Is it common to travel to/from Yliakum in the present time?

[Araye]

Hi, I don't know if this has been asked before, but here goes...

[OOC]  Is it now a common occurance to travel to and from Yliakum via the magic portals or was it a one time thing?  I ask because I have read many histories and they seem to suggest that the magic portals are used quite frequently.

BTW, I'm hoping we exploit these portals all the time.

Araye

p.s.  Karyuu if this is a dup, please delete, but I would like to know the answer!

@Phinehas:  Let's see...  Setting Question that has to do with Communitive Storywriting, as it goes into peoples stories and it directly affects the RP....  and a snarky remark about lack of imagination...  But thanks for your reply.

[Phinehas]

This really isn't the place for that question, but to the best of my knowledge, the answer is no. The portals are something of the past. Now, I would not be surprised if many people use them in their stories as something that is still in use, but, again this is only to the best of my knowledge, that would be because they simply have no imagination.

[Karyuu]

Check the Q&A: August Answers:

Are the Portals still open? If not, how long ago did they close?

The portals from which the races arrived are most probably closed because some old writing said there was no way to go back. But none really know because we have no knowledge on where those portals were/are.

The Roleplay section isn't to ask setting questions, really. Such things are better in General Discussion.

[Araye]

Thanks Karyuu!  I appreciate your answer.  Please feel free to move it to it's proper board.

So if I've gotten this right, all present day characters came from Yliakum.  They did not grow up outside the Stalactite and then portal in.  And we can't leave and go to the cavern and then come back.  There isn't trade set up between the inside and outside. 

I guess that "the outside", in this case, is an "old wives tale" passed down from generation to generation or only known by the scientists that have recorded it in a dusty old book.

Looks like I've got some work to do and some bad news to break.  I was under the impression trade was common with the life outside the Stalactite.

Araye

[Karyuu]

So if I've gotten this right, all present day characters came from Yliakum.  They did not grow up outside the Stalactite and then portal in.  And we can't leave and go to the cavern and then come back.  There isn't trade set up between the inside and outside.

You have the right idea. The world outside of Yliakum isn't only unknown, it's mostly unimagined. Yliakum is all its average inhabitants know of, with some stories, myths and legends mixed in. It's very common to find characters roleplaying as though they've come from elsewhere (one of my own first blunders as well) - but it's also a "easy" tactic in a way. If your character isn't an Yliakum native (or similar) you can pretty much make any history you want instead of trying to be creative within the confines of the actual setting. In the end, avoiding outlandish roleplay saves people a lot of headaches wondering over logistics and consistencies.

[Araye]

I totally agree with you.

I know my posts on this topic may seem simple, but I am attempting to get "point blank" answers that leave no room for interpretation. 

The Enlightened are a roleplaying guild (as many guilds claim).  Part of the requirements for being a member of our guild is to have a character history that is published for all to read (again many guilds do this too).  If the High Council of my guild contributes to the rampant disregard for PS history, then we are in fact encouraging others to do the same.  I believe we should all work within a "common history".

So we strive to be a guild that is fully within the setting and my history is in violation due to some assumptions.  I am currently "fixing" those issues so that I set the proper example.  I will also make a formal change to the rules of my guild, that requires the histories to be within the PS setting.

But before I can do that, I needed some direct answers to some "common mistakes".  And I disagree with those that say the mistakes are from a lack of imagination.  They are from a lack of information.  For example, the first guild I was a member of stated that the guild leader was from an adjacent stalactite.  Because I didn't know it was not common to travel from stalactite to stalactite, I thought it was acceptable to make my character from the outside as well.  So, one person's mistake fed another's mistake.

So I put forth another question:  The Dermorian brought with them cattle, but did they bring any other livestock or horses? 

EDIT:  I search revealed NO HORSES...  I guess I have to pull that from my history too...

EDIT #2:  So is the Player's Guide the definitive source of information or is there an official more detailed source?

Araye

[Karyuu]

The Player Guide is but the tiniest fraction of information on the settings. Many details are not yet available - for various reasons, one of which may be that those details have not yet been decided upon. If you do have a question that you cannot find an answer to anywhere, stick it onto the Q&A thread here - tomorrow is the last day for questions, too, so you may be just in time.

[VMann]

EDIT:  I search revealed NO HORSES

Hmm, i also found a quote from Karyuu stating this (http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=17982.msg197424#msg197424 if you want to know), but talking to Rabartus Livrandar "about riding" reverals that "some ride horses".
Seems like someone should tell Rabartus about that.

[zog]

about the "no horses" thing ...if I remember correctly, a book in the library suggests that the Enkis use tents made of mule hide

[Araye]

I have confirmed that Rabartus tells of horses and he rides worms (Umbilucs? similar to consumersor maybe another name for consumers).  If mule hide is mentioned (yet to be confirmed), I think it is safe to assume "earthly" livestock are present in Yliakum as well are the more exotic animals.