PlaneShift

Gameplay => Guilds Forum => Topic started by: Nilrem on September 05, 2006, 04:54:14 pm

Title: Beggars Guild
Post by: Nilrem on September 05, 2006, 04:54:14 pm: Introduction & purpose

The Beggars Guild holds the bast majority of the beggars to be found in Hydlaa streets, converting it then, by so, in one of the most numbered of all the guilds around (although it has to be said too, one in which their members life expecancy is shorter; but that prevents congestion and a periodical refreshing of ideas that, over the years, has lead the guild to be advanced to its time, as it will be discovered later)

Some recent rumours talk about the guild as a wealthy one. The guild can safely state, though, that no beggar has returned to the guild house converted in a welthy being, after a day on the streets. That said, inherently the guild has the convincement of tria saving. Lawful to its origins, the guild prefers to beg for things, rather than buy them.

Together with the ancient art of begging, the guild has developed other ways of assuring itself a regular income, for its own survival. Some of them are described in the following lines:

With the guild's natural hability to have one ear (with fortune a working pair of them) almost on every Hydlaa corner, no few have been the ones that have requested its help, in search for information.

The members of the Council, although, carry on their shoulders the responsability of providing enough tria for the whole guild. They're the ones then, that deal with the uninvitations.

[Credit goes to Terry Pratchett for the uninvitation concept.]
[I've been warned about the not practical lenght of my posts, thus, this one's cut. Coming next: "Uninvitation examples for comprehension", "Guild ranks", "Guild requirements", "whatevercomestomindthatIhadn'tyetthoughtabout"]
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Syilph on September 05, 2006, 05:21:26 pm: By the gods! I like the ideea. :D I just can't wait to hear the names of the ranks and to learn more about this new radical uninvitation concept :thumbup:
Oh, and I'm curious about the "whatevercomestomindthatIhadn'tyetthoughtabout" thing too.
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: zhai on September 05, 2006, 05:28:36 pm: Intersting... sounds like yours and Siofra's idea (http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=25340.0) aren't that far from each other. Are we going to have gang fights? :woot:
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Syilph on September 05, 2006, 05:59:56 pm: Quote
Outcasts! Runaways! Urchins! Beggars! Madmen! Together we can stand in our uniqueness.

I bet that this one is a 1337 beggar only guild. No outcasts, no madmen and stuff ;)
Knowing Nilrem's style of writing I can't wait for the history of the guild XD
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: zhai on September 05, 2006, 06:02:42 pm: Outcast, runnaway, urchin, beggar, madmen... hmmm... maybe these are the ranks Nilrem will use :D Anyway, I see some coincidences between both ideas and they might want to get in touch. Up to them in the end.
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Akaye on September 05, 2006, 07:22:09 pm: Quote from: Syilph
Knowing Nilrem's style of writing I can't wait for the history of the guild XD

Agreed.

Are we there yet? ::| Nilrem I am so curious to know what you have to post next ...... Are we there yet? *sigh*

In all seriousness, I am looking forward to seeing what Nilrem has up his sleeves. Congrat's on the new guild.
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Jekkar on September 05, 2006, 07:56:36 pm: And here I thought Nilrem would never join/make a guild.
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Nilrem on September 05, 2006, 08:40:19 pm: Quote
And here I thought Nilrem would never join/make a guild.
I am not breaking my self imposed promise, Jekkar.

Quote
sounds like yours and Siofra's idea aren't that far from each other
Thanks for the link. I've read it, and indeed at least by the ambience one might find inside the guildhouse, they might be close. But seems Siofra's idea was more etherogeneal, and less focused on begging.

Quote
Are we going to have gang fights?
I doubt it ^^

I'll use this post, then to explain a bit about this things that have arosen. I'll then double-post, and put more info about the guild after this post.
This is not a guild that I aspire to see in game at all, thus, I did not put the [Guild] on the title. The difficulties are lots as to have such a guild really in the game. My aspiration was simply, to transmit the idea that I had in my mind. I tried to do so, while playing the game, and if I had found Siofra, perhaps we could have had a laugh. Still, even if not being in the game, I tried to share the idea of a society. That, in roleplay terms, there's more than what your eyes see when you look at the screen and play the game. I tried that other times with other ideas, and tried also with the beggar one. Ligh points out, precisely in the thread you linked, Zhai, to something I tried to do, to spread that idea here, in the forums. I tried somehow to make the presence of the "Beggars Guild" known, through certain actions in the rolaplay board, and similarly I did with the undertakers at its time. The idea is then, to share this guild idea, so there's consciousness, not of its existance, if the player does not wish it, but just to inform that in the game, there's a society, and that society is alive, and moving. And yes, it has beggars, although you join the game and see no beggars, the society has them.

One way to let the guild be known, so it can make players conscious of this reality (a more complex society than the one you see when you join the game) is to post in here, the guild section of the forums, about this "guild" that was in my mind, and that englobed the beggars of the street.

If someone feels that this idea is of aid when roleplaying his/her char, then all the better, he/she is even free to state that forms part of said guild, but my ultimate aspiration is not see a group of players having on their heads a banner with "Beggars Guild" but that there's as wide consciousness as possible amongst the roleplayer playerbase that the world is complete, that the lands and people are there, in our minds.
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Nilrem on September 05, 2006, 08:47:34 pm: Uninvitations: Concept & examples
[/size]
Over the years, the guild has observed how the yliakean society is prone to celebrations. Being this one a sensible and sensitive organization, it has been realized by all that, in said events, the presence of stinky, poorly dressed beggars is not desireable. Realizing that fact, and adopting a never seen humility in any other guild before, a member of the Council seeks for those organizing aforementioned events in order to offer them the guild uninvitation, that will grant, under an agreed price, that no beggars show up during said celebration.

The concept of uninvitation has had such a success, that the guild has decided to extend its applicancy to other areas, and is always seeking for more, for the better benefit of the society.

A nomad group of acrobats and artists reaches the city, and wants to make a tour? The guild offers the Street Free of Begging during a period of a week.

A donzel got your heart, and you want to tell her your feelings, while she stands on her house balcony, but a beggar obstinatedly camps just below the balcony and cuts your mood? Go contact the Beggars Guild, if its a member a solution will be found, if it's not, we might be interested in recruiting.

And just so everyone sees this is a serious guild...

Alignment:

Perpendicular to the wall, low height. Keep the hand open.

[mmm a history for the guild too? geez...]
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Lolitra, Celorrim Purrty Twins on September 05, 2006, 09:25:16 pm: A well composed Idea, and knowing Nilrem's flare for RP, we look forward to meeting some of its poor urchins... Good Luck and with this idea Nilrem.
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Tharos on September 05, 2006, 09:50:38 pm: Well, from the description it looks more like a Blackmailers Guild than a Beggars Guild :P Don't expect the Dark Empire to surrender to any blackmailing.

But "having an ear almost on every Hydlaa corner" sounds interesting and we may have some business to discuss ;)
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: zhai on September 05, 2006, 10:11:51 pm: Hmmm... I'm very curious about the "uninvitation" concept. Could you elaborate on that Nilrem?
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Arka on September 05, 2006, 11:39:06 pm: Beggars Belief!

(Good luck Nilrem)

Arka
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Weavers on September 06, 2006, 04:04:56 am: We ask that you be sure those outstretched hands do not become sticky.

We have seen many beggars in the lands that must not be in your guild, perhaps. Though they do speak in the tongue of code, so that we do not understand them. I have many reports of the utterance of "do u hav a sord". I this one of your code phrases?
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Arka on September 06, 2006, 08:30:47 am: Here's an idea:

Get some local entrpreneur to make large paper handkerchiefs for your members to sell.

We could do with 'Big Tissue' sellers in Hydlaa

;)

Arka
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Siofra on September 06, 2006, 09:15:53 am: I dont see there as really being too much of a conflict with the guild idea I have suggested. In fact, when I first proposed my idea here (http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=25132.0) I tried to take the focus *away* from it being a beggars guild. Of course, it can certainly have beggars in it, but it is designed more as a platform for people to experiment with RP for off center characters (if they so wish).
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Syilph on September 06, 2006, 10:01:27 am: I like the uninvitation concept, it is a really good way to gain some extra trias and a very original ideea.
Congratulations for originality ;)
Also, I think that I might know a certain Benko who claims to be a jester but he is always poor, so he might qualify as a guild member. And, besides that, he doesn't have to be a beggar, he will just bore people to death with his tricks or jokes, thus raising the chance to get an "uninvitation" from somebody when he is around ^_^

PS: Still waiting for that bacground story :D
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Nilrem on September 06, 2006, 06:59:30 pm: Mmm...
seems I've not been able to clarify certain concepts, I'll try again ^^

@Lolitra, Celorrim Purrty Twins: Thanks for the kind words, but I've to state that unlikely you'll find any of its members in game (at least, not played by me) although it's an idea that anyone can adopt, and play it, I don't think anyone will do it. The existance of the guild, in game, is none. It only existed in my imaginary, and I wanted to share this part of society, so other players, when go online, know that there are guilds around, and, if they want, they can use them for their RP.

@Tharos: The Dark Empire has sunk so low? How can it feel menaced by a bunch of beggars, armed with... dirt? In any case, no blackmailing here, if someone writes a letter in this guild will have hands cleaned enough, and the parchment will have a polite letter, you can call it white-yellowish mailing ;)
Feel free to use the way of getting info, though. It's just an alternative to those players that have always to use a trained fly, that eavesdrops conversations, and then passes the report to their owners. You don't know how much a fly gets bound to his/her owner, specially if the latter hasn't taken a bath in quite some time, so it makes it easier for the fly to return.

@Zhai: I'm not sure if you mean that you did not get it, or if you're reluctant to believe it. The concept is really surrealistic, and, as I mentioned in the first post, I owe it to Terry Pratchett. On a future, if the guild is stablished in Hydlaa city, and the uninvitation concept is accepted as it is accepted the night and day cycles, we might have something like this. A rich couple plans to marry. They then send personalized invitations to their beloved individuals, and even to famous guilds of the city, so they all can assist to the wedding. At the same time, they send a message to the Beggars Guild, but not with an invitation. They send an uninvitation. Consisting in? "Dear Beggars, I hope attached bag would suffice for your non-presence to our marriage" to which the Beggars, after checking the amount of money sent to them for their no-presence, would answer politely as ever "The guild whishes you both the best in your grouped future". Currently, though, the guild isn't as stablished, so, certain people, the ones forming the council (some details on later posts, perhaps) have to somehow, force to be uninvited. That can be indeed an art, and they use the announcement people does for their major events, in order to know who they've to contact, to offer them the entire no-presence of the guild they represent.

@Arka: Indeed, beggars belief. That's the thing. Put in players minds that there's more than what you barely see when you join the game, that the lands are there. That cities do not move, that the new implemented areas aren't new places appeared out of nowhere, it's all there, already. About the handkerchiefs... Oh my, I'm just seeing them selling those handkerchiefs to the queues of karts waiting to enter Akkaio dsar for instance, or offering to clean the animals that carry the goods from one city to another ^^ (Absolute copying here what can be seen in major cities nowadays with cars and such) but, the idea for this beggars is a bit different, although, if someone wants to play that, go ahead!

@Weavers: Unfortunately I don't get the first and third sentences of your reply. Agreed with you that not all the beggars will be following this guild. But, then again, in my imaginary, there was one guild of beggars, that grouped the majority of them, this is mainly required for the uninvitation concept to work as intended, and also because I think that, weak as beggars are, they wouldn't chose to segregate. Then again, the guild doesn't exist in game, so noone's claiming to have all the players that play a beggar under this guild. The intention of this thread is not make an in game guild, but spread a feeling, or an idea.
The guild members aren't wearing a piece of paper stating that they belong to BG, and, while surely there are recognizable by other traits, the one you described seems not to fit my visualization. A too actively searched begging, I'd say. This beggars I picture obey the nature laws, all tends to its lower level of energy in equilibrium. If something this guild has, is members with equilibrium, even if lacking a leg. They form part of the landscape, they're in that spot in the street, laying lazily in there since before the walls were painted. I'll try to picture a bit the "common beggar" so to say, later on, though.

@Siofra: I'm sorry if I sounded as if I was saying there was conflict between both guilds, but, what I tried to say is more or less what you typed. I'm pleased to see that you had also your ideas of a more complete society. I guess I could not expect from you sentences such as "there are no beggars", "everyone's rich" or "noone ever dies in here" ;)

@Syilph: Well, as the first post says, the idea isn't original, but from Terry Pratchett's. I liked the concept, because it was hillarious, and I felt I had to put it into the world, so I roleplayed it for some time in game, and also in the forums a bit.
Good that Benko's a kran and people will refrain from hitting him on the face ^^ yeah Benko could be himself alone one cathegory "begging by extenuation" where you get the money because the one's already fed up of you, and pays to loose you from his/her sight. In any case, as I said, the beggars I pictured were less "evolved" so to say, more mundane, lazy, laying on the street... with lots of free time to think about this and that or nothing at all. Exactly, the Beggars Guild is such a generator of talented poetists. What the Poetist Guild doesn't know, is that is such a generator of beggars.
Background history... well, with time I'll come up with something stupid enough.
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Siofra on September 07, 2006, 09:43:47 am: Quote from: Nilrem on September 06, 2006, 06:59:30 pm
@Siofra: I'm sorry if I sounded as if I was saying there was conflict between both guilds, but, what I tried to say is more or less what you typed.

No apology neccessary. It was others that suggested a conflict of ideas, not you. I am really just jealous that your penmanship is so much better than mine could ever hope to be :-[
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Syilph on September 07, 2006, 12:53:10 pm: Benko is not a kran! He is a dermorian wearing a kran suit ;D
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Wired_Crawler on September 07, 2006, 10:00:48 pm: :o

Beggars guild revealed! Quite surprise for me. Good luck, Nilrem 8).
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Under the moon on September 07, 2006, 11:41:22 pm: So that is where these guys (http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=16288.0) went.

I have plans for a beggar character, but nothing solid yet. How about we just pretend I made one, and you can pay me trias to pretend he stays out of public. Great idea. :D
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Nilrem on September 08, 2006, 10:20:50 pm: @Under the moon: Thanks for that link, interesting reading. It clearly shows how I never read the guild section of the forums. Seems that the idea was pretty accepted, although, somehow, has never transmited inside of the game. A lost cause. Perhaps I should switch to promote the Undertakers now.

@Wired_Crawler: What can I say... You know me. PMs. I've tried to explain there.

@Syilph: er... :-X

@Siofra: Jealous about my penmanship you say? I can assure I'm using the default letter type that the forums put. Truth is that I'm using that theme that noone uses, but I doubt this transferes to my messages. Later, I thought that perhaps you were praising my writing, judging what I wrote in this thread, though, the praise seems undeserved. Taking a look at your own thread, and comparing it to mine, any objective observer will notice how your richness of words surpasses mine. That said, I hope you won't meet me in my level, to be honest, I prefer people to go up, rather than dive into the abyss of the oceans to see how I am.
As Syilph would say: Nilrem's a kran dressed as a dermorian, so I don't need to breath.

Ok. With this I almost have filled the limit of words for anyone to read this reply, but I wanted to add something more. The ranks. Not really thought much, because, well if there's a beggar guild, I don't picture it very pyramidal. I think of them more practical, and easy to explain to anyone that joins the party. You're a beggar, a few form the council. That's all, simple and direct. Does that mean that there won't be any specialization in the beggar being? It might be, but I don't feel that those cathegories deserve to be up or down another. So, all are beggars. Lazy beggars.

Ranks:
[/b]

Beggars:

They're those ugly looking guys, wearing rags as clothing, staying motionless leaning their backs on the building walls, and mechanically raising their hand (or, if they lack both, pushing a leather bag with their feet) while they emit a pleading sound, that you mechanically ignore on your mechanically scheduled walk towards the temple sermon.
They conform the majority of the guild.

Council:

With the task of dealing with outern relationships of the guild, this group of selected people has to have an appealing outern look. Then again, the guild advances its own time, and cares for the projected image of its members.
Having in mind noone would negotiate with an ugly looking being, they're dressed elegantly, and can be recognized by the embrodded “B.G.” letters that can be found, pompously weaved on their clothes. Some have found it fitting to call them “Bee Gees” just due to that couple of letters; amazingly, the nick has appealed many ears, and has only helped to spread their knowledge.

Yeah, I know what you're thinking. The same as me while typing this. How stupid it is to define a beggar, when almost knows what it is. I think this sentence will be the most logical and bullet proof of this entire thread. Precisely because it was stupid to define them, I added their definition. I've seen that in other guild threads there's something such as "requirements" for the members to achieve certain levels, so I might come up with something like that later. Yeah, and perhaps I'll type some words about something that may be confused as a story for the guild, but in any case the thing is done already, don't expect much more from this.
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Nilrem on September 13, 2006, 12:38:55 pm: Requirements:
[/size][/b]

Beggar:

Science knowledge

It is required that the aspirant has enough knowledge on science as to be able to courageously fight against, at least, one of its laws. This normally means be able to raise a hand, fighting against the gravity law, long enough as to allow the eventual tria to fall from the giver's hand, to the beggar's one. Aspirants don't have to feel pushed away by this, certainly elitist, requiriment, as this mighty fight against the universal laws, will have to be done, at most, once a day. Beggars rewarded with more lonely places, might find themselves not facing this challenge through the whole of their careers.

Senses
It's desireable that the aspirant has working hearing sense, and that is able to transmit what is heard to another member. If the aspirant can only emit gutural sounds, it will be required for said aspirant to find another potential member with the ability to translate the sounds into comprehensive words, said couple would be considered, for administrative effects, as only one member.
Completely deaf aspirants are welcome, as long as there are vacant positions for begging in places such as overcrowded markets, or near temples. Experience has proven this class of beggars to be the most adecuate to saintly tolerate the sermon's ecoes, while restlessly begging in front of the temple's doors.

Dressing
Advanced to its time, the Beggars Guild doesn't judge possible members by their clothings, further, the guild provides the adecuate uniform for each and everyone of its members, for that commitment the guild has at its service a couple of scissors and daggers that would turn into rags the most fine and elegant dress one would dare to use.

Complains have been heard about the guild rejecting new members because of their physical appearance. While not denying such accusations, the guild wants to express:

a) That there might be not enough free streets in which to settle those potentially new members, so a bit of patience is required till gaps have to be filled in the guild.

b) That in case of having various candidates, the guild has the right to decide which of them is chosen to form part of the guild, and physical appearance might, indeed, be a determining factor. A correctly placed suppuring spot does help.
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Kymizer on September 13, 2006, 09:34:16 pm: hey hey hey...some ideas!!

Well, can you guys beats boxes with sticks in the streets of hydlaa to make money, and sing too (like in washington dc and new york city)...we may give you guys money for your efforts!!!
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Nilrem on September 14, 2006, 11:36:40 pm: @Kymizer: I'm not sure I'm understanding... are you suggesting the beggars to hit boxes in order to make annoying noises so citizens would pay just to save their ears from bleeding?
Or might you be suggesting, oh heretic! ;P , that the whole temple of Laanx, made by iron, would serve better as an immense drum, that the beggars should play, causing permanent mental damage to all of those that might be praying inside of it at that very moment?
Arka suggested also about selling handkerchiefs, and I'm afraid your suggestion requires more effort from the beggars side. Under my vision, those beggars would not be very prone to physical efforts of any kind. If possible they'd also avoid any mental one too. But that's just me, everyone's free to play the beggar kind as he/she whishes to. This thread was just an attempt to make players know that there's more than what they can actually see in game, in their chars life.

***********

I did not feel very inspired today, but I felt I had to put an end to this, so I'm posting requirements for Council members. Not very elaborated and perhaps I'll add something more in the future. You'll see that I've even used the same joke again. *sigh*

Since Sylph requested for a story, and he's one of my three pillars within this game, I'm somehow "forced" to type something to pretend it's a story of the guild. Which won't be. But just to don't feel bad, I'll type something, say a chapter or two, so this will definitely die. And now that I say die, perhaps the next topic change will be the undertakers. I'll see...
In any case, the nonreallythoughtatall requirements for the Council members.

Council

In order to enter the council, one has to hold enough will and charisma, as well as a good outern appearance, enough to reach the desired goals in guilds negotiations. It's been proven that negotiations with guild leaders that feel compassion towards the interviewer did not achieve the desired results. While this might sound like a light achievement, truth is that, after years of motionless street lying, lots of beggars got too bound to their street spot, and so comfortable they are with their big amount of free time, that few dare to make the jump, not that their physical condition might allow them to jump much, after all.
Precisely those dead times between alms, have been used for some to cultivate their arts; it is common knowledge that some of the most celebrated yliakean poets have been, at some point of their lives, beggars. (yeah the endless natural law loop that feeds the poets guild with the ones exiting from the beggars guild, and the other way around *circle of life song from Lion's King soundrack sounds in the background*)
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Nilrem on October 21, 2006, 04:47:59 pm: As stated, one of the three pillars asked for it. So this is all your fault, Syilph ^^.
I'm going to post something. Calling it a story, or a guild history, would be too presumptuous since there's no plot at all. But since you have asked me few things, it was my duty to fulfill that, somehow. I would have liked this to be done in a brighter way.

But truth is that I've never thought deep enough as a beggar, as to create a solid story with them. Nor my ingame experiences as Miyen have been enriching enough as for me taking some of what was lived in there, to create a story. Precisely that failure in game is what made me create this thread, to try to spread the idea, and conscienciate people that there's more than warriors and wizards. That it should be possible, to create society, life outside the eternal fights of good vs evil. That one can be a cook, a dancer, a singer, a poetist, a traveller, a merchant, an alchemist...

For this first "chapter" I had the support and help of someone that I appreciate a lot, Aradia Demeter. Thanks to that help, this, what you'll read if you keep going, will be the most high chapter of all the eventually published in here. Anything remotely close to literature that anyone might think has found in this first text, is surely not of my own.

Having played this game seems more worth it, when one recalls that has been able to meet people like the aforementioned two.

So here you have it.

(I think I'll post the actual "story" to call it someway, in a new post, since normally people does not like to go through big posts, and this one will probably be skiped by many)

Edit: Permission acquired. Credits given now naming the person explicitly. :flowers:
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Nilrem on October 21, 2006, 09:38:37 pm: The light was starting to shine with less intensity on the city of Hydlaa. Groups of people moved fast through the streets like tiny ants not finding the entrance hole, realizing the day was ending while feeling that there might be something left for them to do. Anything, if only to arrive home and call the day a day.

Despite the characteristics of its tenants, the beggar's guildhouse suffered the light decreasing just like its sorrounding buildings. Mercy was something not to be expected from an immense crystal embedded at the top of a cave. That crystal was an ill-tempered one, for the very top of the cave was reserved solely for its strict and commanding presence.

With the light fading, the building resembled even more a large head of a kran, to whom an immense saw had the top of it removed, and replaced by another, more delicate one. If krans had gender, it would be the perfect symbol of a head mixing male and female rock traits.

As a whole, it would not pass as a beautiful building. The large, solid rocks of the lower floors changed to a more civilian style when reaching the height of the third floor.
Its main entrance, formed by two wide wooden panes, allowed a cart to pass easily through them.

However, this was not possible anymore. Due to urban expansion, a new building arose seemingly out of nowhere next to the Beggar's guildhouse; a bit too close for comfort. The cart might be able to make its way through the street, but Hydlaa designers did not seem to take into account that the cart had to turn, in order to enter the building.

Governments had always been aware of the space limitation that living inside a stalactite carries, but population in Hydlaa kept rising. Building massification was a product of this. Laws were made to limit the number of descendants, just as it was done with flying creatures when the air space became too filled.

Assassin guilds arose as law enforcers, helping to keep the population limited. To their surprise, governments chased them.

Messages coming from above have always been hard to get for the common population.

Look at Laanx; he still cries when remembers that his statue in the city, is actually showing his back to the temple devoted to him. What can you expect if your followers are keen to starve?

No less than a fork on your statue, and a beater on your temple.

Edit: Thanks to Auithianilize, for further polishing, and aid with unclear expressions and wrong words used. :flowers:
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Gharan on October 22, 2006, 07:29:51 am: Very well thought out and original good luck with the guild. :thumbup:
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Syilph on October 23, 2006, 11:57:46 am: The story I've been waiting for! \o/
/me likes
Keep it up, Nilrem ;)
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Nilrem on October 26, 2006, 06:29:02 pm: @Gharan: As said in the first post, the idea is not original, but taken from Terry Pratchett. Credit should go for him. Still, thanks for the praise :)

@Syilph: You were waiting for a story, but this is not the one you were really waiting for ^^ this will be...different. :P
A relief that you're liking it. :flowers:

*********************************************************

The beggars building hosted some of the greatest thinkers of all Hydlaa. Or at least, some of the ones that had more time to think.

Truthfully, they normally considered any other activities more important than simply thinking; one would say the building acted as a big black hole, sucker of thoughts.

However, some escaped that tendancy and managed to argue that, in fact, the crystal did not obey their begs to let them have light for a longer time simply not to cause envy to the rest of the surrounding guild headquarters.

The black hole was such a gourmet, and only allowed to escape those thoughts not worth to be swallowed.

It was said that the building belonged to a farmer, and that with Hydlaa expansion through the years, the city engulfed the surrounding towns, and a building concieved to hold and breed a large amount of stinky animals was then occupied by the beggars.

It can proudly stand as one of the few buildings that did not change its functionality due to urbanism advance.

The structure had three floors. Not many farms have three floors so the beggars wanted to believe the building belonged to a rich farmer, or even an aristocrat of the ancient times.

The owner was simply a stupid farmer, with an excesive tendancy towards fancy architecture.

Hydlaa was the right city to experiment with arquitecture. No matter how hard he would have tried, there would be always weirder buildings made, or on plan.

Edit: Typo. Thanks, once again, Auithianilize. :flowers:
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Nilrem on October 29, 2006, 08:46:08 pm: This chapter goes to Bereror. For different reasons, the first of them: he loves long posts. He's also been always a helping hand in any technical issue that I might have had when trying to run the game, and has had such attitude towards everyone else, as far as I can tell. During a talk, he also game me the seed that eventually grew up and became what you'll read. Thanks Bereror. :flowers:

***************************************************

A lonely man approaches the building, his mane fluttering at the wind. Hakil Ildiom has been through many battles, tough ones judging by the scars on his face and serious expression, although it seems he was victorious in them all.

*slight paper crumpling sound*

Hakil turns, trying to guess where the sound had its origin, his dark grey cape defeating the light breeze due to his decided move, his wide arms tensed, the hilt at hand.

Noone.

The mighty warrior relaxes, looks to one and another side of the street. If this was a trap, he would be ready to add it to his list of successes, from the assault of Butchin village, till the battle for the lake of Zhamlech. He had them ordered alphabetically, pity he was in Hydlaa, and not in Akkaio.

Voices came from a nearby street. Nothing wrong, just people returning home. It was evening and his armour fought to reflect the last ray of lights that were going to be thrown in that day. The ambience acquired an ocher colour, as if everything was covered with amber.

*heavier crumpling sound, followed by agitated mumbling*

The sword sang happily when released from its jail, and was menacingly swirled describing a circle around Hakil, his fingers moved frantically, ready to strike.

*crumpling sound, then a murmured curse*

This time Hakil faced where the sound came from, his eyes narrowing, the eyebrows meeting each other, the lips opressed, minimal compared to the imposing jaw.

- CUT! - a man yelled, his hands covering his eyes while heading towards the set.

Hakil features relaxed, the sword was lowered and looked questioningly to the man approaching him.

The little man held a bunch of papers on his left hand, and looked at them trying to find something.
Eventually, he arose his head and faced the mighty warrior.

- Now, who are you? - he asked bluntly.

The deep voice of Hakil filled the space.
- Hakil Ildiom, son of Eildur, defeater of the Angerath's army, carrier of Endun's bracelet, re...

- Yes, yes... fine – the other man replied, cutting Hakil's curriculum speech-. You see... you don't figure in here – said the man pointing to the bunch of papers.

- Sir, that's the catering menu -a loud male voice replied from the darkness.

The man holding the papers turned to the darkness and yelled:
- Have we any other camera assistants?

- We've two more, sir. - Came the reply, this time a woman voice.

- Fire that one, then – said the director, and turned towards Hakil, still holding the papers -. You see, we're rolling something about beggars in here... - he started.

- But... but I'm maxed! -Hakil was not going to let the chance go, and showed an official paper that indeed proved he was maxed. In more than one stat. Not that he needed a paper for that, though.

The director scratched his head, his hair acquiring a weird form after that, and adjusted his glasses, facing again the hero.
- I honestly think you've better chances of success if you tried to enrole in another type of project. There's a casting for Eternal Battle between Goods and the Evil part 1437 in the set next door.

Hakil pointed somewhere on the left.
- Right there?

The director nodded.
- Left there. They make films at a high speed, more than 600 over the year, you'll find your place there.

- Hollywood -Hakil whistled, while deciding which of his arms was right and which left-.
- Holly mother of god, I'd say. Those do move the money, man. - and tapping Hakil robust shoulders, he turned and headed towards his chair.

Hakil remained standing still for a second, his cheekbones fighting to blush. It's always sad to see a soldier losing a fight, even if there were only his cells this time. Hakil sheathed his sword, and proudly moved towards the glory awaiting him on the other set. A silence followed his departure.

- Independant films – the director wanted to dive in his chair-. Let's roll that outdoor scene before the light goes completely out. I'd better have that building recorded by the end of this week...

Sound of people moving followed, and a poster filled the scene.

- Beggars Guild Sorry. Story. -a tiny voice said, while a mumbling coming from the director was heard, once again-. Ou... Outern building sight. Take 2.

- Aaaand Action!

If that was an order, it had so little will in it, that it would not have even encouraged a dwarf to drink yet another ale.
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Nilrem on November 02, 2006, 05:26:12 pm: Thanks to those of you that still resist, and keep visiting this thread.
I received a couple of comments regarding the previous post, and both of them seemed to like it. Thanks for stating it guys. Thanks too to those lots of others that didn't, and were extremely respectful not sending me their yells. I just can encourage both sides to keep like this.

If anyone thought that the previous post marked a tendency, from where the writing could go up to a higher level, better be warned now. It was a false alarm.

****************************************************************

The first floor was devoted to the animals.
There they basically fed themselves, bred and had their life. There were no inner walls separating stances, it was a large and wide room where the voice could go out of your mouth never to find the way back to your ears.

The beggars called that floor the hall. It's the word they heard people used in their own houses, and when you've a building with three floors, you can't allow yourself not to have a hall. A hall it was then.

But names don't make rooms; the impression any new beggar trespassing the main door had was of chaos if that was the first house ever seen, and of chaos for those that was not.

Order is a state that is reached when there's no will left in the anfractuous attempt to bring sense to the chaos.

The hall was in fact all the house parts, except the bedrooms, shaked and mixed in a cocktail box and thrown away once the ice was already melting.
Tables and chairs that could stand for the diningroom were followed by shelves that conformed the library and from there to the kitchen or the resting areas.

Edit: Typos. Thanks anonymus reader. :)
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Nilrem on November 04, 2006, 09:23:30 pm: The second floor was the farmer flat.

Normally, farmers chose to make a house, appart from the animals, where they would live. For some reason, this one did not consider that possibility, and instead devoted the floor to make it his house.
An animal lover. Really someone with bad nose to business as will be seen later, and to odours, as is seen now.

The guy surely felt thinner inside his own flat than when walking on the Hydlaa streets. The second floor had the same size than the room below, filling such space with a bed and a closet certainly gives the impression of spaciousness. And cold in winter.

Beggars devoted that floor to the bedroom area.

One might think that beggars sleep on the streets, and thus, there's no need for them to have bedrooms in their own guildhouse. What they do on the street, is meditate. Beg and meditate. Some meditate too few, and what you actually see is boredom on their faces.
Wait, perhaps those were the ones that did meditate. In any case, the point is that a beggar never sleeps when at work.

Begging is a way of life.

Their only way, for that matter.

The second floor was, then, a large file of aligned mattresses, where the beggars that had ended their work turn, could sleep.

The former owner would be pleased to see how his initial plans were fully respected by those beggars.

Following the plans of a stupid, does not turn you into one; simply proves you're lazy.

And beggars are.
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Nilrem on November 07, 2006, 07:10:40 pm: People wondered where the origins of the third floor were.

It held the private chambers of the Council members, and it was the only floor in all the house that had divisions inside of it. Being it so different to the other two, there had to be some good reason behind it.

The guild begged for the illumination of renowned citizens.

Religious leaders were consulted.

Talad followers explained that, in fact, the three floors stood for the three deities that those lands had. Talad, Laanx, and his scission, the Black Flame.

Obviously Talad was represented with the third floor, that had the honour to be the one divided, and currently held the Council members. The other two, below Talad, represented the other religions not able to compete with Talad's will, and with the need of spiritual healing on their insides, this latter need sustended by the fact they had no inner walls. Empty bodies lacking a soul.

Once knowing this explanation was gifted to the beggars for free by Talad followers, Laanx adepts quickly knocked the guildhouse doors to add their own vision.

Apparently the initial explanation caused such an impact, since they kept the floor distribution that Talad followers suggested, but the explanations were slightly changed.

The two first floors represented Laanx and the scission; by Laanx generousity Talad was allowed to stay above, and have the third floor. Talad and Laanx had been lovers in the past, and eventhough some books picture Laanx filled with rage towards his old mate, Laanx followers mantained that his generousity was never lost.

As for the first two floors, the absence of walls was explained as a sign of purity, all the unnessential parts removed from them.
It was Laanx, in his femenine side almost forgotten, the one that held not only the farmer and his family, but also the animals, in the immense uterus that the first two floors conformed.

Those religion representatives had way too much time.

They could have been nice beggars.

When the representants of the Black Flame went to the guildhouse, after having flamed for always being the last ones to know about things, they were begged not to speak.
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Nilrem on November 27, 2006, 08:34:14 pm: In those early times, religions did not yet realize the importance of numbers. Just imagine a religion heavily based in one single number, say three, like the floors the guild house had. It would just not work. Impossible.

That's why, besides the religious leaders, the Numerologists existed. Their task was to investigate proportions of the known land, and give sense to those numbers. Needless to say, three became the pillar number.

Yliakum levels are shaped in an almost circular form. Numerologists managed to estimate the perimeter of those circumferences. Finding the diameter was another story. Specially considering they started by the first level. That large hole in the middle of it certainly makes things tricky. Obstinacy is a quality all Numerologists share, so they kept insisting on roughly measuring it.

Eventually, someone realized that measuring those same parameters in the lowest levels would be easier, since the central hole was smaller.

Three years had to pass till someone noticed this. Numerologists took note of the number, for further investigation.

Soon, they discovered that the relation between the diameter and the perimeter was three. That is, the perimeter was three times the diameter. At that point, they realized how much the three number ruled the world, since they had to wait also three years, before being allowed to achieve such an enlightenment. Clearly a deity sign. Furthermore, applying the same rule of the three (even nowadays the rule of the three stands) they found out how all the levels followed that same pattern. Levels shaped by gods.

Once the power of number three was discovered, Numerologists quickly found places to apply it.

Starting by the meals of the day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Following by the body parts: head, torso, and extremities. Even the levels of the stalagmite, wrongly believed to be eight; the Numerologist replied that, in fact, the surface was to be considered the first level of it, which then would make the stalagmite have nine levels, that after all, was three times three. Even the states of matter were three: solid, liquid or gas. The Alchemists guild felt part of the world, for once in its life.

It all fit perfectly. The whole environment was designed; and clearly three was the key pattern.
So how a guild house could escape those laws?
Three words: It would not.
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Nilrem on December 04, 2006, 11:13:20 pm: It was not weird, then, that Numerologists came to support the fact that the third floor was added to the building with a defined objective, of such subtility that it was hard for them, plainly mortal minds, to embrace all its significance.

Still, they added, the number of floors was not a casual one. Everything was set up by a higher mind, and it was a pity that the farmer was not alive to explain them the truth of all things.

Three were the deities in the land; the farm was set in Hydlaa, the city of six letters that upon substraction of the three deities leaves as a result, then again, the three number. The number of floors.

A Numerologist emissary was sent to the Beggars guild house. He was dressed with a fine gown, decorated with golden numbers, having all of them something to do with number three; his beard measured three inches, giving him a feeling of sophistication and learned one.

The beggars that were not in their working turn, gathered around him, as kids listening to a storyteller. The Numerologist looked around satisfied, and feeling inside a sacred place, he started to advertize his believings, just like the religious leaders did before him.

- “Nine are the races of evolved species that populate Yliakum” – he said with a grave voice, sounding clearly in the first floor. And looking around he added – “Humans, Elfs, Dwarves, Lemurs, Krans, Diaboli, Enkidukais, Klyros and Ynnwns.”

He let some time pass, while the sentence was still being repeated by the thick room walls, for his audience to embrace the whole significance, nodding from left to right, as the group started to marvel.

When the first comments arose amongst the audience, the Numerologist exclaimed loud and clearly, raising his hands to the ceiling while the gown slipped and shew naked arms under it:

- “And isn't nine the result of adding three times three? It is not three the sacred number that rules the laws of this, our world?”

This time it was the audience the one who started to nod vehemently. Concentrated faces could be spotted amongst them, each of those trying to find another example where that number was showing its divine origin. The Numerologist came to their aid, and revealed them the next step:

- “Would this only work for our known races? By all means not." - He looked around, as wanting to find someone who, for a moment, could have considered such a possibility- "What if we name each and every kind of those races?”

The beggars started to look one another, not really seeing where the Numerologist was leading them. He showed his fist, and raised one finger, while saying:

- “Xachas” -then he lifted another finger- “Ylians” -the audience started to understand what he was transmitting as the finger raising process followed – “Nolthrirs, Dermorians, Stone Breakers, Hammer Wielders, Lemurs, Krans, Diaboli, Enkidukais” -he now closed one fist- “Klyros” – he closed the remaining one- “and Ynnwns!”

- “Isn't this twelve? Isn't this four times three? Aren't we now only three units away from before?”

The audience cheered and applauded, surrendering to the evidence of the facts.

- “We beg for more! We beg for more!” -was heard coming from the back of the room.
- “Beg! Three letters!” -exclaimed the Numerologist- “Rejoy in your situation, for you've been chosen to have as a job” -the Numerologist nodded, as one beggar from the front line gestured to him the number three as he said 'job'- “one that suits and fits in our master number.”

- “Oh God!” -came the answer.
- “Three letters!” - was the reply, the Numerologist stood on the stand, having three fingers raised, to be seen by the audience, while walking around, like a wild animal observing the sure prey.

- “Let's joy!” -enthusiastically exclaimed one beggar.
- “Three letters!”

- “We've been chosen!”
- “Three letters!”

- “HEY, it is NOT!”
- “Three letters!”

- “It's unbelievable!”
- “Three letters!”
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Syilph on December 05, 2006, 09:24:07 am: /me is shocked to notice that there are three trees somewhere on Ojaroad, groupped together, there are 6 ways of magic and 6 Gods [2 times 3] the trias have three corners...

By the gods! It is true! All hail the three!

/me looks down thinking about the significance of that number

What? I have three legs! Ummm... no, wait... that was my tail. *gigles, gulps an apple and leaves to find some other signs related to the magic "3"*
Title: Re: Beggars Guild
Post by: Nilrem on December 05, 2006, 10:54:30 am: Well, this should put an end to the Numerologist part. They've appearead already for long enough, I think. What follows was initially meant to be posted together with the last post, but it seemed to me it was too lenghty, hence the cut.

I've been through some dilemas on how to denote the dialogues. Is this way with the " " plus the - comfortable to read for you? (whoever reads this) I'd welcome feedback in this sense through PM. Thanks in advance.

Seems that there's already someone captivated by this number 3 theory.
Please, all this is nonesense.
If anyone feels that temptation, remember that this is only a game.
A 3-D game, in it's 0.3 version...

*********************************************************

The crowd could not stand it anymore, and they began talking amongst themselves.

A nice enkidukai was next to a dwarf:
- “I am an enkidukai” -said the female, while pointing repetitively to herself- “this makes nine letters, which is three times three. A chosen race!”

The dwarf was still counting his letters, when the enkidukai threw:
- “But you're a stone breaker, which makes twelve letters.”

The dwarf saw the counting was accurate, and looked a bit angered to the enkidukai, that tried to apologize.
- “Don't get me wrong, it is alright, four times three... yet not as perfect as we are.”

- “We can be nine too.” -said the dwarf calmly- “for I'm St Breaker.”
The enkidukai noticed how that made it nine letters, but could not avoid replying:
- “St Breaker?”
- “You know, you've to break the stone.” -ended the dwarf.

So low was the level of the spontaneous conversations that arose, that the Numerologist had to catch the attention of his audience once again. It was not long before all faces were looking at him.

- “Who was the one meant to enter this building nowadays?” - he inquired to his now indoctrinated audience.
- “A beggar!” - was the reply.
- “Six letters!” - apparently not everything was lost, he thought.

- “For whom the building was designed in the first place?” - the Numerogist continued.
- “The farmer?”- said the same one as before. The numerologist had to count that; it was six letters but there was the need to praise again number three, the master of numbers, the number of floors. With amazing speed, the Numerologist discarded the suggested answer and raising his arms once again, exclaimed:
- “The cow! Three letters again!”

The audience fell at his feet once more. Cheers and exclamations came back, as groups looked at each other with open mouths, astonished, holding their faces unable to accept such a big reality, marvelling about themselves and convincing each other with more facts.

They wasted a night of their lives praising number three.

All the candles of the hall were lighted that night, and both the light and sounds were to be seen and heard from the outside, making that one of the most fervent nights in all the guild's recent history.

Stupidity has nine letters. Three times three.

Extract Hydlaa from stupidity, and you've again your number three.

It's just impossible to extract stupidity from Hydlaa.