Dhe'narsi, have fascinated linguists, historians, and other scholars.
Dark Elven:
The dark elven language is often called the "voice of Rhoska-Tor." When the first elves settled in Rhoska-Tor, the mana foci in the surrounding land tainted their physical bodies and changed their appearance. For instance, their ears became more sharply defined, giving them the ability to hear a varying degree of different tonal ranges not audible to other elves, and they found their tongues were able to make new, unique sounds. This new race, dark elves, learned to draw upon the powers of the mana flows to increase their arcane potential. But tapping into this power did something more: it gave them an innate knowledge of a tongue never heard before.
Scholars have tried to determine the linguistic roots of the intricate dark elven language, but so far none have been able to find any in known recorded texts or living speech models. Some have speculated that it is a dialect from beyond the veil, a language of some foreign demonic race, but numerous trips to several valences have failed to uncover proof.
All dark elves have an intimate knowledge of the dark elven language, regardless of how long it's been since their ancestors have been to Rhoska-Tor, but in particular dark elves that did not grow up in one of the two main cultures will rely heavily upon its use--more so than even Common speech. Most Dhe'nar, however, have a distaste for using the language, finding it more primitive than their own. On the other hand, Dark Elven can still be heard on the streets of New Ta'Faendryl as it is often used in informal, everyday conversations among family, friends, and acquaintances.
Faendryl:
The foundation of the Faendryl language can be traced back to shortly after the exile of the former leaders of the Elven Nations. On their trek toward Rhoska-Tor, Cestimir Xisuthors Faendryl, Patriarch XXXV, began noticing his people twisting elven words into opposite meanings out of spite. In an effort to boost morale, Cestimir encouraged this feeling that, since they were no longer a part of the elven City-States, they should no longer share the same language. Eventually, over the millennia, the twisted elven spoken by the exiles evolved into the present day Faendryl.
While there are a few minor similarities with common Elven, the language of the Faendryl is more refined and complex, reflecting in linguistic design both the physical and mental changes the exiled race went through to become dark elves. Even with their mastery of the unique dark elven language brought about by their exile in Rhoska-Tor, the Faendryl perpetuated their evolved Elven as well.
In New Ta'Faendryl, by law, the Faendryl language is reserved for formal occasions and official stances. Proclamations by the Patriarch and other officials, writs of law, contracts, and other business documents are written in the Faendryl language, but informal everyday conversation is conducted in Dark Elven. The bilingual nature of the city often confuses outsiders and can lead to many cultural misunderstandings--such as a foreign envoy, in an attempt to garner favor, introducing himself to Basilica officials by grunting out a ragged, Dark Elven phrase.
It should be noted, however, that it is not unheard of for Faendryl to speak solely one language or another. Members of the lower classes often find the Faendryl language too refined and complex and therefore prefer to speak Dark Elven, whereas members of the upper classes consider Faendryl the only proper tongue to speak, eschewing the use of any other language.
Dhe'narsi:
Linguistic scholars have not yet pinpointed a date for the emergence of Dhe'narsi due to its initial rudimentary beginnings. Although some claim to know a precise time, there is no agreement within the scholarly community, nor among the Dhe'nar, on a true beginning date. Some have speculated that its initial start occurred after Noi'sho'rah vanished and the Dhe'nar separated from the other elves. Among the Dhe'nar, it is generally accepted that Tahlad gave birth to the language of the First Born, through wisdom given to him in a vision from Noi'sho'rah himself.
Dhe'narsi is an intricate, flowing language that holds minor similarities to forms of distant Elven. While it was primitive as it began to evolve, with loosely defined vocabulary and grammar, over the millennia it has grown into a rich, full-bodied language that bespeaks the pride of the Dhe'nar. Pure Dhe'narsi is known by all dark elves raised in a structured Dhe'nar culture, and it is often the only language they will speak.
The Dhe'nar people solely spoke pure Dhe'narsi at the founding of Sharath and used it throughout all forms of daily living within the city. All the castes engaged in the use of the language, although each added their own select words. The use of these terms helped to identify members of the various castes of the Dhe'nar society. After the fall of Sharath, Dhe'narsi was still a viable language available to those who decided to continue to use it. Some of the Dhe'nar, scared and torn about the Great Fire, returned to using the dark elven language, the fluency learned at Rhoska-Tor never fading.
Within the recent century, a form of Dhe'narsi has cropped up in Western Elanith from a group of Dhe'nar that was discharged from their caste duties. This Dhe'narsi, while still viable and intricate in its own right, shadows some similarities to the initial evolution of the language, and it is speculated that it is a dialect that was spawned before the original language expanded at the founding of Sharath. It is conjectured that this form of Dhe'narsi is taken up by Dhe'nar who, having once broken ties with their people, seek to reconnect with their past and Noi'sho'rah. It is not uncommon for individuals of other races, those who have befriended one of these Dhe'nar, to learn to speak the dialect. Typically combined with the common language, the dialect is often simple, select phrases or statements of greeting.
This message was originally posted in Races of Elanthia, Dark Elves. To discuss the above follow the link below.
http://www.play.net/forums/messages.asp?forum=102&category=10&topic=5&message=1356
Torren Guard Routs Krolvin Slavers!
Author: GS4-AUCHAND
Date: 5/5/2008 1:39:30 PM
The Royal Torren Press
Fairport, County of Torre
Ivastaen 4th, 5108
Torren Guard Routs Krolvin Slavers!
The blood of the Grimswarm had but barely dried when our Count Clayborne issued orders for one of the most celebrated companies of the Torren Guard. They were sent, under the command of Captain Neyla Cavale, to the small river town of River's Rest to apprehend noble-turned-criminal Casler Huntington. By the fortune of Niima, the the Guard arrived during the midst of a Krolvin invasion. They saved River's Rest and its occupants from certain doom. According to sources at the Royal Garrison, it has been years since the Guard clashed against the scourges of the Great Western Sea. Predictably, the blue-skinned monsters proved no match for the elite of Torre and the Turamzzyrian Empire.
The safety of the town secured, sources tell the Royal Torren Press that the Guard will now turn toward their mission of capturing the elusive criminal Casler Huntington. Since the nefarious murder of an Imperial inspector in the Rest last year, there has been an official protest by the Imperial representative in the court of Count Claybourne. The complaint demands that justice be meted out upon the criminal, accompanied by warnings that Tamzyrr will not sit idly by if nothing is done.
The honorable House of Huntington has so far remained quiet on the matter of the wayward son and former heir, who fled Fairport more than ten years ago. However, a servant--who will remain unnamed--has spoken in private about the family's reaction to the news that Casler Huntington was possibly alive and living miles to the south. The source tells that the subject of Casler remains forbidden within the walls of the Huntington's Watch Hill manor.
Casler Huntington remains an enigma. Rumors reported by locals of River's Rest state that he may have fallen or been taken captive during the latest outbreak of Krolvin violence. Should this rumor prove fact, it will likely make the mission of the Torren Guard that much harder to complete. As we all know, it will nevertheless be accomplished by our fair and brave soldiers in blue and buff: the Sword and Shield of Torre.
This information may be of interest to players frequenting the town of River's Rest. Casler Huntington is a local celebrity who has engaged in a number of daring exploits of late, and it seems his journeys are just beginning!
Auchand
This message was originally posted in Quests, Sagas, and Events, Current and Upcoming Events. To discuss the above follow the link below.
http://www.play.net/forums/messages.asp?forum=102&category=12&topic=2&message=4514
Date: 5/5/2008 1:39:30 PM
The Royal Torren Press
Fairport, County of Torre
Ivastaen 4th, 5108
Torren Guard Routs Krolvin Slavers!
The blood of the Grimswarm had but barely dried when our Count Clayborne issued orders for one of the most celebrated companies of the Torren Guard. They were sent, under the command of Captain Neyla Cavale, to the small river town of River's Rest to apprehend noble-turned-criminal Casler Huntington. By the fortune of Niima, the the Guard arrived during the midst of a Krolvin invasion. They saved River's Rest and its occupants from certain doom. According to sources at the Royal Garrison, it has been years since the Guard clashed against the scourges of the Great Western Sea. Predictably, the blue-skinned monsters proved no match for the elite of Torre and the Turamzzyrian Empire.
The safety of the town secured, sources tell the Royal Torren Press that the Guard will now turn toward their mission of capturing the elusive criminal Casler Huntington. Since the nefarious murder of an Imperial inspector in the Rest last year, there has been an official protest by the Imperial representative in the court of Count Claybourne. The complaint demands that justice be meted out upon the criminal, accompanied by warnings that Tamzyrr will not sit idly by if nothing is done.
The honorable House of Huntington has so far remained quiet on the matter of the wayward son and former heir, who fled Fairport more than ten years ago. However, a servant--who will remain unnamed--has spoken in private about the family's reaction to the news that Casler Huntington was possibly alive and living miles to the south. The source tells that the subject of Casler remains forbidden within the walls of the Huntington's Watch Hill manor.
Casler Huntington remains an enigma. Rumors reported by locals of River's Rest state that he may have fallen or been taken captive during the latest outbreak of Krolvin violence. Should this rumor prove fact, it will likely make the mission of the Torren Guard that much harder to complete. As we all know, it will nevertheless be accomplished by our fair and brave soldiers in blue and buff: the Sword and Shield of Torre.
This information may be of interest to players frequenting the town of River's Rest. Casler Huntington is a local celebrity who has engaged in a number of daring exploits of late, and it seems his journeys are just beginning!
Auchand
This message was originally posted in Quests, Sagas, and Events, Current and Upcoming Events. To discuss the above follow the link below.
http://www.play.net/forums/messages.asp?forum=102&category=12&topic=2&message=4514
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