a request from the settings team

[Camazotz]

I haven't been able to find these anywhere IG, but please tell me if I can:
- Is the actual way glyphs DRAW the power from the crystal unknown (I mean as in how they draw and get the power from the crystal, not how they are formed)?
- If tiny parts of the Crystal do fall, how big are these, and how common?
- Is the damp and mould in the deeper sections of the Laanx Temple dungeon caused by proximity to the sewers, or some other factor?
- Are the banners in the dungeon replaced, or have they mostly been preserved by the poor ventilation and unstirring air, or by magical mkeans?
- Would these tiny parts of the Crystal have an effect on a being? As in True Death when consumed, or can we as players determine this in our RP?
- Are burial wells supposed to be watched by guards, or is it a matter of tradition which makes people stay away?

[Prolix]

If you go to the stone head you will see an actual npc guard guarding it.

[kjnelan]

Also I've heard people say we aren't ment to know we are in a slaigtite but I read that a xacha came up with the theory and we aren't alowed to mine on the lower levels because of this. So which way is it?

I know I should think of everything then put it in one post rather than posting as they come.

If the topmost level of the stalagtite is closest to the crystal, then is there ever nightfall or wouldn't the crystal provide light throughout the day and night? (how many hours are in a day? is it 24 like ooc?)

Is there another world or are there other races outside of the stalagtite?  has anyone ever gotten outside and is there a way to go outside?

(should I even stop asking these questions if there is no such thing as an outside?)

[Under the moon]

Also I've heard people say we aren't ment to know we are in a slaigtite but I read that a xacha came up with the theory and we aren't alowed to mine on the lower levels because of this. So which way is it?

I know I should think of everything then put it in one post rather than posting as they come.

The people do know now that Yliakum is in a hanging stalactite. Any books that say otherwise are (or will be) dated before that discovery was made.

If the topmost level of the stalagtite is closest to the crystal, then is there ever nightfall or wouldn't the crystal provide light throughout the day and night? (how many hours are in a day? is it 24 like ooc?)

Is there another world or are there other races outside of the stalagtite?  has anyone ever gotten outside and is there a way to go outside?

The crystal draws is light from the 'outside' world. In theory from a surface world. That brings cycles of day and night.

As for another world, not as far as this game is currently concerned. No one has ever traveled tot he surface. There are no other races, and no one came from the surface.

[kjnelan]

The crystal draws is light from the 'outside' world. In theory from a surface world. That brings cycles of day and night.

As for another world, not as far as this game is currently concerned. No one has ever traveled tot he surface. There are no other races, and no one came from the surface.

That actually paints quite an interesting picture.  I can see it now...  sitting by the campfire with the young kittens (or other youngens) telling them of the great unknown beyond the walls [which for some reason we can't see] and possibly the greatness of the Gods for creating such a place; or scary stories of the huge monsters that roam outside our protected world.

All of this of course would be done at the dark time when the sparkles from the crystal dust in the air starts to settle and is lit by distant city lights.

very cool.

[Arlaton]

Speaking of the light from the crystal, if Yliakum is just a stalactite on a larger planet, wouldn't there have to be multiple real suns for the day and night cycles to be about the same length. With only one sun I would think that the night would be a lot longer than day.

[Under the moon]

In Earth terms, the Crystal is like a big glow stick. The energy it gathers is released gradually.

[kjnelan]

In Earth terms, the Crystal is like a big glow stick. The energy it gathers is released gradually.

So then the glowy thingy in the really dark place [i ended up there once when a rat thought I was it's dinner] would be like a big blacklight glow stick?

uh huh.  I see.  Go on. [waits with baited breath]

or is there a book in the library I can read?  POINT ME I WANT MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   

[Prolix]

Well it is possible that if the azure crystal is lit from the sky, the dark crystal may be lit by a lava lake far below or some such thing...

[Zan]

That actually paints quite an interesting picture.  I can see it now...  sitting by the campfire with the young kittens (or other youngens) telling them of the great unknown beyond the walls [which for some reason we can't see] and possibly the greatness of the Gods for creating such a place; or scary stories of the huge monsters that roam outside our protected world.

Only one little issue .. nobody has been out there so nobody knows it exists. According to all our characters, Yliakum is their world and the cavern systems together with it, their universe. They can't imagine a surface world with so much more land and life.  Probably a good thing or everyone would start buying pickaxes and digging their way up

[Illysia]

Well it is possible that if the azure crystal is lit from the sky, the dark crystal may be lit by a lava lake far below or some such thing...

This was a cool explanation but then I saw that the crystal was moved from it's spot on the wall.

[Bubba]

Some Communications and Physiology-Related Questions on the Kran

1. What is the correct (nominative) plural for "Kran"? Is it built in analogy to:
a) fan > fans (kran > krans)?
b) man > men (kran > kren)?
c) ox > oxen (kran > kranen)?
d) fish > fish (kran > kran)?
e) Etc.

2. What is the correct adjectival form for "Kran"? Is it built in analogy to:
a) English > Kranish?
b) Gothic > Kranic?
c) Elven > Kranen?
d) Martian > Kranian?
e) Global > Kranal?
f) Granular > Kranular?
g) Etc.

3. Are the different stone types/colours responsible for their apparent differences in intelligence and/or linguistic capacity? (The more well spoken NPCs in Gugrontid seem to be of a brighter colour, while the not-so-bright Kran are typically 'granite'-coloured, e.g. Quasus vs. Malco. Is this intentional?)

4. Kran don't breathe like other races. But do they laugh/sigh/cough? Can they get the hiccups? Does running cause them to breathe heavily? That is, do they ever have to "catch their breath"?

5. Kran don't have ears, but instead "hear" through vibrations they pick up in their bodies. Does this mean that Kran can't hear things with a very low vibration rate (like the wind blowing through leaves or water trickling over stones)? Or perhaps the reverse, i.e. that they hear even better than most others? Can Kran hear things that otherwise would be impossible, like how fast/slow/irregularly someone's heart is beating (seeing as the heart sends out a kind of vibration), or someones brainwaves? And how much of a role does their "hearing" play in their vision? Do they have good eyesight? Is it complimented by their "hearing" (similar to a bat's "sonar")? Do the auditory vibrations manifest themselves as "images" seen in the Kranic "mind's-eye"?

6. Seeing as Kran are relatively "stiff" creatures, does this affect how they speak? For instance, do they have any speech impediments? (For example, 'p' is pretty tough to pronounce if you don't have moist and flexible lips. You might rather pronounce it as 'b'.) While we're on the topic of articulation, do they have teeth? If so, how many? Or perhaps they just have a pair of solid dental ridges?

7. Can Kran smell? I mean this in both senses, i.e. do they have a sense of smell and can they have body odour? Do they sweat? If so, is it a kind of liquid? Or rather some kind of "dust"? Further, do they ever feel the need to take a bath? If so, do they go to a lake? Or perhaps they roll around in mud? Or in dust, like some birds? Do they have parasites? Can moss grow on a Kran? If so, would that be considered attractive? Or perhaps a sign of spiritual advancement (seeing as they would probably have to be sitting in one place for a long time meditating to have moss growing on them).

More to come...

EDIT: Not exactly related to the specific topic above, but still related to Kran:

8. Could we have some more detail on the big stone/megalith in the Temple of Talad in Gugrontid? A right-click infobox or perhaps even a short dialogue with Quasus here would be great. What significance does it have? How was it formed? Is it contructed of brick-like pieces? Or are those lines carved into its surface? Do the forms the lines create represent something? Perhaps something with spiritual significance? How did it get there? Is it the focal point of Kran worship? If so, is that the case only while they are in the temple? Or does it perhaps serve as a point of orientation for more things, like the direction of prayers even while outside Gugrontid, etc.? While we're at it, please also tell us something relating to the two blue crystals on each side of the central megalith. (For example, the temple does occasionally become filled with a blueish light. Does this light emanate from these crystals? If so, how? Is there a symbiotic relationship between the priest and these stones? Or is it a means of expression of Talad himself?)

[Arlaton]

I am very interested in the answers to these, especially that Kran color observation.

I'm also still wondering about how far the fins go up along a Nolthrir's finger and how this effects their ability to wear rings. I think it got overlooked next to my other question that was answered.

[Toox]

On the Windowless Tower:

What purpose does it serve? Who might be expected to be met up there, if anyone? Does the average person in Hydlaa find it diffcult to reach?

And what's with all of the crates and boxes when you leave the Laanx dungeon?

[Under the moon]

Questions noted. I can't promise fast answers.