Yliakumised Literary Forms.

[Xillix Queen of Fools]

I have a request of aid.

As we go further with the writing of books for the libraries in game, what sort of forms of literature do people think would be present in Yliakum?

I mean hear the poetic forms, sonnets, rhyme royale, haiku, or any of a multitude of earth's established forms of writing should probably NOT rule the day, so what should take their place?

Will the people of Yliakum write novels, short stories, novellas?

What is the state and condition of literature in the game's world?

Who are its great writers and what did they contribute?

Essentially, I will take input from the player-base to aid the settings team in determining how we should move forward under advisement, and perhaps include some of your thoughts as we continue.

[Dajoji]

I imagine the diversity of races and sentient species and their backgrounds, as well as the harmony among them allow room for experimentation in the arts, and since there's printing technology, I think many forms and subjects would be supported: poetry, novels, plays, etc. Epic, historic and religious content strike me as Yliaki favorites. Also, I believe the Ortarchy would be very active with publications, especially periodical ones. Magazines and newspapers should also reflect Yliakum's social life.

[Waylander]

They've only been in Yliakum for a few decades so they must still be discovering new things.  I imagine most of the writings would be of discoveries and adventures.  With history only really starting to take on a large role recently.

I'm curious as to what influence people think magic would have on fiction.

[Leama]

Xillix I would love to see books on the characters that play the game. The stories that the players tell become the history of the game. If you wish I would love to help you with this. What a great role play! It would be fun. I have one already as a matter of fact.

[Prolix]

Seeing as the races are generally from elsewhere I would assume there would be a certain amount of nostalgic looks back from whence they came. Also the nature of their arrival might well cause some speculation as to where else they may have gone or where their missing kin might be. Given the diversity of races there might even be tales of other stranger races.

[Eila]

I think that what is already in the library is relevent (good job, btw).
One might consider adding rituals, songs, biographies and more scientific works, or thesis. All of which can add substance and concrete tidbits to the setting of Yliakum. The bottom line is that information and folklore present in these works will most likely end up used in roleplay (if not implemented). As always, when is a subject fictitious, theoretical, based on innuendo or beliefs and when is a subject fact? There has to be a distinction between fact and fiction. Not to mention that what is 'fact' needs to be consistant.

You could perhaps mix song and ritual and give it a formal name like 'ablution' or 'solemnisation'. With each race or religion having their own versions (a vigil, praying, sacrifice, marriage, death, birth). A short historical journal detailing what major events that have occured in the known world might also be appropriate (a chronological record, ie: eclipses). Memoirs, Thanatopsis, liturgy, anecdote, legend, consuetude, habitude, praxis all come to mind. Again, some works are factual, others are fictitous (until proven otherwise).

While arts as entertainment would add realism, the covered topics would best serve the settings. So as far as what works might be written by Yliakum's citizens, i'ld suggest Essays and journals at least partly based on non-fiction.

Good writers: probably Londris because of the content. I guess that pretty well says what i'm thinking.

[Zan]

This is a tough question ... back in our medieval time writing was a rare skill and mostly performed by monks, who were either writing books on religion or on education. However considering that in Yliakum almost everyone is literate and most people are very educated (despite any form of school ) I'd look towards ancient greek, roman and egyptian periods ... they had a lot of work on philosophy, (pseudo-)sciences, culture, large events who were glorified and speak of interaction with deities, the rise of heroes and what not ... I think all those things fit better in Yliakum. Religion should be portrayed more like the greek and roman myths, stories of characters (NPC or player) and gods interacting.

Since settings uses the books to spread their information fiction will have to be approached carefully, like with "the Derghir Menace" it can't be completely clear whether it is fact or fiction but players need to be aware of the possibility. Anyone who talks to the Derghir at their village can make their mind up for themselves. They need to be able to investigate whether a book is real or fictionous.

[Donari Tyndale]

I agree with Zan, religious literature in any form would be present a lot, as the gods are present in Yliakum. Another form of literature that would be present are reference books, like merchandise knowledge or crafting books, as well as official documents. The other forms of literature depend on the availability of books. Would a peasant be able to afford a book? If everyone can buy a sheet of paper for almost nothing, there would be a huge amount of tales/poetry etc., much like in the real world. Expensive paper means that authors need to think twice before they write, as it could eventually bankrupt them.

[Illysia]

I think poetry and guides would be more common. Poetry can be easier to write and guides have practical uses. Also, there would probably be a fair amount of memoirs of Yliakum notables. Like it has been said earlier writing and books would not have been a common thing and in our real past one of the marks of status would have been having the time to read long books of little practical value. Oh and lets not forget the obvious fiction. Not every fictional work would be easy to mistake for fact. 

[Phinehas]

I agree with Zan for the most part, except I think it would still be a little more primitive than the average Greek or Egyptian stuff... Those cultures were centuries, possibly even millenia in the making, and Yliakum isn't. For the rest, I think blank verse seems to somehow fit... I don't know, that's just me. It seems it would vary from race to race... It's a really deep issue, and I think to come up with actual worthwhile suggestions I'd have to sit down and really think it through... But fortunately, I'm not on the dev team, so that's your job.

[Kieve]

Lots of interesting ideas... the Greek/Roman comparison does work, but only Talad and Laanx have been present until rather recently, and I think it would take a bit of time for "the Pantheon" to really take hold in literature. Which is to say, of the four major deities (and the one blacklisted), only Talad and Laanx would have any significant literary presence.

The one solid idea I would go with is to give each race a subtly different style, even with regard to the same writing forms (IE a book written by a Lemur would be wordier and more precise than the same topic written on by a Ylian, etc)

[Socius Rockus]

The one solid idea I would go with is to give each race a subtly different style, even with regard to the same writing forms (IE a book written by a Lemur would be wordier and more precise than the same topic written on by a Ylian, etc)

I think it's to narrow minded to let someone writing style be defined by race. It's in the way you've learned to write and which writing style suits you the most. It's not like when (for example) You're an Enkidukai you can't learn from an Lemur.  There can be different writing styles, but not race based. I think it would be more reasonable to place different writing styles within different places/towns/cities. (Not all places feature one race only )

For Literature I think Waylander has the Idea, much science/magic related books and of course The gods
Poetry is for entertainment, but can also have learning aspects/religious aspects/ect. in it.

As last, I'm not sure if this falls under this topic, Drama. Instead of publishing romans/novels playing out the story on theater will have a bigger audience then a book and would give more people 'a job'. Books are hard to publish and therefor probably expensive, so stuffing it into a play might even be cheaper. So that's along the way of Zan with the romans and greeks. They did that to entertain the people so even the less wealthier could get a sniff of culture.

 

[Zan]

Phinehas, Ylaikum's culture might be young but the culture of the people that came there, with the exception of Kran and Lemur is much much older. They lived on other worlds and even thought we don't know a thing about that, they would have brought a lot of cultural background from there. The applicable knowledge of Yliakum would be just developing but people like the Xacha would have had education and scholars appearing in Yliakum ... so in that aspect they'd get a boost start that could quickly put them on par with developed cultures.

[Jeraphon]

It is the most important issue facing every resident in Yliakum: to whom does one entrust one's soul’s final fate?

Dakkru. That one's not up for discussion.

[Phinehas]

Phinehas, Ylaikum's culture might be young but the culture of the people that came there, with the exception of Kran and Lemur is much much older. They lived on other worlds and even thought we don't know a thing about that, they would have brought a lot of cultural background from there. The applicable knowledge of Yliakum would be just developing but people like the Xacha would have had education and scholars appearing in Yliakum ... so in that aspect they'd get a boost start that could quickly put them on par with developed cultures.

I agree... but I still think it's a stretch to compare them with Egypt or the Greeks... They just came to this land... Although they're definitely not cavemen, they're still relatively new to this land and these gods... They're still a developing culture in their new land...