a request from the settings team

[DAudioLink]

How much medical knowledge do they have in Yliakum? Do they know about germs and viruses or just use the healing properties of the crystal and crystal way to heal people?
Is there anything similar to latex or silicone in use in Yliakum?

[Jeraphon]

How much medical knowledge do they have in Yliakum? Do they know about germs and viruses or just use the healing properties of the crystal and crystal way to heal people?
Is there anything similar to latex or silicone in use in Yliakum?

Some, but not a lot. Healing isn't just for the Crystal Way, but for alchemists and herbalists as well. In addition, there are barbers who double as surgeons.

They probably wouldn't know about germs and viruses, only that someone is sick and they might know how to cure the sickness.

[LlubNek]

Probably some of this is in game somewhere, but anyway...

"scientists" are mentioned among the Xacha in connection with their history and religion.

Are these scientists still around?
Is this actual reliable science, crackpot nut cases or forgotten lore?
Does Xacha science generally focus on technology, archeology, botany and zoology, thaumatology (as in scientific method applied to magic), or some other field, or is it just "scientific reasoning", or hypothesis, theory, experiment, conclusion type scientific method applied to whatever?

What is the relationship between science and magic?
Is an Yliakum scientist likely to reject magical elements of a new discovery or technology?
Is an Yliakum mage/alchemist/etc. likely to reject scientific explanations of how some complex thing works?
Are there devices incorporating both high(er) technology and magic? (not computers, etc. perhaps, but let's say an autonomous golem powered by a steam engine but controlled by magic (the first steam engine that I know of was built in Greece in something-or-other BC, so if we're going for medieval, it still fits))

Exactly how advanced is science and technology in Yliakum?
Which fields are they stronger/weaker in than others?
Which fields are currently advancing fastest?
Besides Xacha being generally good scientists and mathematicians, which races are better at scientific research in which fields (besides Xacha)?  For example, Kran might be expected to have an advantage in geology, while Diaboli might have an advantage in metallurgy from dealing with various molten stuff in their homeland.
What races are already more advanced in which fields or are they all about equal (share information equally)?

Are there fields in which knowledge has been lost?
What knowledge?
What evidence is there to support this?
Is this knowledge likely be reclaimed?

And repeat all above questions for magic, where appropriate...

[Jeraphon]

That sure is a tall order and thanks for all the questions, which we'll note. But I'll answer this now:

Xachas tend to devote themselves to intellectual pursuits like math and science, and yes these scientists are still around. Their main place to study is the Xacha College in the City of Stars on the Stronghold (4th) level. Pursuits include things like technology, architecture, alchemy and physics.

Actual reliable science can be found there. There are more...eccentric scientists at the Observatorium on the Dome (1st level.) I wouldn't say "crackpot" but I'd say their applications of science run to the unusual.

[DAudioLink]

What are the normal sizes for newborns of the different races, other than Kran?
Also, what races can female dwarfs comfortably give birth to, or will they only give birth to dwarfs?

[LigH]

As far as I remember ... if interrace breeding works at all, there is usually a dominant race, except for the Ynnwn case? So it's quite possible that dwarfs may not be able to have children from different races at all, or dominate.

[Jeraphon]

As far as I remember ... if interrace breeding works at all, there is usually a dominant race, except for the Ynnwn case? So it's quite possible that dwarfs may not be able to have children from different races at all, or dominate.

No. Interrace breeding works, but there's no dominance. Except for diaboli and elf producing an ynnwn, there's an equal chance of the child being from either parent's race. Don't bring genetics into it.

Dwarves can bear children of any race with which they can breed. We can say, um....hmm...that in Yliakum the races don't grow as much in the womb, but rather grow more significantly shortly after birth. I dunno. All these minutiae about births...

[Pizzasgood]

You could just have everyone lay eggs instead

Hey, everyone's always griping about how they want Planeshift to be unique.  Might as well give it to them!

[Jeraphon]

You could just have everyone lay eggs instead

Funny you mention this.

Long story short, Talad said no.

[bilbous]

Maybe you could have existing people dream of someone new who then steps out of the dream full grown.

[Raa]

Maybe you could have existing people dream of someone new who then steps out of the dream full grown.

How so?

[Siteri Kidachi]

This isn't talking about people being born fully-grown... it's talking about things like the sizes of the wombs of females of different races and whether they'd be able to cope with having a baby of a different race.

[theirah]

magic? 

after all, we dont know whether there is any magic inside the body of any of the races...

[bilbous]

I just offered a novel approach to reproduction that would be unique. I do not actually expect it to be adopted. It could work like this: two (or more or less under unusual circumstances) people sleeping in proximity somehow start mystically dreaming together. In the dream a body starts to take shape and slowly forms completely. Once the body is fully formed it may attract a passing soul which takes possession of it whereupon it is expelled from the dream into the "real" world.

There is no reason why the arrival of new life has to follow anything familiar.

[Raa]

Bilbous, that's a pretty interesting idea, but no. Just... no. Then where'd the fun of it all be?