Disobiki - User contributions [en]

User:D8uv

2006-01-04T08:06:16Z

D8uv: typo

Ghyll:Frequently Asked Questions

2005-05-23T14:16:14Z

D8uv: Answering a question perhaps?

If you've any questions or suggestions about the wiki and its syntax or the Lexicon rules, use this page to wax poetic. Be sure to sign your name (using either the second - from - the - right toolbar icon, or typing two hyphens and four tildes), which also includes the timestamp. When we have consensus (or the [[User:Morbus Iff|Mighty Stomp]] has spoken) we'll clean the new question up into FAQ format.

===How do I dib an entry (cf. Rule 1)?===
If there is a specific phantom you'd like to write, wait until the proper turn occurs (ie. waiting for the "R" turn to dib phantom "Rancor") and then edit the phantom to just include a statement of dibbing ("MIIine! ALlL MiIInnE!") and your name/signature. Naturally, the intent of dibbing an entry is so that you actually write it -- if you don't during that turn, your dib expires.

It's also common, either at the same time as the dib or shortly thereafter, to use "What links here" and/or the search box to find existing references to your phantom. You can then copy and paste relevant parts of those references (in wiki format) into the new phantom so that you don't miss any salient facts. (See [[User:Jcowan/Folktown]] for an extreme example of this; most phantoms don't have nearly so many references.)

===Can I cite more than I'm required to cite? (cf. Rule 2)===
In each turn after the first, you're required to cite exactly two phantom entries (which may be existing phantoms, brand new phantoms, or a mixture of both) and one existing entry, no more and no less. An article is cited by placing it in the Citations list at the bottom of your article. ''For Round 2, you may not cite two brand new phantoms.'' See the [[Ghyll Index]] and the [[Ghyll Phantom Index]], which jointly constitute a complete list of in-play terms.

None of these three citations can be terms you've created or written. However, this rule applies forward only: it isn't retroactively enforced. In other words, if you cite a phantom that someone else had created, and then in a later turn you define that phantom, you have not violated the self-citation rule.

If you've properly met these requirements, the body of your your entry can certainly link to other terms in the encyclopedia, including those you've personally written. These "other terms", however, ''must'' either be actual articles or already-defined phantoms, not brand-new phantoms. You are encouraged to link to the articles and phantoms that you cite, although there may be particular reasons for not doing so.

===What happens about linking to widely-used terms?===
It may often be the case that terms are used throughout the dictionary that are not cited initially: you're allowed to invent people, places, etc. that you don't actually cite in the Citations footer. That means that later in the game, people can write about these people, and references can be strewn across the wiki that don't actively ''link'' to the phantom. How is the person to be able to research the references? The general rule of thumb is that when you create a term that you know has been mentioned elsewhere, either you go about looking for existing references and link them (the Search box in the left nav bar is your friend), or the admins do it for you. [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 22:33, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

===What is this "Alternate Reality vs. Fictional World" business?===
It was our intent for Ghyll to be a "fictional world", one that has little semblance to the "real" world, namely Earth. While we realize this can be an impossibility, as creativity is emboldened in what we know, we wanted to stay away from what we call an "Earth parody" - a world that has direct, obvious, and blatant parallels to our own - more of an "alternate reality" as opposed to "fictional world". LORD OF THE RINGS is a "fictional world", whereas the Sci-Fi show SLIDERS is an alternate reality, as are the TWILIGHT ZONE, THE OUTER LIMITS, and so forth. Which isn't to say that I'm against equivalency - in the early game, newspaper, magnetism, war, research organizations, basements, "flash lights/beacons", etc. already exist. But they're described in an environment of "fictional world" not "alternate reality". As for judging text or entry quality, honestly, I'd like to stay as far away from that as possible. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:20, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)
:In practice, entries can be Earth-parodies (see [[Doc Rockett]] or [[Paramount Queen]]), and "Easter eggs" that refer to specific Earth things, transmogrified into the Ghyll context, are fine too. Just keep it fairly subtle. --[[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]] 11:12, 27 Apr 2005 (EDT)

===Is it correct to make multiple links to the same place?===
It's fine to have multiple links within one article to the same place, as long as you don't overdo it. One per paragraph is probably plenty. Exception: "EC" should be linked each and every time it is used. Linking different units to [[Chesix System Of Measures]] is also desirable.

===Should we correct other people's articles?===
The general etiquette on the correction of spelling and typos in entries other your own is to please go ahead and correct it! Furthermore, as long as you don't change the semantics of someone's entry, you can certainly change the syntax to make it easier to read, clearer, etc. Imagine you're correcting someone's English paper: you're not going to do their work for them, but you want to let them know that it's "i before e except after c and except in wierd words such as weird".

===Should existing terms be favored when a new phantom is being created?===
Doing this is certainly encouraged, as it helps help the interweaving and encourages things that are being mentioned to be solidified around an article. However, it's not against the rules to just make a "fresh" entry, with no immediate connection to any other defined, but not yet linked, term. Sometimes, freshness is just plain old needed.

===Why aren't both written entries and phantoms listed in the index?===
Quite simply, the page got too long. They were both merged into one back in the early game, but a few folks felt it just wasn't scaling, and thus, they were split up into two pages (the [[Ghyll Index]] and the [[Ghyll Phantom Index]]). You can see the last merged page at this [http://gamegrene.com/wiki/?title=Ghyll_Index&oldid=2171 archived URL].

===What's the procedure for joining in late?===
You must join in at the current letter and then proceed at the normal pace without going back to earlier letters, Allowing new players filling in entries on earlier letters would probably create a situation where only one or two folks would have time to read the "out of turn" entries (which isn't to say that you'll never be able to define an A entry -- Ghyll is planned indefinitely, with a new round starting at A once Z is reached).

A new player starting at A and remaining ''n'' entries behind the rest of the players would unnaturally unbalance the game. If you and I were conspiring to make Ghyll solely about balloon animals, for instance, I could define phantoms for letters that you'll be defining soon (which everyone else has already finished - 'ha! everyone else has finished C so I'll phantom Choking Hazard and Shataina wi... muHAHHAHAHhHAH!'), and we'd be able to exert heavier "control" of Ghyll's direction.

===What are the house rules for signatures?===
Always two hyphens (--) followed by <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>, which'll automatically link your username, timestamp, and timezone. If you don't set an alternate name, then the default is to just link to your username. To set your "use for signatures" name, go to [[Special:Preferences]], and the third white box should be "Your name (for signatures)". Set that, and make sure "Raw signatures" is unchecked.

===Should the contributors update the Ghyll Index after their creations are completed?===
It's up to the player, but it'd help us out if you updated the [[Ghyll Index]], the [[Ghyll Phantom Index]], [[WhoIsWho]], and the [[Encyclopedant Calendar]] after finishing your article. We'd still "catch your back" for integrity, etc.

===Are the scholars (player roles) a canonical part of Ghyll?===
Initially no, but potentially yes, depending on what happens in articles. You can refer to scholars in articles as well as link to their user pages in this style: <nowiki>[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]]</nowiki>. You ''may'' assume that what scholars write about themselves is true, but you are not ''compelled'' to assume it factual, as you are with the facts in regular articles, for two reasons.

Within the game, scholar pages are obviously self-serving; outside the game, scholar pages can be changed at any time, so building in dependencies on them is not entirely safe. That said, most scholars don't in fact make inconsistent changes to their pages, and are in fact discouraged from doing so. In any case, it certainly does no harm to maintain professional courtesy by verifying anything said about another scholar with the player before putting it down.

The scholarly comments at the bottoms of articles have a similar status: they are not initially canonical, but you can certainly treat them as such (thus, making them canonical) if you like.

===Are already-written entries in the current turn canon?===
As far as timing inside the Ghyll world, all entries happen simultaneously, such that they're all mass-canonized "at once" by the Encyclopedants. But, from the standpoint of the players themselves, once an entry has been written, it should be taken as canon immediately - otherwise, anyone can come along, write an entry that does something drastic, and invalidate all the other entries on that turn (ie., "mass flood wipes out the Folktown Record three weeks ago", breaking any current turn entries that talked about the latest edition). It'd be suicide to ask all the other players to retroactively rewrite their entries.

===What's available to help create Ghyllian names and words?===
[http://www.fourteenminutes.com/fun/words/ Random Word Generator]
:Generates entry names that begin with a specified pair of letters

[http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~pound/ Chris Pound's Name Generation Page]
:Particularly [http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~pound/#werd werd]. (Look for the examples of Victorian English names.)

[http://www.fantasist.net/funnynames.shtml The Funny Name Generator]
: By [[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]].

=== How much of '''What Exists Now''' is the World and vice versa? ===
the Main Page says "welcome to the '''world''' of Ghyll" I take "world" to be a massive place, but the map of Ghyll and the body of turn 1 entries make out the "world" to be quite small. By this I mean the geographic locations are all within short distance of each other (at least I get this impression) and there are not multiple "nations" (whether city-states, counties, baronies, kingdoms, princedoms, etc). Is this world truly small or is it just a wrong impression on my part, and are we free to describe the "white" parts of the map (ie the Currently Undescribed but Not Necessarily Unexplored by the Ghyll Scholars)? --[[User:Nikos of Ant|Nikos of Ant]] 18:03, 4 May 2005 (EDT)

It's left up to you whether to work within the bounds already set or to explain what happens outside of the map's border. Ultimately, it is the players themselves that set the bounds of the game. --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 10:16, 23 May 2005 (EDT)

[[Category:Lexicon]]

Ghyll:Arariax

2005-05-08T22:54:45Z

D8uv: Madeditingation!

'''Arariax''', born around -280 {{EC}}, was one of Ghyll's most influential poets. Poeting in close to every style, on the subject of close to anything, his notebooks reveal an evident truth close to everyone who reads it. Rumor has it he was so good at poetry, that even the way he talked, and even his shopping list are all works of art prized by literary scholars.

<blockquote>
One box of Soap, to cleanse myself.<br />
Some tomes of Old, to rear myself.<br />
3 sacks of Beans, to fill myself.<br />
And some Rear Paper, to cleanse myself again.
</blockquote>

One of his early poems, "The [[Deathbug]]", retells a story about his encounter with a [[Deathbug|deathbug]] in a style that has been copied ruthlessly since it was first penned.

<blockquote>
I went to a picnic with sister<br />
Then that bug did come here to pester.<br />
The bug then did sting,<br />
'Twas the darndest thing,<br />
I don't think she can get more deader.
</blockquote>

After this beginning poetic period, he started creating many poems of equal quality--mostly using Arariaxian Metre (five sets of dual iambic pentameter couplets). It's impossible to select what the "best" poems of his middle period are, but I can note poems from this time included in other encylopedic articles, such as [[Adlorst Vinifera|Ode to Drunkenness]], and his epic poem about the [[Budgerigar Master]].

During this time, Arariax became something of a celebrity. Many myths about him were started, including the popular myth that he was present at the start of the [[Battle of Barnum Stones]] (He was born around 50 years after it happened). His fame peaked when he was insituted as the Author Laureate of the [[Calends Gala]] for 9 straight years.

He later threw himself into exile after being the Author Laureate, and decided to experiment with new forms of poetry. These experimentations are considered by [[Brothers of the Lantern|Brother Honuphrius]] to be Arariax's best work. The style of the poetry that resulted from this exploration seemed to greatly influence his last publication, "Why the Free Bird loves Tallow". His peculiar habit of releasing 64 poems at a time, combined with the fact that the regional style was unusually terse, made this less of a book and more like a large pamphlet. He speaks of his birthplace, the [[Evesque Valley]], and its archeological role.

<blockquote>
Home of adventure.<br />
Brave souls venture into lands<br />
of great loneliness
</blockquote>

'''Citations:''' [[Deathbug]], [[Evesque Valley]].

--[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzuo]] 23:22, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT) and 18:54, 8 May 2005 (EDT)

[[Category:People]]

Ghyll:Battle of Barnum Stones

2005-05-08T22:42:52Z

D8uv: Note: I am a dumby.

== Overview ==

[[Andelphracian Lights]] and the [[Altoxian Bulb]] are probably the two best known examples of a long-standing alchemical procedure used in many parts of Ghyll to produce either light or music by the admixture of two separate viscous fluids. However, until the discovery of the obith of substances, the underlying technomancy was unclear, and not only were both the traditional producers of light (“smilchers”) and of ritual music (“canoralists”) constrained to proceed either on the basis of happenstance, or of trial and error, or of procedures handed down across the ages, but also the underlying unity of the separate phenomena was so far from being even suspected that bloody battles were fought to uphold the superiority of one procedure over another.

The most celebrated of these battles is almost certainly the '''Battle of Barnum Stones''', which took place somewhere between –400 {{EC}} and –323 {{EC}} in a field some 20 lele south of the present site of Cranee. Since the removal of the Stones to [[Stindersgrough]] by Corvin Axehand in –158 {{EC}}, and the subsequent iconoclastic [[Raking]], the precise location of the Battle has been contested, yet the story is told in every nursery on Ghyll.

The usual version of events has the [[Looliers]] ranged against the [[Exingians]] in a bloody contest in which each group sought to establish the superiority of its ritual system over that of the other, though by different means. As the story is traditionally related, the noble Exingians were decimated because rather than fight, they chose to wave their symbolic [[vorpcara|vorpcaras]], which were of course no match for the finely honed weapons of their opponents, who slaughtered them. The vicious and complete retribution that was almost immediately visited on the [[Looliers]] is somehow held to re-confirm the pre-established moral order and to vindicate the choice of the Exingians, despite their atrocious demise. Siam Sinch’s lately published chart-topping alliterative glitterthought on the subject is one of the most recent of such popularisations:

<blockquote>
the mean and marauding miscreants<br />
metaphorically murdered mirth as they massacred the milder men,<br />
and, once done, are deemed to deserve the doom done back.<br />
</blockquote>

== Recent controversy ==

Despite its name, it is clear that the Battle of Barnum Stones was not so much a battle as a squalid massacre; what is less clear is who actually was massacred, and by whom; and some scholars point to controversial indications uncovered in recent archaeological excavations that might seem to point to the possibility that the whole sorry episode may actually have been long planned for the basest of motives, and cynically executed in the bloodiest and most ignoble of manners rather than being the unfortunate result of mischance and greed as related by tradition. However, all scholars (whether traditional or modernist in bent) agree that a number of questions remain unsolved – not least, who did for the [[Looliers]], how, and why?

== The facts as we know them ==

Scholars have long wrangled over who or what could have originally summoned two neighbouring clans, the [[Exingians]] and the [[Looliers]], to the Barnum Stones on the pretext of a peaceful contest to decide whose smilch was the most powerful. According to [[Arariax]] – who may have been present – the contest was to take place on the winter solstice, Gudersday, (but of what year?) and Casostates, super partes, himself was to judge.

However, when the [[Exingians]] and the [[Looliers]] arrived at the Barnum Stones a few days before the day appointed for the ritual contest, they found that a U-shaped ditch had been dug around the entire Stoneshelf, and the earth so excavated had been used to raise a barrow. The Stones were thus enclosed on three sides. Worse still, an unknown hand had scattered the remaining open edge with the dried seeds of [[Fefferberry|fefferberries]], a pungent fruit with various ritual uses in that area. The [[Looliers]] were therefore unable to reach the Stones without either scaling the ditch or (even more unthinkably) crossing the line of seeds.

The [[Looliers]] withdrew to some distance in the face of this affront, and the [[Exingians]] followed suit; and over the next three days (as tradition required), the leaders of each took counsel with their own, as well as with the leaders of the other. Suspicion ran high in both camps.

At the end of the three-day period of consultation, in his capacity as shaman - chief of the [[Looliers]], Salerny Redthighs formally declared Umbrage. The [[Exingians]] diplomatically followed suit, since they were massively outnumbered; and for a day or two calm prevailed. But on Gudersday, the situation precipitated rapidly. Having declared Umbrage, but unable either to reach the Barnum Stones, or to withdraw with honour, the exasperated Salerny vented his fury on a nearby homestead, quite possibly at Saon Dur. Because the homesteaders were unwilling (in some versions) or unable (in others) to replenish his depleted stocks of muirbeer, Salerny put the entire homestead to the sword, and razed the buildings. When news of this reached the Exingian camp, their commander felt she had no choice but to send the Loolian commander the bull’s pizzle, which Salerny first feigned not to see and then explicitly sent back. This was war.

The two forces met early on the day after Guders; the [[Exingians]] knew they were massively outnumbered as well as outflanked, yet nevertheless drew themselves up into their ritual square formation, 7 warriors wide and 7 warriors deep, at the centre of the battlefield. A [[vorpcara]] was held aloft at the centre of each line of 7; each of these was supported by three pages to the left, and three to the right. The pages to the left held wooden bowls containing spring water, and those to the right, sprigs of [[Adlorst Vinifera|white adlorst]]. These were to symbolise the measurement of time passing.

It was all over in a very short time, and the [[Looliers]] struck camp and set out for their own lands. They suffered no losses themselves, and did nothing to honour the fallen [[Exingians]]. That night, the group camped in the Vale of Serdoch. Not one would survive the night: during the hours of darkness, a mysterious “affliction” fell upon them, and they were never seen again.

== Related background information ==

History of course is written by the victors, and the [[Looliers]] can hardly be described as that. We know little enough of them, beyond what is related here. Only one Loolier manuscript has so far come to light -the long satirical poem ''[[Bordingbras his hatt!]]''- and across the centuries the [[Looliers]] are yet still so despised that most mainstream scholars disdain to study it. Further, the passing of time has dignified what took place at Barnum with the epithet “Battle”, attributing the noblest of motives to the [[Exingians]], and most often denigrating the [[Looliers]] as little better than lascivious lunatics more interested in fornication than washing. The slaughter of the Exingians at the hand of Salerny Redthighs was the spark that ultimately ignited the patrician tribes; they finally united, thus setting in train the events that led inexorably to the [[Raking]], to the total destruction of the [[Looliers]] and to the present order.

But recent archaeological evidence may finally and perversely lend strong support to an entirely different reading of events, in which the [[Looliers]] are not the makers of massacre but rather, simple victims in the grip of events entirely beyond their comprehension. In this version, the entire Battle was masterminded by a mysterious Third Force. This certainly would accord with the tale offered by [[Bordingbras his hatt!]], the only Loolian manuscript still extant, and held in the [[Odlucian Library]]. This is the only document we have which tells the [[Looliers]]’ side of any events at all.

This comparatively little-studied poem by an unknown hand is the only document in the Loolian dialect to have survived the rage of the times, and hitherto it has been a lone voice of dissent in the centuries of constant praise for the perceived “noble sacrifice of the Exingians”.

The poem relates the doom-laden, tragic fate of Bordingbras, a lost hero who is a mere bagatelle in the hands of a Fate that is not so much arbitrary as wilfully capricious. The hero (bravebeste Bordinbracche!), destined to be perennially misunderstood and perennially to misunderstand, will ultimately go willingly, sword in hand, to the slaughter just like a beast. This is of course exactly what befell Salerny Redthighs and his [[Looliers]].

<blockquote>
that wendyng wyse of woods<br />
when that wierd wolde<br />
lats nat live ne nigiune:<br />
death sholde<br />
(fit 7 lines 1124-1127 in my published transcription of Dunby’s transliteration)<br />
''A vicious destiny was encountered among the trees<br />
just as Fate always decrees<br />
and does not allow anyone to survive:<br />
the angel of death reigns supreme.<br />
(my translation in course of publication)
</blockquote>

== Some hypotheses ==

I have long posited the existence of a third army (whose forces had simply hidden somewhere in the vale of Serdoch). This seems to me more plausible than Mere Monsters, Hybgoblins, drachens or any of the other supernatural and nursery creatures that populate the various folk versions of the Telling of Barnum Stones. A solid army, with boots and spears, seems more likely- but raises several questions. Whose army? And why were they ready, armed, hidden and waiting?

However, allow me to make several conjectures. This third force was behind the entire episode; it was a piece of tactical strategy unsurpassed for those times. They had summoned both of the other groups to the Stones, and had staged the original affront which provoked Salerny’s Umbrage. Their strategy was simply to bide their time. They knew that neither of the visiting tribes had come victualled for a long stay. And they also bet that the irascible chief of the [[Looliers]], Salerny Redthighs, would be incapable of containing his rage for very long. As long as they remained undetected, they considered it inevitable that he would vent his fury either directly on the [[Exingians]], or on one or more of the isolated homesteads in the area. Since the area was south of Cranee, they knew that like as not the homesteads would have belonged to recent Exingian converts who had chosen not to live in the town as a preliminary measure to adopting the full lifestyle of their prophetess. If the homesteaders were attacked, they would be able to claim kinship and protection from the visiting Exingians.

'''Citations''': [[Altoxian Bulb]], [[Bordingbras his hatt!]], [[Raking]].

--[[User:Ginestre|Ginestre]] 05:42, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

[[Category:Events]]

----

Not sure on this -- doesn't the entry use Andelphracian Lights as a common modern example of smilching? Perhaps these smilchers practiced a very primitive form of smilching -- fiery sticks or some such? Unfortunately, this ancient history is outside my area of expertise. But I am looking forward to hearing those more learned about this ancient era elaborate. When dealing with ancient dates from the time of legend though, it wouldn't surprising if there would be some difficulty defining a date so precisely... but I think for this layperson, the crux that needs clarifying in this entry is: did this war precede Andelphracia's discovery, or did in fact her new, superior smilching method predicate it? --[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 14:40, 13 Sep 2004

Fascinating. My only complaint is a minor error in your manuscript. You write: "Scholars have long wrangled over who or what could have originally summoned two neighbouring clans, the Exingians and the [[Looliers]], to the Barnum Stones on the pretext of a peaceful contest to decide whose smilch was the most powerful," But you introduce the subject by saying "not only were both the traditional producers of light ("smilchers") and of ritual music ("canoralists") constrained ... but also the underlying unity of the separate phenomena was so far from being even suspected that bloody battles were fought to uphold the superiority of one procedure over another. The most celebrated of these battles is almost certainly the Battle of Barnum Stones"

If that premise is correct, I presume the contest was in fact one of smilchers vs. canoralists, and not competing smilchers, with a third party of some unknown affiliation? Or are you hypothesizing the third party was in fact a group of canoralists that lured two competing groups of smilchers into combat before eliminating the "victor" of that battle? The former situation seems more logical to me in the context of this entry. But either way, unles I've read it wrong the first sentence I cited is in error, or the various canoralist vs. smilcher affiliations need to be made more explicit for those of us not as versed in the subject. We scholars should all take care to remember this is an encyclopedia of general knowledge, even if the writers are well educated in matters more arcane. --[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 20:07, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Ghyll:Battle of Barnum Stones

2005-05-08T22:33:57Z

D8uv: Uh-oh! Factual inconsistancy!

Ghyll:Bureau of Forgotten Knowledge

2005-05-08T19:06:29Z

D8uv: One character getting changed makes "Minor Edit" an overstatement.

__TOC__

The '''Bureau of Forgotten Knowledge''' was founded by [[Supetupheraraphes]] in -98 {{EC}} to investigate all forms of Ghyllore including lost animals, undeciphered prose and poesy, fallen lands, and the mysterious sock vortex that afflicts so many households.

==History==

The first twenty years of its existence were hampered by [[Supetupheraraphes]]'s Paradox which states that "once Forgotten Knowledge is uncovered by a researcher, it is no longer Forgotten and hence cannot be written down." This wouldn't have been a problem were it not for the incompetence in resolving it: so many solutions were proposed that The Bureau's supreme council couldn't choose between them.

The problem was solved eventually by decree of [[Meldersen]], the second president of The Bureau, under his executive privilege. It was decided that there should be a subdivision called the [[Bureau of Regained Knowledge]], and started the ceremonious annual tradition[[#Footnotes|†]] of declaring all information found in the following year to be instantly handed over to the [[Bureau of Regained Knowledge|BORK]]. Though the decision was unpopular at the time, it proved to be an excellent solution.

The first great discovery of The Bureau was also under [[Meldersen]]'s presidency: in conjunction with the [[Council for Quezlarian Research]], The Bureau discovered the origins for Ghyll's unit of currency, the Quezlarian Ooo. Perhaps somewhat startlingly at the time, the research confirmed the traditional legend that our currency is named after the initial remark of Quezlar 6 upon discovering the first stone of dazzlingly beautiful Oooite. As a gesture of thankfulness, the [[Council for Quezlarian Research]] presented The Bureau with an Oooite stone said to be from the personal collection of Quezlar 6.

But the history of The Bureau hasn't all been plain sailing. On -25/4/1 {{EC}} the [[HANDBAG|Housewives And Nannies' Debatory Banter Association of Ghyll]], [[Folktown]] Chapter, petitioned The Bureau to investigate the lost knowledge of anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays both religious and secular missing from their husbands. The predominantly male Bureau declined to comment.

The Bureau suffered further embarrassment in -17 {{EC}} when its undeciphered Ternary Script motto, chosen for its aesthetic quality and forgotten meaning, was finally deciphered and found to say "Swallow it all and be thankful, for a Quezloo I've paid and a Quezloo's worth I'll be having!" A new motto was promptly chosen.

The complete list of all five of the presidents, past and present, is as follows:

<table class="ghyllidx" style="padding-left:1em;">
<tr><th>From ({{EC}})</th><th>To ({{EC}})</th><th>President Name</th></tr>
<tr><td>-98</td><td>-77</td><td>[[Supetupheraraphes]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>-77</td><td>-56</td><td>[[Meldersen]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>-56</td><td>-32</td><td>[[Rancticirchiretic]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>-32</td><td>-11</td><td>Awal</td></tr>
<tr><td>-11</td><td>now</td><td>[[Blivingdel]]</td></tr>
</table>

==Whereabouts and Organisation==

Each member of the The Bureau is also a member of its subdivision, the [[Bureau of Regained Knowledge|BORK]]. Though this causes some confusion as to which organisation the members are working for at any given time, it also means that they get two pay packets.

The Bureau's main building is affectionately known as the Cake, since it appears from a distance to be a giant Saundian Ringcake. It is situated by the hamlet of Odlucia on the opposite side of the valley from the [[Odlucian Library]]—with which it has great rapport and maintains a constant link—and consists of seven extremely long circular, concentric halls. The primary halls are more internal to the structure, dealing with the most difficult and obscure fields of Forgotten Knowledge, and hosting important conferences and local visiting dignitaries. The outer rings are more open—with the outermost ring indeed sometimes open to the public—and the bulk of the general research staff is located there.

The whole structure is reported to be light and airy, with plants and water features forming a suitable working environment for its researchers. The spacious circular courtyard in the middle (called the "Cakehole") is used for games of Doofball between The Bureau's staff. The Doofball league is comprised of each of the main halls of the building. The outer rings, having the advantage of both number and youth, tend to win more often, though it's an increasing tendency for the best Doofball players to be promoted by appointment to more prestigious positions, evening up the league table.

Whereas the organisation is not secretive in nature, some of its more prominent members are often ex-members of the [[Council for Quezlarian Research]], and tend towards being extremely secretive about their activites. For example, in the process of researching this lexicon entry, we interviewed the Vice Chairman of The Bureau's Steering Committee, Monty Thabot:

<blockquote>
<div>'''Sean''': Viceman Thabot, we've heard that work is being taken up to improve some of the facilities of the innermost ring, at the expense of the eighth revision of the Encyclopaedia of Lost Lore which we understand will be coming out next spring. Could you possibly comment on the state of the facilities, and the rationale for diverting funds to its improvement?</div>
<div>'''Monty''': You're not really talking about me... are you ?</div>
<div>'''Sean''': Pardon, sir? I can assure you that no nefariousness on your behalf, or that of your collegues, is implied by that question.</div>
<div>'''Monty''': Perhaps in your fantasies we can assure each other.</div>
<div>'''Sean''': Er... quite. Moving on then, what features do you have planned for the Encyclopaedia of Lost Lore? Will the new much-rumoured section on [[Anaximancer|Anaximancy]] be making an appearance?</div>
<div>'''Monty''': Why do you ask ?</div>
<div>'''Sean''': Our readers would be most interested to know—we recently covered [[Anaximancer|Anaximancy]] in a lexicon entry.</div>
<div>'''Monty''': Do you feel strongly about discussing such things ?</div>
<div>'''Sean''': No sir—it's not an article whose production I was involved in. So you decline to comment on its possible appearance?</div>
<div>'''Monty''': Fearsome bouncy Lycrosoft!</div>
<div>'''Sean''': Thanks sir, you've been a great help.</div>
<div>'''Monty''': Onomastics's bullshit baby mice was foreskin's short movements...</div>
</blockquote>

Note that the Steering Committee is the colloquial name for the supreme council of The Bureau, and not a separate department. Its name originates, counter to the obvious expectation, from the fact that so many of the appointees to the original committee set up by [[Supetupheraraphes]] were learnèd ox handlers from the farmsteads surrounding Odlucia. The term soon spread from the jocular corridor-talk of the outer rings and into common usage. Indeed, the Steering Committee has since -53 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]] used three oxen in its motif.

==Research and Findings==

The Bureau doesn't tend to publish results until they're not only internally sure of their findings but also have the approval of a select academic committee, comprised of the heads of several prime academic institutions, some of which are very radicalist in their nature. Therefore, The Bureau's findings are amongst the most incontrovertible of all Ghyll studies.

One of the greatest sets of research that The Bureau carried out was on the origins of Andelphracia. They proved convincingly through a complex series of literary comparisons to astronomical data that she was born on or around the Lhios of -330 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]], on one of the shores of the seven lakes of the Evesque Valley.

The Bureau tends to keep to matters historical. Another example of one of its great discoveries is the deciphering of one of the best poetic works of [[Alarius]], the son of the great poet [[Arariax]]. It was known that [[Alarius]] kept up the family tradition by publishing poesy, but many of his works contained strange blocks of text that were thought to be highly interwoven and encrypted poems. The Bureau were particularly interested in the following block, named "QL" after its first two characters for brevity:

<blockquote><pre>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=
</pre></blockquote>

They managed, after decades of careful research, to prove the common thinking behind the blocks correct, and revealed QL to be a poem entitled "Stepping Stones". Consisting of the traditional [[Arariax|Arariaxian]] Metre of five sets of dual iambic pentameter couplets, it was penned in core script around -150 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]]. Though it is still not known why [[Alarius]] chose to obfuscate the poem, the decryption attempt showed the tremendous skill of both The Bureau and [[Alarius]] himself. Indeed, it is now regarded as one of his greatest poetic works.

The poem will be appearing soon in the eighth revision to the Encyclopaedia of Lost Lore, yet we reprint it here with the most gracious permission of the office of Blivingdel:

<blockquote>
<p>
Once late upon a lonely lumb'ring night<br />
I went to door with Andelphracian Light<br />
And beckoned for my dog to come to heel<br />
As into twilight air we both did steal
</p>

<p>
We came soon to a sweet unlaboured stream<br />
Footed its stepping stones as if in dream<br />
And into forest presently did stroll<br />
Under that canopy of darkest coal
</p>

<p>
As burnflies spat their carnal juice at us<br />
We watched bright unclad nature at its fuss<br />
And Aelfants afar distinctly heard<br />
Perhaps just one or two—perhaps a herd
</p>

<p>
We walked until the moons were due to set<br />
Until the trees had lost their silhouette<br />
And through the Evesque Valley ventured back<br />
Along our Andelphracian lighted track
</p>

<p>
Now back at home by fireplace we laze<br />
And for this poem recall thoughts in daze<br />
The evanescent fumes o'er cottage lift<br />
Their patterns soon as traceless as their drift
</p>
</blockquote>

This poem is also of prime significance, of course, due to the fact that it contains the earliest known use of the phrase "Andelphracian Light".

The use of dove calling patterns to determine the future and lost memories of the past is one of the most recent arts studied on which an official monograph has been published. ''[[Quester and Phorrus]]'' ran an article on the practice from The Bureau entitled "A Retrospective on Doveination." Though it was well received, its controversial findings almost caused a coup in the academic community.

Current research is said to focus primarily on the religious practices of the [[Nitenmangrey]] culture. A major economic boost has been provided to the local farming communities, for example, in the process of determining the significance of the [[Aquentravalkeration]] practice as The Bureau's researchers require several shipments of bull's pizzles per week.

==Summary==

In the hundred years or so since its inception, The Bureau has grown to become one of, if not the, greatest of all the academic institutions in Ghyll. Its growing dominance is offset by its remarkably open approach and dedication to its research, such that we can be thankful for its existence. The Bureau is a vibrant and forward-thinking organisation that will hopefully be around for as long as socks and knowledge are missing.

==Footnotes==

† The declaration—which must be given by the current president of The Bureau at the [[Folktown]] Town Square in front of an assemblage of current employees, the mayor of Folktown, and the general public—has turned into an annual fête, with stands, bunting, games, and fun galore. Here is an excerpt of the speech:

<blockquote>
<p>Great chefs of our Esteemed Bureau, Ghyllore as your ingredients: know that thy works in our great academic kitchen shall not suffer lack of swiftness any longer. You could carry on being labouring at not being able writing your researches; slowly, slowly finding strange perilous methods to leak them out to the community like so much treacle. Heed instead my solution! Alternatively, [[Speedish Chefs]]: [[Bureau of Regained Knowledge|BORK, BORK, BORK!]]</p>
</blockquote>

'''Citations''': [[Alarius]], [[Council for Quezlarian Research]], [[Supetupheraraphes]].

--[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 23:59, 11 Sep 2004 (EDT)

[[Category:Organizations]]

Ghyll:Round 2 discussion

2005-04-28T22:51:59Z

D8uv: Largely.

__TOC__

Round 2 begins May 14th. We are currently in '''mad-edit''' play, per the "Allow a two week period between rounds" section below. In short, everyone may edit or revise any entry, under the restriction that NO NEW FACTS WILL BE ADDED, merely clarifications and improvements. The Encyclopedants have started [[Encyclopedants Progress Report 26]] for scholars (and players) to leave their final End of Round 1 thoughts.

==Do you plan on playing regularly in Round 2?==
Yes. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 14:42, 15 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Ditto. --[[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]] 16:05, 15 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Of course. --[[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]] 02:32, 16 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Unfortunately, no. The divorce and job change have created too much chaos in my life. I'll finish this round, but I cannot say when I'll be able to return. --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 10:00, 16 Apr 2005 (EDT)
: Sorry to hear that, Doctor Crank. You'll be missed. --[[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]]
:: Sniff, sniff. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 15:28, 16 Apr 2005 (EDT)

New player, I'll be here! --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 17:09, 16 Apr 2005 (CST)
:Just like to make it known that from May 14 (start of Round 2) til May 20 (or so) I will more than likely be away from any internet access, so I will likely ''not'' have an entry for A for Round 2. Just thought it should be known. --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 01:07, 25 Apr 2005 (EDT)

I'm new but I definitely want to be in on the next round. --[[User:xfalselogicx|Jonathon Howard]] 18:09, 20 Apr 2005

I'm in for most of it, seeing as I'll be out of school then. Wish me luck on the job hunt though. --[[User:Theophenes|Theophenes]] 04:16, 21 Apr 2005 (EDT)

I'd like to play, though I'm not sure I can commit to every turn. But I'd like to express interest. New user. --[[User:Lisa B. Underhalh|Lisa B. Underhalh]] 18:10, 21 Apr 2005 (EDT)

I would love to participate! --[[User:Finna Sunderhorn|Finna Sunderhorn]] 20:57, 21 Apr 2005 (EDT)

One would dearly love to write as much as possible in the upcoming round, yet the uncertainty concerning my future internet access prevents me from making any binding promises. I can, however, truthfully state that if circumstances allow I will most assuredly be a regular contributor. --[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 10:07, 22 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Yes, new user. --[[User:Ahpsp|Ahpsp]] 10:45, 22 Apr 2005 (EDT)

I'll be happy to join. New user. --[[User:Dfaran L'Eniarc|Dfaran L'Eniarc]] 01:32, 24 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Yes, I am very interested in playing this round. Life gets progressively more full, and I can't promise to play every week. But I miss playing Bindlet Ball, and want to know who killed Supetupheraraphes --[[User:DrBacchus|DrBacchus]] 11:15, 24 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Yes, I'm new here. I have become very intrigued about this world, and I hope that I am able to produce interesting entries for round 2. In the meantime, I'll try to read as many entries as possible! --[[User:Mr. Stokes|Mr. Stokes]] 14:59, 24 Apr 2005 (EDT)

I would also like to join. It's quite a unique idea. But I have a suggestion. Would it be easier to get a free forum and link to that and have sections on all these things? I was kind of confused when I first came. --[[User:Ellidyr|Ellidyr]] 19:26, 24 Apr 2005 (EDT)

:I fail to see how that would be easier. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 08:14, 25 Apr 2005 (EDT)

:Surely, a wiki is the ultimate form of a ''free forum''. Since the wiki is the forum, why bother making a forum for a forum? That would be equivalent to going to a grocery store and then using the in-store phone to order groceries to be delivered to your house, I think. --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 14:19, 25 Apr 2005 (EDT)

I'm game for Round 2, I've got a lil' over 14 days to read up! [[User:Nikos of Ant|Nikos of Ant]], (new player) 27 Apr 2005

I may be playing for an unknown amount of time during some point in the near or far future of this game. --[[User:d8uv|Somebody]] 18:46, 28 Apr 2005 (EDT)

==Between Rounds==

A few people have noticed the natural tendency of a Lexicon to have its earliest entries "outdated" by the time you get into the mid- or end- game. For instance, we know a bit more about [[Ghyllian reproduction]], a little more about ''this'', and a lot more about ''that''. An in-game solution proposed by [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] seemed to also be plausible out of game. Basically, since Round 1 is a "formalized" attempt by the Encyclopedants to create an Encyclopedia, Round 1 could be considered a "First Edition Draft" of the Encyclopedia. Round 2, on the other hand, would be a "Second Edition Draft" and so on. Thus, the time between Round 1 and Round 2 would be used to edit, fix and enhance any and all previous entries.

===Allow a two week period between rounds===
* Write up in-game "End of Year" reports.
* Finish up any discussions on this page.
* Take a break and collect your thoughts.
* Mad-edit anything that needs to.

===Allow scholars to revamp previous round's entries===
* One edit per turn to ANY entry, in addition to regular round rules.
* No NEW facts, just revamped to include missing/clarified facts.
* No dibbing on edits; if necc. mad-edits are collaborative.

==Rule Changes==

[[User:Jcowan|I've]] deleted the proposed rule changes that didn't win scholarly consensus or didn't survive the [[User:Morbus Iff|Mighty Stomp]].

===Of your two phantom citations, only one can be new===

This is important to keep down the proliferation of phantoms;
<br />at the end of Round 1, we have almost as many phantoms as articles.

===Rule of A: Scholars may always write new, non-phantom, turn A entries===

The goal is to ensure that every round has a "fresh start" with new branches of story. By not requiring a phantom to be defined for letter 'A' (regardless of leftover phantoms from previous rounds), we're always "starting" fresh with new, as opposed to already established, content. Of course, Truth from previous rounds must still be accepted as such, and existing 'A' phantoms may be dibbed if a player so decides.

:So, in other words, if we are starting a new Round and there are 5 phantoms for A but I don't like any of those phantoms, I can create a new entry for A and start from there? Or would this apply to any turn in a round in which there are no phantoms in existance for that turn? No C phantoms on turn 3, for example. --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 01:10, 25 Apr 2005 (EDT)

::Yes, both. There is already a rule that, if there are no valid phantoms remaining for a letter, a scholar writes a brand new entry. This rule just gives turn A, and only turn A, more power than usual, solely because it is the start of a new Round. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 08:50, 25 Apr 2005 (EDT)

==Round 2 Themes==

The original Lexicon post suggests there should be a theme and goal to the entries being written. Since Ghyll, as a world, didn't exist, there was no theme to Round 1: it was ultimately "make a world". Scholarly consensus established that Round 2 will have no theme either, but the themes formerly proposed here have been transplanted to [[User:Morbus Iff/themes]].

[[Category: Encyclopedants]]

Ghyll:Round 2 discussion

2005-04-28T22:51:20Z

D8uv: I also suck.

__TOC__

Round 2 begins May 14th. We are currently in '''mad-edit''' play, per the "Allow a two week period between rounds" section below. In short, everyone may edit or revise any entry, under the restriction that NO NEW FACTS WILL BE ADDED, merely clarifications and improvements. The Encyclopedants have started [[Encyclopedants Progress Report 26]] for scholars (and players) to leave their final End of Round 1 thoughts.

==Do you plan on playing regularly in Round 2?==
Yes. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 14:42, 15 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Ditto. --[[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]] 16:05, 15 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Of course. --[[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]] 02:32, 16 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Unfortunately, no. The divorce and job change have created too much chaos in my life. I'll finish this round, but I cannot say when I'll be able to return. --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 10:00, 16 Apr 2005 (EDT)
: Sorry to hear that, Doctor Crank. You'll be missed. --[[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]]
:: Sniff, sniff. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 15:28, 16 Apr 2005 (EDT)

New player, I'll be here! --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 17:09, 16 Apr 2005 (CST)
:Just like to make it known that from May 14 (start of Round 2) til May 20 (or so) I will more than likely be away from any internet access, so I will likely ''not'' have an entry for A for Round 2. Just thought it should be known. --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 01:07, 25 Apr 2005 (EDT)

I'm new but I definitely want to be in on the next round. --[[User:xfalselogicx|Jonathon Howard]] 18:09, 20 Apr 2005

I'm in for most of it, seeing as I'll be out of school then. Wish me luck on the job hunt though. --[[User:Theophenes|Theophenes]] 04:16, 21 Apr 2005 (EDT)

I'd like to play, though I'm not sure I can commit to every turn. But I'd like to express interest. New user. --[[User:Lisa B. Underhalh|Lisa B. Underhalh]] 18:10, 21 Apr 2005 (EDT)

I would love to participate! --[[User:Finna Sunderhorn|Finna Sunderhorn]] 20:57, 21 Apr 2005 (EDT)

One would dearly love to write as much as possible in the upcoming round, yet the uncertainty concerning my future internet access prevents me from making any binding promises. I can, however, truthfully state that if circumstances allow I will most assuredly be a regular contributor. --[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 10:07, 22 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Yes, new user. --[[User:Ahpsp|Ahpsp]] 10:45, 22 Apr 2005 (EDT)

I'll be happy to join. New user. --[[User:Dfaran L'Eniarc|Dfaran L'Eniarc]] 01:32, 24 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Yes, I am very interested in playing this round. Life gets progressively more full, and I can't promise to play every week. But I miss playing Bindlet Ball, and want to know who killed Supetupheraraphes --[[User:DrBacchus|DrBacchus]] 11:15, 24 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Yes, I'm new here. I have become very intrigued about this world, and I hope that I am able to produce interesting entries for round 2. In the meantime, I'll try to read as many entries as possible! --[[User:Mr. Stokes|Mr. Stokes]] 14:59, 24 Apr 2005 (EDT)

I would also like to join. It's quite a unique idea. But I have a suggestion. Would it be easier to get a free forum and link to that and have sections on all these things? I was kind of confused when I first came. --[[User:Ellidyr|Ellidyr]] 19:26, 24 Apr 2005 (EDT)

:I fail to see how that would be easier. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 08:14, 25 Apr 2005 (EDT)

:Surely, a wiki is the ultimate form of a ''free forum''. Since the wiki is the forum, why bother making a forum for a forum? That would be equivalent to going to a grocery store and then using the in-store phone to order groceries to be delivered to your house, I think. --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 14:19, 25 Apr 2005 (EDT)

I'm game for Round 2, I've got a lil' over 14 days to read up! [[User:Nikos of Ant|Nikos of Ant]], (new player) 27 Apr 2005

I may be playing for an unknown amount of time during some point in the near or far future of this game. --[[User:Melik Fizzou|Somebody]] 18:46, 28 Apr 2005 (EDT)

==Between Rounds==

A few people have noticed the natural tendency of a Lexicon to have its earliest entries "outdated" by the time you get into the mid- or end- game. For instance, we know a bit more about [[Ghyllian reproduction]], a little more about ''this'', and a lot more about ''that''. An in-game solution proposed by [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] seemed to also be plausible out of game. Basically, since Round 1 is a "formalized" attempt by the Encyclopedants to create an Encyclopedia, Round 1 could be considered a "First Edition Draft" of the Encyclopedia. Round 2, on the other hand, would be a "Second Edition Draft" and so on. Thus, the time between Round 1 and Round 2 would be used to edit, fix and enhance any and all previous entries.

===Allow a two week period between rounds===
* Write up in-game "End of Year" reports.
* Finish up any discussions on this page.
* Take a break and collect your thoughts.
* Mad-edit anything that needs to.

===Allow scholars to revamp previous round's entries===
* One edit per turn to ANY entry, in addition to regular round rules.
* No NEW facts, just revamped to include missing/clarified facts.
* No dibbing on edits; if necc. mad-edits are collaborative.

==Rule Changes==

[[User:Jcowan|I've]] deleted the proposed rule changes that didn't win scholarly consensus or didn't survive the [[User:Morbus Iff|Mighty Stomp]].

===Of your two phantom citations, only one can be new===

This is important to keep down the proliferation of phantoms;
<br />at the end of Round 1, we have almost as many phantoms as articles.

===Rule of A: Scholars may always write new, non-phantom, turn A entries===

The goal is to ensure that every round has a "fresh start" with new branches of story. By not requiring a phantom to be defined for letter 'A' (regardless of leftover phantoms from previous rounds), we're always "starting" fresh with new, as opposed to already established, content. Of course, Truth from previous rounds must still be accepted as such, and existing 'A' phantoms may be dibbed if a player so decides.

:So, in other words, if we are starting a new Round and there are 5 phantoms for A but I don't like any of those phantoms, I can create a new entry for A and start from there? Or would this apply to any turn in a round in which there are no phantoms in existance for that turn? No C phantoms on turn 3, for example. --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 01:10, 25 Apr 2005 (EDT)

::Yes, both. There is already a rule that, if there are no valid phantoms remaining for a letter, a scholar writes a brand new entry. This rule just gives turn A, and only turn A, more power than usual, solely because it is the start of a new Round. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 08:50, 25 Apr 2005 (EDT)

==Round 2 Themes==

The original Lexicon post suggests there should be a theme and goal to the entries being written. Since Ghyll, as a world, didn't exist, there was no theme to Round 1: it was ultimately "make a world". Scholarly consensus established that Round 2 will have no theme either, but the themes formerly proposed here have been transplanted to [[User:Morbus Iff/themes]].

[[Category: Encyclopedants]]

Ghyll:Round 2 discussion

2005-04-28T22:47:55Z

D8uv: Adding myself to the list of future players

__TOC__

Round 2 begins May 14th. We are currently in '''mad-edit''' play, per the "Allow a two week period between rounds" section below. In short, everyone may edit or revise any entry, under the restriction that NO NEW FACTS WILL BE ADDED, merely clarifications and improvements. The Encyclopedants have started [[Encyclopedants Progress Report 26]] for scholars (and players) to leave their final End of Round 1 thoughts.

==Do you plan on playing regularly in Round 2?==
Yes. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 14:42, 15 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Ditto. --[[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]] 16:05, 15 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Of course. --[[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]] 02:32, 16 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Unfortunately, no. The divorce and job change have created too much chaos in my life. I'll finish this round, but I cannot say when I'll be able to return. --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 10:00, 16 Apr 2005 (EDT)
: Sorry to hear that, Doctor Crank. You'll be missed. --[[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]]
:: Sniff, sniff. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 15:28, 16 Apr 2005 (EDT)

New player, I'll be here! --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 17:09, 16 Apr 2005 (CST)
:Just like to make it known that from May 14 (start of Round 2) til May 20 (or so) I will more than likely be away from any internet access, so I will likely ''not'' have an entry for A for Round 2. Just thought it should be known. --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 01:07, 25 Apr 2005 (EDT)

I'm new but I definitely want to be in on the next round. --[[User:xfalselogicx|Jonathon Howard]] 18:09, 20 Apr 2005

I'm in for most of it, seeing as I'll be out of school then. Wish me luck on the job hunt though. --[[User:Theophenes|Theophenes]] 04:16, 21 Apr 2005 (EDT)

I'd like to play, though I'm not sure I can commit to every turn. But I'd like to express interest. New user. --[[User:Lisa B. Underhalh|Lisa B. Underhalh]] 18:10, 21 Apr 2005 (EDT)

I would love to participate! --[[User:Finna Sunderhorn|Finna Sunderhorn]] 20:57, 21 Apr 2005 (EDT)

One would dearly love to write as much as possible in the upcoming round, yet the uncertainty concerning my future internet access prevents me from making any binding promises. I can, however, truthfully state that if circumstances allow I will most assuredly be a regular contributor. --[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 10:07, 22 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Yes, new user. --[[User:Ahpsp|Ahpsp]] 10:45, 22 Apr 2005 (EDT)

I'll be happy to join. New user. --[[User:Dfaran L'Eniarc|Dfaran L'Eniarc]] 01:32, 24 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Yes, I am very interested in playing this round. Life gets progressively more full, and I can't promise to play every week. But I miss playing Bindlet Ball, and want to know who killed Supetupheraraphes --[[User:DrBacchus|DrBacchus]] 11:15, 24 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Yes, I'm new here. I have become very intrigued about this world, and I hope that I am able to produce interesting entries for round 2. In the meantime, I'll try to read as many entries as possible! --[[User:Mr. Stokes|Mr. Stokes]] 14:59, 24 Apr 2005 (EDT)

I would also like to join. It's quite a unique idea. But I have a suggestion. Would it be easier to get a free forum and link to that and have sections on all these things? I was kind of confused when I first came. --[[User:Ellidyr|Ellidyr]] 19:26, 24 Apr 2005 (EDT)

:I fail to see how that would be easier. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 08:14, 25 Apr 2005 (EDT)

:Surely, a wiki is the ultimate form of a ''free forum''. Since the wiki is the forum, why bother making a forum for a forum? That would be equivalent to going to a grocery store and then using the in-store phone to order groceries to be delivered to your house, I think. --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 14:19, 25 Apr 2005 (EDT)

I'm game for Round 2, I've got a lil' over 14 days to read up! [[User:Nikos of Ant|Nikos of Ant]], (new player) 27 Apr 2005

I may be playing for an unknown amount of time during some point in the near or far future of this game. --[[User:Melik Fizzou|Somebody] 18:46, 28 Apr 2005 (EDT)

==Between Rounds==

A few people have noticed the natural tendency of a Lexicon to have its earliest entries "outdated" by the time you get into the mid- or end- game. For instance, we know a bit more about [[Ghyllian reproduction]], a little more about ''this'', and a lot more about ''that''. An in-game solution proposed by [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] seemed to also be plausible out of game. Basically, since Round 1 is a "formalized" attempt by the Encyclopedants to create an Encyclopedia, Round 1 could be considered a "First Edition Draft" of the Encyclopedia. Round 2, on the other hand, would be a "Second Edition Draft" and so on. Thus, the time between Round 1 and Round 2 would be used to edit, fix and enhance any and all previous entries.

===Allow a two week period between rounds===
* Write up in-game "End of Year" reports.
* Finish up any discussions on this page.
* Take a break and collect your thoughts.
* Mad-edit anything that needs to.

===Allow scholars to revamp previous round's entries===
* One edit per turn to ANY entry, in addition to regular round rules.
* No NEW facts, just revamped to include missing/clarified facts.
* No dibbing on edits; if necc. mad-edits are collaborative.

==Rule Changes==

[[User:Jcowan|I've]] deleted the proposed rule changes that didn't win scholarly consensus or didn't survive the [[User:Morbus Iff|Mighty Stomp]].

===Of your two phantom citations, only one can be new===

This is important to keep down the proliferation of phantoms;
<br />at the end of Round 1, we have almost as many phantoms as articles.

===Rule of A: Scholars may always write new, non-phantom, turn A entries===

The goal is to ensure that every round has a "fresh start" with new branches of story. By not requiring a phantom to be defined for letter 'A' (regardless of leftover phantoms from previous rounds), we're always "starting" fresh with new, as opposed to already established, content. Of course, Truth from previous rounds must still be accepted as such, and existing 'A' phantoms may be dibbed if a player so decides.

:So, in other words, if we are starting a new Round and there are 5 phantoms for A but I don't like any of those phantoms, I can create a new entry for A and start from there? Or would this apply to any turn in a round in which there are no phantoms in existance for that turn? No C phantoms on turn 3, for example. --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 01:10, 25 Apr 2005 (EDT)

::Yes, both. There is already a rule that, if there are no valid phantoms remaining for a letter, a scholar writes a brand new entry. This rule just gives turn A, and only turn A, more power than usual, solely because it is the start of a new Round. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 08:50, 25 Apr 2005 (EDT)

==Round 2 Themes==

The original Lexicon post suggests there should be a theme and goal to the entries being written. Since Ghyll, as a world, didn't exist, there was no theme to Round 1: it was ultimately "make a world". Scholarly consensus established that Round 2 will have no theme either, but the themes formerly proposed here have been transplanted to [[User:Morbus Iff/themes]].

[[Category: Encyclopedants]]

Ghyll:Bofu

2005-04-16T04:39:40Z

D8uv: Making "Speedish Chef" link right

'''Bofu''' are ostensibly a form of confection, specifically a kind of pastry--if by pastry, one means "a baked good whose dough is rich in either butter or [[Altoxian Bulb]] gel, resulting in a light, flaky texture and sometimes esophageal burns and glowing excrement after consumption."

These small, palm-sized tarts are filled with various fruit jams and animal byproducts, depending on regional variation. The exact recipe, and the proportion of any given batch containing [[Altoxian Bulb]] gel, depends on a mind-bogglingly complicated calculation involving the body weight of the [[Speedish Chefs|Speedish Chef]] and guests planning to "enjoy" the treats, as well as various measurements of celestial phenomena and how much money is owed to the chef.

The convoluted nature and unpredictable effects of eating Bofu is appropriate, since it is a traditional dessert dish served to family members of couples enduring a [[betrothal march]]. All relatives of the betrothed, up to as distant as second- and third-cousins in some of the more strict [[Carsokian]] families, are expected to consume at least one Bofu for every day the [[betrothal march]] lasts.

This practice has generally served to test the couple's respective families' regard toward their pending union: there have been reported cases of both unexplained good luck, and strange hideous accidents, on [[betrothal march]]es. Although tradition expects the couple to complete the march on their own, it is not unheard-of for a brother to leave supplies, or a distant aunt to leave falling rocks to be encountered. Sometimes, one more Bofu is motivation to help end a [[betrothal march]], one way or another.

'''Citations''': [[Altoxian Bulb]], [[Carsokian]], [[Speedish Chefs]].

--[[User:Deusx|Tamlin Moon]] 23:42, 17 Sep 2004 (EDT)

[[Category:Inventions]]

Ghyll:Round 2 discussion

2005-02-04T15:28:39Z

D8uv: Adding my votes

__TOC__

This is a page for Ghyll players to discuss what changes, if any, should be made during Round 2, since the letter Z is not too far away. Before we get into those discussions, we'll talk about what the End of Round 1 ''means'', and what will happen during that interim period between its end and Round 2's beginning. Players get to vote on all this. If you don't vote, you cede to Morbus, and he'll confuse you. There are '''Discussion''' headers for each entry, but certainly feel free to comment nearest your issue (ie., near a particular rule as opposed to at the bottom of the entire section).

==Between Rounds==

A few people have noticed the natural tendency of a Lexicon to have its earliest entries "outdated" by the time you get into the mid- or end- game. For instance, we know a bit more about [[Ghyllian reproduction]], a little more about ''this'', and a lot more about ''that''. Anyone reading those entries "new" will get a slop-sided view of its completeness. What to do, what to do?

An in-game solution proposed by [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] seemed to also be plausible out of game. Basically, since Round 1 is a "formalized" attempt by the Encyclopedants to create an Encyclopedia, Round 1 could be considered a "First Edition Draft" of the Encyclopedia. Round 2, on the other hand, would be a "Second Edition Draft" and so on. Thus, the time between Round 1 and Round 2 would be used to edit, fix and enhance any and all previous entries.

But, how much time for this editing? Or should the editing be part of Round 2? Should every player now have the ability to a) write a new entry, and b) revise/edit a previous entry? This would satisfy a "Done My Entry, Now What?" player who wants to contribute to Ghyll more. And it wouldn't allow them to overly influence the world, since they'd still need to edit/revamp based on prior art.

===Allow a two week period between rounds===
* Write up in-game "End of Year" reports.
* Finish up any discussions on this page.
* Take a break and collect your thoughts.
* Mad-edit anything that needs to.

YAY: [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]], [[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]], [[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]]
<br />NAY:

I'd say at least a two week period for clean up. Possibly more, depending on how much work there is to do. --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 09:12, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

===Allow scholars to revamp previous round's entries===
* One edit per turn, in addition to regular round rules.
* No new facts, just revamped to include missing/clarified facts.
* No dibbing on edits; if necc. mad-edits are collaborative.

YAY: [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]], [[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]], [[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]]
<br />NAY:

I like this because there are corrections I would have liked to make to some of my entries. Not only corrections for cannon that came later, but simple clarifications, too. --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 09:11, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

===General Discussion===

Would players only be allowed to add parts to their own posts, or other people's too? --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 00:47, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

Any and all. "Own posts only" would mean that 90% of our A/B's would never be touched. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 07:21, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

==Rule Changes==

* '''HOUSE''' rules are specific to Ghyll only, and modify, enhance, or tweak the rules to our conditions.
* '''WHOOPS''' are from the original Lexicon: an RPG post and were (accidentally) missed/forgotten/left-out, etc.

At this point, [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] and [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]], the originators of Ghyll, have agreed that the WHOOPS rules were accidental omissions based on the original [http://www.20by20room.com/2003/11/lexicon_an_rpg.html Lexicon: an RPG rules]. As such, they are to be automatically implemented in Round 2. In all things, however, you can certainly argue and discuss these WHOOPS, as well as suggest (and ask for a vote on) HOUSE rules that circumvent, replace, or change them.

===WHOOPS: New phantoms must start with an upcoming letter in the current round===

Reason against: you'll end up with a lot of XYZ phantoms. --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 00:47, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

No, you wouldn't - at the most, you'd have five tops (assuming "average number of players", per the WHOOPS below). With further Sleepy-Sleepy reflection, I'm starting to think that WHOOPS rules shouldn't be voted on, and instead just implemented: they're things we got "wrong" from the original rules the first time through. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 07:21, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

I think we should discuss it still: if everybody is against a point, or finds some massive flaw, why not address it? --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 07:33, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

: Actually since a) Ghyll is based on Neel's lexicon game and b) that game originally included these rules, so should Ghyll, and so I vote YES on not bothering with the voting and just going ahead. --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 10:00, 4 Feb 2005 (EST) aka. the Mystery Commenter.

Um, if this game goes on forever, every letter is a future round, right? --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 09:08, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

: Corrected. This rule comes from the original Lexicon intent: once you get to Z, the game is done - there'd be ''no'' chance to go back and write up phantoms for previous turns, because hey, the game is over. In our case, where Ghyll goes on forever (with the invention of "rounds"), the goal is to restrict phantoms to a certain "round idea". If Round 2, for example, takes place in -150 EC (and ONLY in -150 EC) and Round 3 takes place in -125 EC (and ONLY -125 EC), defining a Round 2 "B" leftover would be a "violation" of the "spirit" of Round 3 ("only play in the year -125 EC"). --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 09:36, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

===WHOOPS: Phantoms per letter may not exceed average number of players===

How will this be enforced? --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 00:47, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

: The same way any other rule is enforced. Assuming five average players, if there are five existing phantoms for S, you can either a) use one of those existing phantoms in your entry, or b) create a new phantom for a letter that has less than five. You may not, however, create a new phantom for S (bringing the total to six, more than the average number of players). This stops the madness that is our P. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 07:21, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

What happens if all letters have five phantoms? --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 07:33, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

: A strengthening of the original Lexicon intent: integration. You're either forced to pick a new/available letter to create your new phantom, or you're forced to use existing phantoms in your entry. Enforcing a phantom limit forces the integration of truth, otherwise, as you've self-imposed, anyone could invent new phantoms all the time, and we'd be inundated with entries that only link to one or two other things - "pockets" of content (what's the wikiphrase for that? can't remember. somewhere on c2.) --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 09:36, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

I think this would over-complicate the rules, especially with players dropping in and out. --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 09:08, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

: I disagree. Ghyll has an average of 5 players, so any letter can only have 5 phantoms in play. That's not difficult. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 09:36, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

===HOUSE: Letter 'X' allows definition of any previous phantom instead===

YAY: [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]], [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]], [[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]]
<br />NAY:

===HOUSE: LMNOP are speed turns; one turn per day===

YAY: [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]], [[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]], [[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]]
<br />NAY: [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]], [[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]], [[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]]

I'd just have to bow out. And why "LMNOP" specifically? --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 00:47, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

I deleted the original explanatory comment. In the alphabet song, they're said really fast. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 07:21, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

Yeah, I'd be way, way too busy to do a "speed" turn of any kind, so I'd just skip. Which may be okay with you all, considering how lame some of my entries have been lately. --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 09:07, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

===HOUSE: Of your two phantom citations, only one can be new===

YAY: [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]], [[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]], [[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]], [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]], [[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]]
<br />NAY:

===HOUSE: Turn challenges inspired by Kaleidoscope===

More information here at http://kevan.org/kaleido?faq, and a number of challenges at http://kevan.org/kaleido. Could be really simple (random global enhancement per turn, optional participation) or complicated (those who take the challenge get points, points can be traded in for multiple entries per turn, specific-scholar "attacks", etc.)

YAY:
<br />NAY:[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]]

I'd yay it if it were totally optional, and didn't see it much. Newbies really don't need another thing to learn, and the points themselves could cause conflict --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 10:28, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

===General Discussion===

I'd like to find a way to make entries ''out of turn'' occasionally. I know there is [[User:Stottlemeyer O'Phelan|Stottlemeyer O'Phelan]] and that such things do happen, but I wondered if there might be a way to "earn" an out of sequence letter by doing something in-game. --[[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]] 19:31, 28 Jan 2005 (EST)

I don't like this one. Stott is a hack for dealing with certain kinds of problems, and if he gets overused, he becomes uninteresting. (I'd be happy if he was *really* never used again.) I think the letters and the turns are the main thing that keeps Ghyll from becoming a free-for-all where whoever writes first and most wins. --[[User:Jcowan|Jcowan]] 13:29, 30 Jan 2005 (EST)

I hate to say it, but I agree with Mr. Cowan on this. Old Stott was a very, very generous concession made to an entry I'd worked up that was a parody of the History of the Necronomicon. I was crying about how fun it would have been to get it in after all the work I'd done and a kind soul took pity on me, thus was [[User:Stottlemeyer O'Phelan|Stottlemeyer O'Phelan]] born. --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 09:14, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

==The Ghyll Index==

Currently, the Ghyll Index is a hybrid between an index and a record of what happens each turn (players added, dropped, dibbed but did not complete). The information will become hard to maintain in Round 2, because it won't be obvious which entries are from which round. Here are a couple of possibilities:

===Create A Round Summary===
* Move existing turn summary info to round-specific summary page.
* Index page would contain previous entries, but would summary only R2.
* CON: R2 summary information would appear visually incorrect.

YAY: [[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]], [[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]]
<br />NAY: [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]]

===Create Separate Round Indexes===
* Keep separate indexes for each round.
* CON: Undermines the value of the Ghyll ''Index''.

YAY: [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]]
<br />NAY: [[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]], [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]]

===Create Separate and Master Indexes===
* Keep separate indexes for each round.
* Keep master index of all rounds.
* CON: Yet more pages to edit.

YAY:
<br />NAY: [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]], [[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]], [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]]

===General Discussion===
Would it be possible to somehow tag the 2nd turn entries as they are added to the Ghyll Index? Either a different color on the table or a type style differentiation? --[[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]] 11:56, 31 Jan 2005 (EST)

We could, yes; the page is hand-maintained, and any HTML whatever can be hacked into it. But it's annoying to do so, and whatever we choose will not scale (we will have problems with using distinct colors after about 10 rounds, e.g.) The only thing that will really work is to add the round number directly to the entry, which seems like overkill to me. --[[User:Jcowan|Jcowan]] 17:47, 31 Jan 2005 (EST)

Is the information we're trying not to lose the turn summaries, or the phantom/defined by? As an Index, we can always depend on [[Special:Allpages]] for a master index. Is the information in a ''separate'' Round 1 index vitally important (ie., used nearly every turn) that requires it to be part of a Master Index? --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 20:14, 3 Feb 2005 (EST)

Ghyll:Main Page

2004-10-03T10:35:28Z

D8uv: Please do not spam,I delete this message only one time,in order to introduce some order.IF you spam,I will ban every day.

<div style="background-color:#eee;border:1px solid #ccc;float:right;margin:1em;padding:0.5em;width:275px;">
<strong>Current Spotlights:</strong>
* [[Bureau of Forgotten Knowledge]]
* [[Cartographer's Nerves]]
* [[Carsokian]]
* [[Cranee Historical Society]] (offbeat)
See all entries in [[Ghyll Index]].<br /><br /><strong>[[Encyclopedants Progress Report 2]]</strong>,<br /><strong>[[Encyclopedants Progress Report 3]]:</strong><br />The Encyclopedants are in-game keepers of the Ghyll encyclopedia and the "voices of cohesion." Scholars: learn the lay of the land and the facts from the fallacy!</div>

Welcome to the world of Ghyll. The basic idea is that each player takes on the role of a scholar, from before scholarly pursuits became professionalized (or possibly after they ceased to be). You are cranky, opinionated, prejudiced, and eccentric. You are also collaborating with a number of your peers -- the other players -- on the construction of an encyclopedia about Ghyll.

Despite the fact that your peers are self-important, narrow-minded dunderheads, they are honest scholars. No matter how strained their interpretations are, their facts are accurate as historical research can make them. So if you cite an entry, you have to treat its factual content as true! (Though you can argue vociferously with the interpretation and introduce new facts that shade the interpretation.)

* '''[[Current events|Next deadline]]''': October 8th (23:59:59 EDT), letter E.
* [[Current events]]: News and further information about the state of play.
* [[Lexicon discussion]]: Talk about the game, rules, questions, and OOG concerns.

==Game Rules==

New players may join in at any time. If you have questions, [[Lexicon discussion|check the FAQ or ask here]].
<br />The core of the game is based on [http://www.20by20room.com/2003/11/lexicon_an_rpg.html Neel Krishnaswami's "Lexicon: an RPG"].

# Scholars shall ''dib'' (reserve), and then write, one entry per turn. Turns loop from A to Z.
# Entries shall cite two ''phantom'' (unwritten) entries and, after the first turn, one existing entry.
# Scholars shall neither cite themselves, nor write phantoms they were the first to cite.
# After the first turn, all phantoms for a letter shall be written before new entries are created.
# The required per-turn citations must not be for entries or phantoms defined in the current turn.

===Example of Play (first turn)===

# On the first turn, [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] defines his one entry for the letter A: [[Andelphracian Lights]] (Rule 1).
# In [[Andelphracian Lights]], he creates two phantoms: [[Bysted Timperton]] and [[Quester and Phorrus]] (Rule 2).
# [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] may never define [[Bysted Timperton]] and [[Quester and Phorrus]] now. (Rule 3).
# On the next turn, all phantoms for the letter B (like [[Bysted Timperton]]) must be defined (Rule 4).

===Example of Play (all other turns)===

# It's turn 2, letter B, and scholars must first define all phantoms starting with that letter (Rule 4).
# [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] wants the [[Bureau of Forgotten Knowledge]] and commits an edit saying so (Rule 1).
# He checks "What links here" on the [[Bureau of Forgotten Knowledge]] page to see what truths, if any, are known.
# He writes the entry, and cites two phantoms (existing or not) and one previously written entry. (Rule 2).
# His citations, however, must not be those he's previously created (Rule 3; see [[Ghyll Index]] and [[Lexicon discussion|FAQ]]).
# His citations must also have been created or defined before the current turn of play. (Rule 5).

==How To Participate==
<div style="background-color:#eee;border:1px solid #ccc;float:right;margin:1em;padding:0.5em;width:275px;">You can "go above and beyond" your entries by also updating the [[Ghyll Index]], [[Encyclopedant Calendar|Ghyll Timeline]], and [[WhoIsWho|Ghyll Who's Who]] based on your turn. If you don't, no worries - it'll get done eventually.</div>

First, read everything you can! Then [[Special:Userlogin|create an account and login]]. Defining a new entry is as simple as going to its URL or clicking any red links (''phantoms''). For example, to create "Crab apples", go to http://gamegrene.com/wiki/Crab_apples, click "edit", and begin typing. More information (creating headers, links, bold, italic, etc.) can be found at [[Wikipedia:Help:Editing]].

In-game discussion about terms should occur at the bottom of each entry. Out-of-game comments should appear on the entry's "discussion" page. Be warned: other scholars may take heated issue with your comments! For an example, see [[AuroAnthropology]] and [[Talk:AuroAnthropology]].

Finally, consider writing a brief intro about your scholar (ex. [[User:MorbusIff|Morbus Iff]] and [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]]). This is NOT a "turn" - this is just you fleshing out your character, much like you'd do before a new tabletop campaign. You should not reference phantom links in your scholar description - just blurb a bio, and if entries happen to be defined later during play (by yourself or someone else), you can retroactively apply links.

Ghyll:Lexicon discussion

2004-09-29T23:47:44Z

D8uv: Retorts!

__TOC__

If you've any questions or suggestions about the wiki and its syntax, the Lexicon rules, Ghyll continuity errors, letting us know you're gonna miss a turn, etc., use this page to wax poetic. Be sure to sign your name (using either the second - from - the - right toolbar icon, or typing two hyphens and four tildes), which also includes the timestamp. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 11:32, 20 Aug 2004 (EDT)

==Frequently Asked Questions==

===How do I dib an entry (cf. Rule 1)?===
If there is a specific phantom you'd like to write, wait until the proper turn occurs (ie. waiting for the "R" turn to dib phantom "Rancor") and then edit the phantom to just include a statement of dibbing ("MIIine! ALlL MiIInnE!") and your name/signature. Naturally, the intent of dibbing an entry is so that you actually write it - if you don't during that turn, your dib expires. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 15:53, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

===Can I cite more than I'm required to cite? (cf. Rule 2)===
Each turn after the first, you're required to cite two phantom entries and one existing entry. Neither of these three citations can be terms you've created or written. However, if you've properly met these requirements, your entry can certainly refer to other terms in the Ghyll encyclopedia, including those you've personally written. These "other terms", however, MUST have been previously defined or created. See the [[Ghyll Index]] for a complete list of in-play terms. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 15:53, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

: I had been reading this as "You must cite two ''novel'' phantoms", but Doctor Phineas Crank pointed out that Rule 2 doesn't actually say that. What's the intention here? Is it all right to cite phantoms that have already been created (but not defined)? --[[User:Jcowan|Jcowan]] 17:51, 27 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Your required per turn phantoms citations may be existing phantoms, brand new phantoms, or a mixture of both. The lack of "novel" innuendo in Rule 2 was intentional, and the "Example of Play" on the main page also reflects this. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 18:17, 27 Sep 2004 (EDT)

===What happens about linking to widely-used terms?===
It may often be the case that terms are used throughout the dictionary that are not cited initially: you're allowed to invent people, places, etc. that you don't actually cite a reference for. That means that later in the game, people can write about these people, and references can be strewn across the wiki that don't actively ''link'' to the phantom. How is the person to be able to research the references? The general rule of thumb is that when you create a term that you know has been mentioned elsewhere, either you go about looking for existing references and link them, or the admins do it for you. [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 22:33, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

==Comments, Questions, Complaints?==

===Alternate Reality vs. Fictional World===
Hello people. This looks like a nice game- but I think I got the rules a little wrong in my enthusiasm to get started, entry: anabiscot) by putting more "phantoms" into my entry than were asked for, and by fleshing one or two of them out. I find it impossible to backtrack on the fleshing out, and so a) don't know what to do about them, as I don't want to upeset anyone by not having strictly observed the rules for the first turn and b) wonder whether clearer guidance to newcomers is needed if this isn't to be a closed shop just for oldophytes --[[User:Ginestre|Ginestre]] 05:28, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Ginestre: we're open to newcomers, definitely. As for the rules, check out #1: "Scholars ... write one entry per turn" and then #2: "Entries shall cite two phantom entries". I've deleted all your out of turn entries, so there's no worries there (to return an entry to a phantom, just click the "delete" button as opposed to "edit", and give a reason for the deletion). Let me know which part of the rules initially confused you. We'll be adding an "Example of a Turn" to the main page shortly. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 09:41, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Finally, and sadly, I've deleted your Anabiscot entry for being too much of an "Earth-parody". It, ultimately, looked like a school term paper that was revised to include "made up" words as opposed to their Earthen counterparts (as seen in your revising of "England" to "Ghyll", and the inclusion of Christian, Protestant, University of Helsinki, etc., etc.). Based on your timpstamps, I can appreciate how this deletion must look compared to your two hours of editing. But, it's really not the sort of material we're looking for. Think "when we crossed the threshold, I hit my new bride's head on the door jamb, and in her ensuing mental insanity, she described something that'd sounds just like Ghyll's [NameOfEntry]" as opposed to "What have I written already that I can modify for the game?" --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 09:41, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

The new entry on the EXAMPLE OF PLAY page is certainly much clearer than the previous offering, and is to be commended. Had that been there, I would not have stumbled as I did this morning. But the comment on my deleted entry "it's not really what we're looking for" is rather telling, and is telling me to be on my way nevertheless. "It, ultimately, looked like a school term paper..etc" also clearly reveals that you see your position as an empowered subeditor of sorts, who has the role of judging text quality; fair game -it's your server, you call the shots. But to this newcomer (a professional writer who wasted words this morning just for fun, and who hasn't written a term paper in over thirty years!) it nevertheless seems a great pity, because the game is a nice idea. Applying the wiki to what used to be called four-handed writing would allow the natural numerical limits of collaborative collective writing to over-bound. But in fact you're not open to newcomers at all, despite the protestations....but it was an interesting try.--[[User:Ginestre|Ginestre]] 17:49, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Ginestre: there's been a lot of off-wiki discussion about how this game should unfold, comprising nine months of a lot of arguing, a lot of ideas and scanty documentation, and a lot of ideas that it's going to be difficult to crystallise on the wiki quickly. I, personally, think that your entries were marvellous, but in the context of the direction that we're trying to develop for this wiki they're not <em>quite</em> what we're after. In other words, we're opening this up very much on the ground floor and trying to establish the past that we have, so you'll have to excuse the odd bit of seemingly baseless "oh no, that's not the way it should be done" banter. Imagine if you'd come into a game that's been running for nearly a year, and there were a lot of dedicated players and in-game jokes and conventions already. That basically <em>is</em> the situation here to some extent, we just haven't been able to document it properly yet, and we're also in a stage of "well, let's see what other people think". Some things are very much negotiable, and some aren't. Anyway, I hope that you'll consider still joining in and being patient with us as we work through this nascent stage, because I think your entries showed an enthusiasm and quality that it would be sad for us to miss out on. --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 18:03, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

I've sent Ginestre a longer email on the subject, but the distinction I made with my actions was one of "fictional world" versus "alternate reality." It was our intent for Ghyll to be a "fictional world", one that has little semblance to the "real" world, namely Earth. While we realize this can be an impossibility, as creativity is emboldened in what we know, we wanted to stay away from what we call an "Earth parody" - a world that has direct, obvious, and blatant parallels to our own - more of an "alternate reality" as opposed to "fictional world". LORD OF THE RINGS is a "fictional world", whereas the Sci-Fi show SLIDERS is an alternate reality, as are the TWILIGHT ZONE, THE OUTER LIMITS, and so forth. Which isn't to say that I'm against equivalency - in the early game, newspaper, magnetism, war, research organizations, basements, "flash lights/beacons", etc. already exist. But they're described in an environment of "fictional world" not "alternate reality". As for judging text or entry quality, honestly, I'd like to stay as far away from that as possible. Again, the distinction made with your entry was one of "Earth parody" and not "fictional world." --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:20, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

===Non-turn Activities===
Morbus: What're we doing with respect to canonical but non-turn activities? There's the possibility of the Encyclopedants mailing out letters to all the scholars as you discussed, but did we talk about a per-turn summary too? I think it'd be helpful in that it'd make us analyse what's currently being worked on to ensure its consistency, as well as helping newcomers to the game and people who have been on holiday etc. It could be a collaborative effort between all the scholars who contributed to the first turn, and it might actually serve to clarify some of the intentions etc. behind the entries. I'm not sure what framework could be used to justify it in terms of the game itself though; perhaps the scholars all meet up in a F2F meeting somewhere in a different location per turn? We could order it as though it's meeting minutes: have a little abstract of the location that we met at, introduce some of the scholars, have dialogue, and then the main summary of what's been written. --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 17:46, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

My personal in-game plan was, as you mention, the Encyclopedants - the people who are "funding" the encyclopedia and who "collate" the entries for "publication" (at the end of a turn). These Encyclopedants would serve as the "voice of cohesion", and really fill a void that the Ghyll Lexicon is missing: an existing backdrop to base entries on. Other Lexicons were based on existing worlds (Paranoia, Exalted, Nobilis), and thus, the "voice of cohesion" concerning stuff like dates, geography, races, etc. were the original books the games were derived from. There's none of that in Ghyll. For instance, sometime soon, the Encyclopedants will release a document, in-game, on how scholars should handle dates. This would be some sort of "Progress Report Issue 1", where # is the # of the turn in question. Ultimately, the topics discussed in these Progress Reports would be about the integrity of the encyclopedia itself: continuity errors, worrisome plot holes, and etc. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:36, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

As for a scholarly F2F, I like that idea, and I think the best way to approximate that would be a sort of "in-game" Lexicon discussion. The Encyclopedants could release a Progress Report detailing worries they're having, and other scholars could log their own complaints and concerns on the Progress Report page itself. This would keep everything centralized, and would be a more vocal, less-controlled [[Current events]] (a "current in-game events") page. I think it'd also be handy, upon reaching Z, for scholars and the Encyclopedants to prepare a personal "Final Report", discussing how they felt things went, what could be done better for the next Round, and so on and so forth. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:36, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

===Other Threads===

''Got some comments or questions? Add 'em here!''

====Players and Scholars as Canon====

Er, okay, so can we refer to our own characters as the inventors of something? By that I mean, if my character invented a new sight for the smooth-bore musket, could I make an entry based on that? --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 14:13, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Sure, there's nothing stopping you from doing that, but by making yourself an official part of the canon (as opposed to non-canon Scholar bios), you make yourself liable to follow other people's truths. It'd be possible to kill you off, and yadda yadda yadda. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 14:28, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Well, as long as I can make contributions from beyond the grave, or at least through posthumous notes, I might be okay with that.
--[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 14:32, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

That is a danger I did not foresee. In the Bobby Shwarmph entry, I included a reference that incorporated Scholar Edward Schwarmph into the canon, assuming that since he phantomed the entry and that he studies a field linked closely to that covered by the magazine edited by the character he created with the same surname, they were related. If I put him in danger in the process, that was probably a breach of courtesy. While I suppose there is nothing stopping any of us from embarking on studies to be discovered after our deaths, there is probably a better way to handle this. A later entry could establish a conduit of communication with dead scholars and other Ghyllians, but then we wouldn't have to do research at all- we'd just get a soul who was there on the line to offer their take on things. I suggest we treat bios as canonical, and all characters are "in game," and hence fair game. Then, if a scholar is killed off and its player cares to continue, the player creates a successor- say a favored student or offspring -poised to continue the work. If players are non-canon, I should either delete the Edward reference in the Bobby Shwarmph entry, be referring to someone else entirely who coincidentally has the exact same name and job, or at least get my fellow scholar'a permission before something unfortunate occurs to him as a result of my entering him into canon without his express consent. --[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 20:40, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Which brings me to another question- presuming events are unfolding in our world even as more entries are written, we might run into situations where an entry is obsolete or needs updating based on events that hadn't happened yet, or information only discovered after it was written. Therefore, should we be dating our entries to avoid confusion? (ie: last updated 0/09/1 EC by Bast ResNovae) --[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 20:40, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Making scholar biographies canon is very dangerous as it distorts the flow of the game. Since the bios are not restricted by turn of gameplay, they can be updated at any moment, thus invalidating anything previously written about them. Similarly, any scholar could define a phantom, then write about it in their scholar bio, thus hedging the bets that their phantom, written by someone else, is ''exactly how they envisioned it''. One of the "fun" aspects of the game is seeing your ideas corrupted and perverted into something you've never dreamed of - allowing scholars to modify their biographies at any time (since they're non-turns) invalidates this aspect. Remember the intro to the game: ''you can argue vociferously with the interpretation and introduce new facts that shade the interpretation.'' Just because you've named Edward Shwarmph in an entry doesn't mean it's the exact same Edward as the scholar: it could be his twin, clone, doppelganger, or what have you. If your Edward dies, it is "truth", but that doesn't mean that a new fact can't be introduced that twists the truth into something else entirely. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 21:20, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Making scholars themselves canon is something that only the player playing the scholar should decide they want to do: roleplaying a character based on someone else's direction is another aspect (with its own measure of "fun") of a Lexicon that may be enjoyable to some: it should be a choice to the player whether they want to receive this direction, or if they'd like to fixate on their own vision. Making all scholars canon, and thus definable and modifiable by others, may be above and beyond what a player would like, resulting in a character they simply don't want to play. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 21:20, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Oh, I've opened a can of worms here. How does one propose a new rule? Perhaps the restriction of no new phantoms from a player's scholar's bio? Though, I'm in complete agreement that only players should be allowed to make their scholars canon. --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 21:41, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

That is already a house rule actually - see the last paragraph of "How to Participate" on the main page. I've already removed a number of newly defined phantoms from various scholar pages. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 21:54, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Good point. Player Edward Shwarmph could, for example, be riding on the coattails of a more distinguished scholar of the saame name. Or be impersonating him. Or be a relative... or what have you. If he still has the ability to accept or reject the canonical identity as he chooses, I won't worry about it- I'll just leave it up to him.--[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 23:26, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

====Multiple links to the same place====

I'm removing all links to the same place except the first (there might be some reason to make it other than the first, but I can't imagine it at the moment). Linking ''every'' instance of "Council" to the [[Council on Quezlarian Research]] is unnecessary and makes the page unaesthetic. --[[User:Jcowan|Jcowan]] 02:45, 18 Sep 2004 (EDT)

I heartily disagree. It makes the page "unaesthetic" quote unquote because of their visual proximity to each other. But, in very long entries, like Bethany or the Bureau, linking only the first mention forces the user to scroll upwards to find a previous link, as opposed to "holding their place" and opening the link they just read in a new window or tab. I'd rather link everything for future usability, then link only the first and be distracted by a "lose the moment" treasure hunt to find the first reference to click on. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 08:42, 18 Sep 2004 (EDT)

I've got to agree with Morbus on this one. Hypertext means never having to say "but I digress." If a page appears too cluttered with links to the same term, that is probably an indication that it should be re-written with synonyms. I look forward to the day when we have a finished Ghyll Encyclopedia, where each entry is chock full of links to things that others have decided to phantom later. --[[User:Qwentyth Pyre|Qwentyth Pyre]] 20:05, 20 Sep 2004 (EDT)

What I'm trying to discourage is this sort of thing (only somewhat exaggerated):
* When [[Rambo Jones]] was born, [[Rambo Jones|he]] was under a prophecy that [[Rambo Jones|he]] would grow up to be [[Rambo Jones|the President]] of the [[Rambo Jones]] Society. [[Rambo Jones|He]] had [[Rambo Jones|his]] share of troubles, but [[Rambo Jones|he]] eventually did.
I agree with Morbus that in a very long article multiple links may be in order, but mechanically linking '''every''' reference, as above, is just maddening. I don't see how rewriting with synonyms would help, since the synonyms would just be linked -- under the preceding strategy -- to the same page in the end. --[[User:Jcowan|Jcowan]] 10:17, 21 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Well yes, that would just be silly. In your example I would link none of the "he/his/the president" but would link the two "Rambo Jones" proper name citations. Using "he/his/The President" is exactly what I meant by using synonyms. I wouldn't expect those synonyms to be links, but I would expect each proper name usage to be one. Just my opinion, of course. --[[User:Qwentyth Pyre|Qwentyth Pyre]] 18:34, 21 Sep 2004 (EDT)

====Correction of spelling and typos====

What is general etiquette on the correction of spelling and typos in entries other than mine? (not that either my spelling or typing is perfect, but I assume nobody objects if I correct myself)?
--[[User:Ginestre|Ginestre]] 13:58, 5 Sep 2004 (EDT)

If it's definitely an error, please go ahead and correct it! As long as you don't change the semantics of someone's entry, you can certainly change the syntax to make it easier to read, clearer, etc. Imagine you're correcting someone's English paper: you're not going to do their work for them, but you want to let them know that it's "i before e except after c and except in wierd words such as weird". --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 14:09, 5 Sep 2004 (EDT)

==Useful Resources==

You can use this [http://www.fourteenminutes.com/fun/words/ random word generator] to generate entry names that begin with a specified pair of letters. --[[User:Jcowan|Jcowan]] 17:07, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

You may also make use of generators found here [http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~pound/ Chris Pound's Name Generation Page], particularly, [http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~pound/#werd werd], for names. (Look for the examples of Victorian English names.)
--[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 14:01, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Not to toot my own horn, but, well, I'm tooting my own horn. Need a "good" name for someone in the Encyclopedia? Try [http://www.fantasist.net/funnynames.shtml The Funny Name Generator], by yours truly.
--[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 17:31, 14 Sep 2004 (EDT)

==Gameplay Change Voting==

===Time For Turn Changes===
What time should the deadline occur?

24:00 GMT --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 19:47, 29 Sep 2004 (EDT) (available from 23:00-5:00 GMT)

I'm against asking for suggestions BESIDES a simple conversion to GMT. Getting 10 to 15 opinions on the best time for them will merely create a secondary vote of "here are the favored three, pick your best", and then people feeling annoyed that their time wasn't chosen. '''Please merely vote on a midnight-EST-to-GMT-instead only (ie. 7pm EST).''' --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:25, 29 Sep 2004 (EDT)

The preferred value is the only one that really counts, the other values are just there so the talliers can see if the final decision is going to exclude too many people. I guess I should have made that more clear. (Which is what I'm attempting now.) --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 19:47, 29 Sep 2004 (EDT)

===Length Of Turns===
A week, 9 days if Morbus would let me. --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 19:47, 29 Sep 2004 (EDT) 19:06, 29 Sep 2004 (EDT)

I'm against any sort of non-anniversary date (ie. an odd date like 9 days compared to "every second Friday" or "two weeks"). It's too much effort for people, myself included, to remember, and it'll just cause too many "arrgh, I thought this week was... " lamenting, and eventual maintenance headaches ("I thought this week was Thursday, so I was gonna write it then, but it was Wednesday, here's my entry, I know its late, please accept it, la la la!") --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:25, 29 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Anniversary dates have the gigantic advantage of being easy to remember, but I find that a week is just a little too short, and the first turn (week and a half) was just a little too long. I'll live with the anniversary date of a week, but I still feel that 9 days is just right. --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 19:47, 29 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Ghyll:Lexicon discussion

2004-09-29T23:07:37Z

D8uv: I am a fool /* Voting */

__TOC__

If you've any questions or suggestions about the wiki and its syntax, the Lexicon rules, Ghyll continuity errors, letting us know you're gonna miss a turn, etc., use this page to wax poetic. Be sure to sign your name (using either the second - from - the - right toolbar icon, or typing two hyphens and four tildes), which also includes the timestamp. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 11:32, 20 Aug 2004 (EDT)

==Frequently Asked Questions==

===How do I dib an entry (cf. Rule 1)?===
If there is a specific phantom you'd like to write, wait until the proper turn occurs (ie. waiting for the "R" turn to dib phantom "Rancor") and then edit the phantom to just include a statement of dibbing ("MIIine! ALlL MiIInnE!") and your name/signature. Naturally, the intent of dibbing an entry is so that you actually write it - if you don't during that turn, your dib expires. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 15:53, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

===Can I cite more than I'm required to cite? (cf. Rule 2)===
Each turn after the first, you're required to cite two phantom entries and one existing entry. Neither of these three citations can be terms you've created or written. However, if you've properly met these requirements, your entry can certainly refer to other terms in the Ghyll encyclopedia, including those you've personally written. These "other terms", however, MUST have been previously defined or created. See the [[Ghyll Index]] for a complete list of in-play terms. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 15:53, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

: I had been reading this as "You must cite two ''novel'' phantoms", but Doctor Phineas Crank pointed out that Rule 2 doesn't actually say that. What's the intention here? Is it all right to cite phantoms that have already been created (but not defined)? --[[User:Jcowan|Jcowan]] 17:51, 27 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Your required per turn phantoms citations may be existing phantoms, brand new phantoms, or a mixture of both. The lack of "novel" innuendo in Rule 2 was intentional, and the "Example of Play" on the main page also reflects this. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 18:17, 27 Sep 2004 (EDT)

===What happens about linking to widely-used terms?===
It may often be the case that terms are used throughout the dictionary that are not cited initially: you're allowed to invent people, places, etc. that you don't actually cite a reference for. That means that later in the game, people can write about these people, and references can be strewn across the wiki that don't actively ''link'' to the phantom. How is the person to be able to research the references? The general rule of thumb is that when you create a term that you know has been mentioned elsewhere, either you go about looking for existing references and link them, or the admins do it for you. [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 22:33, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

==Comments, Questions, Complaints?==

===Alternate Reality vs. Fictional World===
Hello people. This looks like a nice game- but I think I got the rules a little wrong in my enthusiasm to get started, entry: anabiscot) by putting more "phantoms" into my entry than were asked for, and by fleshing one or two of them out. I find it impossible to backtrack on the fleshing out, and so a) don't know what to do about them, as I don't want to upeset anyone by not having strictly observed the rules for the first turn and b) wonder whether clearer guidance to newcomers is needed if this isn't to be a closed shop just for oldophytes --[[User:Ginestre|Ginestre]] 05:28, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Ginestre: we're open to newcomers, definitely. As for the rules, check out #1: "Scholars ... write one entry per turn" and then #2: "Entries shall cite two phantom entries". I've deleted all your out of turn entries, so there's no worries there (to return an entry to a phantom, just click the "delete" button as opposed to "edit", and give a reason for the deletion). Let me know which part of the rules initially confused you. We'll be adding an "Example of a Turn" to the main page shortly. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 09:41, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Finally, and sadly, I've deleted your Anabiscot entry for being too much of an "Earth-parody". It, ultimately, looked like a school term paper that was revised to include "made up" words as opposed to their Earthen counterparts (as seen in your revising of "England" to "Ghyll", and the inclusion of Christian, Protestant, University of Helsinki, etc., etc.). Based on your timpstamps, I can appreciate how this deletion must look compared to your two hours of editing. But, it's really not the sort of material we're looking for. Think "when we crossed the threshold, I hit my new bride's head on the door jamb, and in her ensuing mental insanity, she described something that'd sounds just like Ghyll's [NameOfEntry]" as opposed to "What have I written already that I can modify for the game?" --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 09:41, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

The new entry on the EXAMPLE OF PLAY page is certainly much clearer than the previous offering, and is to be commended. Had that been there, I would not have stumbled as I did this morning. But the comment on my deleted entry "it's not really what we're looking for" is rather telling, and is telling me to be on my way nevertheless. "It, ultimately, looked like a school term paper..etc" also clearly reveals that you see your position as an empowered subeditor of sorts, who has the role of judging text quality; fair game -it's your server, you call the shots. But to this newcomer (a professional writer who wasted words this morning just for fun, and who hasn't written a term paper in over thirty years!) it nevertheless seems a great pity, because the game is a nice idea. Applying the wiki to what used to be called four-handed writing would allow the natural numerical limits of collaborative collective writing to over-bound. But in fact you're not open to newcomers at all, despite the protestations....but it was an interesting try.--[[User:Ginestre|Ginestre]] 17:49, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Ginestre: there's been a lot of off-wiki discussion about how this game should unfold, comprising nine months of a lot of arguing, a lot of ideas and scanty documentation, and a lot of ideas that it's going to be difficult to crystallise on the wiki quickly. I, personally, think that your entries were marvellous, but in the context of the direction that we're trying to develop for this wiki they're not <em>quite</em> what we're after. In other words, we're opening this up very much on the ground floor and trying to establish the past that we have, so you'll have to excuse the odd bit of seemingly baseless "oh no, that's not the way it should be done" banter. Imagine if you'd come into a game that's been running for nearly a year, and there were a lot of dedicated players and in-game jokes and conventions already. That basically <em>is</em> the situation here to some extent, we just haven't been able to document it properly yet, and we're also in a stage of "well, let's see what other people think". Some things are very much negotiable, and some aren't. Anyway, I hope that you'll consider still joining in and being patient with us as we work through this nascent stage, because I think your entries showed an enthusiasm and quality that it would be sad for us to miss out on. --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 18:03, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

I've sent Ginestre a longer email on the subject, but the distinction I made with my actions was one of "fictional world" versus "alternate reality." It was our intent for Ghyll to be a "fictional world", one that has little semblance to the "real" world, namely Earth. While we realize this can be an impossibility, as creativity is emboldened in what we know, we wanted to stay away from what we call an "Earth parody" - a world that has direct, obvious, and blatant parallels to our own - more of an "alternate reality" as opposed to "fictional world". LORD OF THE RINGS is a "fictional world", whereas the Sci-Fi show SLIDERS is an alternate reality, as are the TWILIGHT ZONE, THE OUTER LIMITS, and so forth. Which isn't to say that I'm against equivalency - in the early game, newspaper, magnetism, war, research organizations, basements, "flash lights/beacons", etc. already exist. But they're described in an environment of "fictional world" not "alternate reality". As for judging text or entry quality, honestly, I'd like to stay as far away from that as possible. Again, the distinction made with your entry was one of "Earth parody" and not "fictional world." --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:20, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

===Non-turn Activities===
Morbus: What're we doing with respect to canonical but non-turn activities? There's the possibility of the Encyclopedants mailing out letters to all the scholars as you discussed, but did we talk about a per-turn summary too? I think it'd be helpful in that it'd make us analyse what's currently being worked on to ensure its consistency, as well as helping newcomers to the game and people who have been on holiday etc. It could be a collaborative effort between all the scholars who contributed to the first turn, and it might actually serve to clarify some of the intentions etc. behind the entries. I'm not sure what framework could be used to justify it in terms of the game itself though; perhaps the scholars all meet up in a F2F meeting somewhere in a different location per turn? We could order it as though it's meeting minutes: have a little abstract of the location that we met at, introduce some of the scholars, have dialogue, and then the main summary of what's been written. --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 17:46, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

My personal in-game plan was, as you mention, the Encyclopedants - the people who are "funding" the encyclopedia and who "collate" the entries for "publication" (at the end of a turn). These Encyclopedants would serve as the "voice of cohesion", and really fill a void that the Ghyll Lexicon is missing: an existing backdrop to base entries on. Other Lexicons were based on existing worlds (Paranoia, Exalted, Nobilis), and thus, the "voice of cohesion" concerning stuff like dates, geography, races, etc. were the original books the games were derived from. There's none of that in Ghyll. For instance, sometime soon, the Encyclopedants will release a document, in-game, on how scholars should handle dates. This would be some sort of "Progress Report Issue 1", where # is the # of the turn in question. Ultimately, the topics discussed in these Progress Reports would be about the integrity of the encyclopedia itself: continuity errors, worrisome plot holes, and etc. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:36, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

As for a scholarly F2F, I like that idea, and I think the best way to approximate that would be a sort of "in-game" Lexicon discussion. The Encyclopedants could release a Progress Report detailing worries they're having, and other scholars could log their own complaints and concerns on the Progress Report page itself. This would keep everything centralized, and would be a more vocal, less-controlled [[Current events]] (a "current in-game events") page. I think it'd also be handy, upon reaching Z, for scholars and the Encyclopedants to prepare a personal "Final Report", discussing how they felt things went, what could be done better for the next Round, and so on and so forth. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:36, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

===Other Threads===

''Got some comments or questions? Add 'em here!''

====Players and Scholars as Canon====

Er, okay, so can we refer to our own characters as the inventors of something? By that I mean, if my character invented a new sight for the smooth-bore musket, could I make an entry based on that? --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 14:13, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Sure, there's nothing stopping you from doing that, but by making yourself an official part of the canon (as opposed to non-canon Scholar bios), you make yourself liable to follow other people's truths. It'd be possible to kill you off, and yadda yadda yadda. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 14:28, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Well, as long as I can make contributions from beyond the grave, or at least through posthumous notes, I might be okay with that.
--[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 14:32, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

That is a danger I did not foresee. In the Bobby Shwarmph entry, I included a reference that incorporated Scholar Edward Schwarmph into the canon, assuming that since he phantomed the entry and that he studies a field linked closely to that covered by the magazine edited by the character he created with the same surname, they were related. If I put him in danger in the process, that was probably a breach of courtesy. While I suppose there is nothing stopping any of us from embarking on studies to be discovered after our deaths, there is probably a better way to handle this. A later entry could establish a conduit of communication with dead scholars and other Ghyllians, but then we wouldn't have to do research at all- we'd just get a soul who was there on the line to offer their take on things. I suggest we treat bios as canonical, and all characters are "in game," and hence fair game. Then, if a scholar is killed off and its player cares to continue, the player creates a successor- say a favored student or offspring -poised to continue the work. If players are non-canon, I should either delete the Edward reference in the Bobby Shwarmph entry, be referring to someone else entirely who coincidentally has the exact same name and job, or at least get my fellow scholar'a permission before something unfortunate occurs to him as a result of my entering him into canon without his express consent. --[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 20:40, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Which brings me to another question- presuming events are unfolding in our world even as more entries are written, we might run into situations where an entry is obsolete or needs updating based on events that hadn't happened yet, or information only discovered after it was written. Therefore, should we be dating our entries to avoid confusion? (ie: last updated 0/09/1 EC by Bast ResNovae) --[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 20:40, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Making scholar biographies canon is very dangerous as it distorts the flow of the game. Since the bios are not restricted by turn of gameplay, they can be updated at any moment, thus invalidating anything previously written about them. Similarly, any scholar could define a phantom, then write about it in their scholar bio, thus hedging the bets that their phantom, written by someone else, is ''exactly how they envisioned it''. One of the "fun" aspects of the game is seeing your ideas corrupted and perverted into something you've never dreamed of - allowing scholars to modify their biographies at any time (since they're non-turns) invalidates this aspect. Remember the intro to the game: ''you can argue vociferously with the interpretation and introduce new facts that shade the interpretation.'' Just because you've named Edward Shwarmph in an entry doesn't mean it's the exact same Edward as the scholar: it could be his twin, clone, doppelganger, or what have you. If your Edward dies, it is "truth", but that doesn't mean that a new fact can't be introduced that twists the truth into something else entirely. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 21:20, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Making scholars themselves canon is something that only the player playing the scholar should decide they want to do: roleplaying a character based on someone else's direction is another aspect (with its own measure of "fun") of a Lexicon that may be enjoyable to some: it should be a choice to the player whether they want to receive this direction, or if they'd like to fixate on their own vision. Making all scholars canon, and thus definable and modifiable by others, may be above and beyond what a player would like, resulting in a character they simply don't want to play. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 21:20, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Oh, I've opened a can of worms here. How does one propose a new rule? Perhaps the restriction of no new phantoms from a player's scholar's bio? Though, I'm in complete agreement that only players should be allowed to make their scholars canon. --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 21:41, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

That is already a house rule actually - see the last paragraph of "How to Participate" on the main page. I've already removed a number of newly defined phantoms from various scholar pages. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 21:54, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Good point. Player Edward Shwarmph could, for example, be riding on the coattails of a more distinguished scholar of the saame name. Or be impersonating him. Or be a relative... or what have you. If he still has the ability to accept or reject the canonical identity as he chooses, I won't worry about it- I'll just leave it up to him.--[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 23:26, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

====Multiple links to the same place====

I'm removing all links to the same place except the first (there might be some reason to make it other than the first, but I can't imagine it at the moment). Linking ''every'' instance of "Council" to the [[Council on Quezlarian Research]] is unnecessary and makes the page unaesthetic. --[[User:Jcowan|Jcowan]] 02:45, 18 Sep 2004 (EDT)

I heartily disagree. It makes the page "unaesthetic" quote unquote because of their visual proximity to each other. But, in very long entries, like Bethany or the Bureau, linking only the first mention forces the user to scroll upwards to find a previous link, as opposed to "holding their place" and opening the link they just read in a new window or tab. I'd rather link everything for future usability, then link only the first and be distracted by a "lose the moment" treasure hunt to find the first reference to click on. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 08:42, 18 Sep 2004 (EDT)

I've got to agree with Morbus on this one. Hypertext means never having to say "but I digress." If a page appears too cluttered with links to the same term, that is probably an indication that it should be re-written with synonyms. I look forward to the day when we have a finished Ghyll Encyclopedia, where each entry is chock full of links to things that others have decided to phantom later. --[[User:Qwentyth Pyre|Qwentyth Pyre]] 20:05, 20 Sep 2004 (EDT)

What I'm trying to discourage is this sort of thing (only somewhat exaggerated):
* When [[Rambo Jones]] was born, [[Rambo Jones|he]] was under a prophecy that [[Rambo Jones|he]] would grow up to be [[Rambo Jones|the President]] of the [[Rambo Jones]] Society. [[Rambo Jones|He]] had [[Rambo Jones|his]] share of troubles, but [[Rambo Jones|he]] eventually did.
I agree with Morbus that in a very long article multiple links may be in order, but mechanically linking '''every''' reference, as above, is just maddening. I don't see how rewriting with synonyms would help, since the synonyms would just be linked -- under the preceding strategy -- to the same page in the end. --[[User:Jcowan|Jcowan]] 10:17, 21 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Well yes, that would just be silly. In your example I would link none of the "he/his/the president" but would link the two "Rambo Jones" proper name citations. Using "he/his/The President" is exactly what I meant by using synonyms. I wouldn't expect those synonyms to be links, but I would expect each proper name usage to be one. Just my opinion, of course. --[[User:Qwentyth Pyre|Qwentyth Pyre]] 18:34, 21 Sep 2004 (EDT)

====Correction of spelling and typos====

What is general etiquette on the correction of spelling and typos in entries other than mine? (not that either my spelling or typing is perfect, but I assume nobody objects if I correct myself)?
--[[User:Ginestre|Ginestre]] 13:58, 5 Sep 2004 (EDT)

If it's definitely an error, please go ahead and correct it! As long as you don't change the semantics of someone's entry, you can certainly change the syntax to make it easier to read, clearer, etc. Imagine you're correcting someone's English paper: you're not going to do their work for them, but you want to let them know that it's "i before e except after c and except in wierd words such as weird". --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 14:09, 5 Sep 2004 (EDT)

==Useful Resources==

You can use this [http://www.fourteenminutes.com/fun/words/ random word generator] to generate entry names that begin with a specified pair of letters. --[[User:Jcowan|Jcowan]] 17:07, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

You may also make use of generators found here [http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~pound/ Chris Pound's Name Generation Page], particularly, [http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~pound/#werd werd], for names. (Look for the examples of Victorian English names.)
--[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 14:01, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Not to toot my own horn, but, well, I'm tooting my own horn. Need a "good" name for someone in the Encyclopedia? Try [http://www.fantasist.net/funnynames.shtml The Funny Name Generator], by yours truly.
--[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 17:31, 14 Sep 2004 (EDT)

==Voting==

===Time For Turn Changes===
What time should the Dibbing Party commense? First, you should tell us when you can have it, then tell us what you would prefer. All times in UTC, please.

23:00-5:00, 24:00 Prefered. --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 19:06, 29 Sep 2004 (EDT)

===Length Of Turn===
How long should turns be?

9 days. --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 19:06, 29 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Ghyll:Lexicon discussion

2004-09-29T23:06:56Z

D8uv: Voting!

__TOC__

If you've any questions or suggestions about the wiki and its syntax, the Lexicon rules, Ghyll continuity errors, letting us know you're gonna miss a turn, etc., use this page to wax poetic. Be sure to sign your name (using either the second - from - the - right toolbar icon, or typing two hyphens and four tildes), which also includes the timestamp. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 11:32, 20 Aug 2004 (EDT)

==Frequently Asked Questions==

===How do I dib an entry (cf. Rule 1)?===
If there is a specific phantom you'd like to write, wait until the proper turn occurs (ie. waiting for the "R" turn to dib phantom "Rancor") and then edit the phantom to just include a statement of dibbing ("MIIine! ALlL MiIInnE!") and your name/signature. Naturally, the intent of dibbing an entry is so that you actually write it - if you don't during that turn, your dib expires. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 15:53, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

===Can I cite more than I'm required to cite? (cf. Rule 2)===
Each turn after the first, you're required to cite two phantom entries and one existing entry. Neither of these three citations can be terms you've created or written. However, if you've properly met these requirements, your entry can certainly refer to other terms in the Ghyll encyclopedia, including those you've personally written. These "other terms", however, MUST have been previously defined or created. See the [[Ghyll Index]] for a complete list of in-play terms. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 15:53, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

: I had been reading this as "You must cite two ''novel'' phantoms", but Doctor Phineas Crank pointed out that Rule 2 doesn't actually say that. What's the intention here? Is it all right to cite phantoms that have already been created (but not defined)? --[[User:Jcowan|Jcowan]] 17:51, 27 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Your required per turn phantoms citations may be existing phantoms, brand new phantoms, or a mixture of both. The lack of "novel" innuendo in Rule 2 was intentional, and the "Example of Play" on the main page also reflects this. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 18:17, 27 Sep 2004 (EDT)

===What happens about linking to widely-used terms?===
It may often be the case that terms are used throughout the dictionary that are not cited initially: you're allowed to invent people, places, etc. that you don't actually cite a reference for. That means that later in the game, people can write about these people, and references can be strewn across the wiki that don't actively ''link'' to the phantom. How is the person to be able to research the references? The general rule of thumb is that when you create a term that you know has been mentioned elsewhere, either you go about looking for existing references and link them, or the admins do it for you. [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 22:33, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

==Comments, Questions, Complaints?==

===Alternate Reality vs. Fictional World===
Hello people. This looks like a nice game- but I think I got the rules a little wrong in my enthusiasm to get started, entry: anabiscot) by putting more "phantoms" into my entry than were asked for, and by fleshing one or two of them out. I find it impossible to backtrack on the fleshing out, and so a) don't know what to do about them, as I don't want to upeset anyone by not having strictly observed the rules for the first turn and b) wonder whether clearer guidance to newcomers is needed if this isn't to be a closed shop just for oldophytes --[[User:Ginestre|Ginestre]] 05:28, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Ginestre: we're open to newcomers, definitely. As for the rules, check out #1: "Scholars ... write one entry per turn" and then #2: "Entries shall cite two phantom entries". I've deleted all your out of turn entries, so there's no worries there (to return an entry to a phantom, just click the "delete" button as opposed to "edit", and give a reason for the deletion). Let me know which part of the rules initially confused you. We'll be adding an "Example of a Turn" to the main page shortly. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 09:41, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Finally, and sadly, I've deleted your Anabiscot entry for being too much of an "Earth-parody". It, ultimately, looked like a school term paper that was revised to include "made up" words as opposed to their Earthen counterparts (as seen in your revising of "England" to "Ghyll", and the inclusion of Christian, Protestant, University of Helsinki, etc., etc.). Based on your timpstamps, I can appreciate how this deletion must look compared to your two hours of editing. But, it's really not the sort of material we're looking for. Think "when we crossed the threshold, I hit my new bride's head on the door jamb, and in her ensuing mental insanity, she described something that'd sounds just like Ghyll's [NameOfEntry]" as opposed to "What have I written already that I can modify for the game?" --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 09:41, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

The new entry on the EXAMPLE OF PLAY page is certainly much clearer than the previous offering, and is to be commended. Had that been there, I would not have stumbled as I did this morning. But the comment on my deleted entry "it's not really what we're looking for" is rather telling, and is telling me to be on my way nevertheless. "It, ultimately, looked like a school term paper..etc" also clearly reveals that you see your position as an empowered subeditor of sorts, who has the role of judging text quality; fair game -it's your server, you call the shots. But to this newcomer (a professional writer who wasted words this morning just for fun, and who hasn't written a term paper in over thirty years!) it nevertheless seems a great pity, because the game is a nice idea. Applying the wiki to what used to be called four-handed writing would allow the natural numerical limits of collaborative collective writing to over-bound. But in fact you're not open to newcomers at all, despite the protestations....but it was an interesting try.--[[User:Ginestre|Ginestre]] 17:49, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Ginestre: there's been a lot of off-wiki discussion about how this game should unfold, comprising nine months of a lot of arguing, a lot of ideas and scanty documentation, and a lot of ideas that it's going to be difficult to crystallise on the wiki quickly. I, personally, think that your entries were marvellous, but in the context of the direction that we're trying to develop for this wiki they're not <em>quite</em> what we're after. In other words, we're opening this up very much on the ground floor and trying to establish the past that we have, so you'll have to excuse the odd bit of seemingly baseless "oh no, that's not the way it should be done" banter. Imagine if you'd come into a game that's been running for nearly a year, and there were a lot of dedicated players and in-game jokes and conventions already. That basically <em>is</em> the situation here to some extent, we just haven't been able to document it properly yet, and we're also in a stage of "well, let's see what other people think". Some things are very much negotiable, and some aren't. Anyway, I hope that you'll consider still joining in and being patient with us as we work through this nascent stage, because I think your entries showed an enthusiasm and quality that it would be sad for us to miss out on. --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 18:03, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

I've sent Ginestre a longer email on the subject, but the distinction I made with my actions was one of "fictional world" versus "alternate reality." It was our intent for Ghyll to be a "fictional world", one that has little semblance to the "real" world, namely Earth. While we realize this can be an impossibility, as creativity is emboldened in what we know, we wanted to stay away from what we call an "Earth parody" - a world that has direct, obvious, and blatant parallels to our own - more of an "alternate reality" as opposed to "fictional world". LORD OF THE RINGS is a "fictional world", whereas the Sci-Fi show SLIDERS is an alternate reality, as are the TWILIGHT ZONE, THE OUTER LIMITS, and so forth. Which isn't to say that I'm against equivalency - in the early game, newspaper, magnetism, war, research organizations, basements, "flash lights/beacons", etc. already exist. But they're described in an environment of "fictional world" not "alternate reality". As for judging text or entry quality, honestly, I'd like to stay as far away from that as possible. Again, the distinction made with your entry was one of "Earth parody" and not "fictional world." --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:20, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

===Non-turn Activities===
Morbus: What're we doing with respect to canonical but non-turn activities? There's the possibility of the Encyclopedants mailing out letters to all the scholars as you discussed, but did we talk about a per-turn summary too? I think it'd be helpful in that it'd make us analyse what's currently being worked on to ensure its consistency, as well as helping newcomers to the game and people who have been on holiday etc. It could be a collaborative effort between all the scholars who contributed to the first turn, and it might actually serve to clarify some of the intentions etc. behind the entries. I'm not sure what framework could be used to justify it in terms of the game itself though; perhaps the scholars all meet up in a F2F meeting somewhere in a different location per turn? We could order it as though it's meeting minutes: have a little abstract of the location that we met at, introduce some of the scholars, have dialogue, and then the main summary of what's been written. --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 17:46, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

My personal in-game plan was, as you mention, the Encyclopedants - the people who are "funding" the encyclopedia and who "collate" the entries for "publication" (at the end of a turn). These Encyclopedants would serve as the "voice of cohesion", and really fill a void that the Ghyll Lexicon is missing: an existing backdrop to base entries on. Other Lexicons were based on existing worlds (Paranoia, Exalted, Nobilis), and thus, the "voice of cohesion" concerning stuff like dates, geography, races, etc. were the original books the games were derived from. There's none of that in Ghyll. For instance, sometime soon, the Encyclopedants will release a document, in-game, on how scholars should handle dates. This would be some sort of "Progress Report Issue 1", where # is the # of the turn in question. Ultimately, the topics discussed in these Progress Reports would be about the integrity of the encyclopedia itself: continuity errors, worrisome plot holes, and etc. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:36, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

As for a scholarly F2F, I like that idea, and I think the best way to approximate that would be a sort of "in-game" Lexicon discussion. The Encyclopedants could release a Progress Report detailing worries they're having, and other scholars could log their own complaints and concerns on the Progress Report page itself. This would keep everything centralized, and would be a more vocal, less-controlled [[Current events]] (a "current in-game events") page. I think it'd also be handy, upon reaching Z, for scholars and the Encyclopedants to prepare a personal "Final Report", discussing how they felt things went, what could be done better for the next Round, and so on and so forth. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:36, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

===Other Threads===

''Got some comments or questions? Add 'em here!''

====Players and Scholars as Canon====

Er, okay, so can we refer to our own characters as the inventors of something? By that I mean, if my character invented a new sight for the smooth-bore musket, could I make an entry based on that? --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 14:13, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Sure, there's nothing stopping you from doing that, but by making yourself an official part of the canon (as opposed to non-canon Scholar bios), you make yourself liable to follow other people's truths. It'd be possible to kill you off, and yadda yadda yadda. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 14:28, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Well, as long as I can make contributions from beyond the grave, or at least through posthumous notes, I might be okay with that.
--[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 14:32, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

That is a danger I did not foresee. In the Bobby Shwarmph entry, I included a reference that incorporated Scholar Edward Schwarmph into the canon, assuming that since he phantomed the entry and that he studies a field linked closely to that covered by the magazine edited by the character he created with the same surname, they were related. If I put him in danger in the process, that was probably a breach of courtesy. While I suppose there is nothing stopping any of us from embarking on studies to be discovered after our deaths, there is probably a better way to handle this. A later entry could establish a conduit of communication with dead scholars and other Ghyllians, but then we wouldn't have to do research at all- we'd just get a soul who was there on the line to offer their take on things. I suggest we treat bios as canonical, and all characters are "in game," and hence fair game. Then, if a scholar is killed off and its player cares to continue, the player creates a successor- say a favored student or offspring -poised to continue the work. If players are non-canon, I should either delete the Edward reference in the Bobby Shwarmph entry, be referring to someone else entirely who coincidentally has the exact same name and job, or at least get my fellow scholar'a permission before something unfortunate occurs to him as a result of my entering him into canon without his express consent. --[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 20:40, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Which brings me to another question- presuming events are unfolding in our world even as more entries are written, we might run into situations where an entry is obsolete or needs updating based on events that hadn't happened yet, or information only discovered after it was written. Therefore, should we be dating our entries to avoid confusion? (ie: last updated 0/09/1 EC by Bast ResNovae) --[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 20:40, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Making scholar biographies canon is very dangerous as it distorts the flow of the game. Since the bios are not restricted by turn of gameplay, they can be updated at any moment, thus invalidating anything previously written about them. Similarly, any scholar could define a phantom, then write about it in their scholar bio, thus hedging the bets that their phantom, written by someone else, is ''exactly how they envisioned it''. One of the "fun" aspects of the game is seeing your ideas corrupted and perverted into something you've never dreamed of - allowing scholars to modify their biographies at any time (since they're non-turns) invalidates this aspect. Remember the intro to the game: ''you can argue vociferously with the interpretation and introduce new facts that shade the interpretation.'' Just because you've named Edward Shwarmph in an entry doesn't mean it's the exact same Edward as the scholar: it could be his twin, clone, doppelganger, or what have you. If your Edward dies, it is "truth", but that doesn't mean that a new fact can't be introduced that twists the truth into something else entirely. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 21:20, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Making scholars themselves canon is something that only the player playing the scholar should decide they want to do: roleplaying a character based on someone else's direction is another aspect (with its own measure of "fun") of a Lexicon that may be enjoyable to some: it should be a choice to the player whether they want to receive this direction, or if they'd like to fixate on their own vision. Making all scholars canon, and thus definable and modifiable by others, may be above and beyond what a player would like, resulting in a character they simply don't want to play. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 21:20, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Oh, I've opened a can of worms here. How does one propose a new rule? Perhaps the restriction of no new phantoms from a player's scholar's bio? Though, I'm in complete agreement that only players should be allowed to make their scholars canon. --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 21:41, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

That is already a house rule actually - see the last paragraph of "How to Participate" on the main page. I've already removed a number of newly defined phantoms from various scholar pages. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 21:54, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Good point. Player Edward Shwarmph could, for example, be riding on the coattails of a more distinguished scholar of the saame name. Or be impersonating him. Or be a relative... or what have you. If he still has the ability to accept or reject the canonical identity as he chooses, I won't worry about it- I'll just leave it up to him.--[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 23:26, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

====Multiple links to the same place====

I'm removing all links to the same place except the first (there might be some reason to make it other than the first, but I can't imagine it at the moment). Linking ''every'' instance of "Council" to the [[Council on Quezlarian Research]] is unnecessary and makes the page unaesthetic. --[[User:Jcowan|Jcowan]] 02:45, 18 Sep 2004 (EDT)

I heartily disagree. It makes the page "unaesthetic" quote unquote because of their visual proximity to each other. But, in very long entries, like Bethany or the Bureau, linking only the first mention forces the user to scroll upwards to find a previous link, as opposed to "holding their place" and opening the link they just read in a new window or tab. I'd rather link everything for future usability, then link only the first and be distracted by a "lose the moment" treasure hunt to find the first reference to click on. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 08:42, 18 Sep 2004 (EDT)

I've got to agree with Morbus on this one. Hypertext means never having to say "but I digress." If a page appears too cluttered with links to the same term, that is probably an indication that it should be re-written with synonyms. I look forward to the day when we have a finished Ghyll Encyclopedia, where each entry is chock full of links to things that others have decided to phantom later. --[[User:Qwentyth Pyre|Qwentyth Pyre]] 20:05, 20 Sep 2004 (EDT)

What I'm trying to discourage is this sort of thing (only somewhat exaggerated):
* When [[Rambo Jones]] was born, [[Rambo Jones|he]] was under a prophecy that [[Rambo Jones|he]] would grow up to be [[Rambo Jones|the President]] of the [[Rambo Jones]] Society. [[Rambo Jones|He]] had [[Rambo Jones|his]] share of troubles, but [[Rambo Jones|he]] eventually did.
I agree with Morbus that in a very long article multiple links may be in order, but mechanically linking '''every''' reference, as above, is just maddening. I don't see how rewriting with synonyms would help, since the synonyms would just be linked -- under the preceding strategy -- to the same page in the end. --[[User:Jcowan|Jcowan]] 10:17, 21 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Well yes, that would just be silly. In your example I would link none of the "he/his/the president" but would link the two "Rambo Jones" proper name citations. Using "he/his/The President" is exactly what I meant by using synonyms. I wouldn't expect those synonyms to be links, but I would expect each proper name usage to be one. Just my opinion, of course. --[[User:Qwentyth Pyre|Qwentyth Pyre]] 18:34, 21 Sep 2004 (EDT)

====Correction of spelling and typos====

What is general etiquette on the correction of spelling and typos in entries other than mine? (not that either my spelling or typing is perfect, but I assume nobody objects if I correct myself)?
--[[User:Ginestre|Ginestre]] 13:58, 5 Sep 2004 (EDT)

If it's definitely an error, please go ahead and correct it! As long as you don't change the semantics of someone's entry, you can certainly change the syntax to make it easier to read, clearer, etc. Imagine you're correcting someone's English paper: you're not going to do their work for them, but you want to let them know that it's "i before e except after c and except in wierd words such as weird". --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 14:09, 5 Sep 2004 (EDT)

==Useful Resources==

You can use this [http://www.fourteenminutes.com/fun/words/ random word generator] to generate entry names that begin with a specified pair of letters. --[[User:Jcowan|Jcowan]] 17:07, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

You may also make use of generators found here [http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~pound/ Chris Pound's Name Generation Page], particularly, [http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~pound/#werd werd], for names. (Look for the examples of Victorian English names.)
--[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 14:01, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Not to toot my own horn, but, well, I'm tooting my own horn. Need a "good" name for someone in the Encyclopedia? Try [http://www.fantasist.net/funnynames.shtml The Funny Name Generator], by yours truly.
--[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 17:31, 14 Sep 2004 (EDT)

==Voting==

===Time For Turn Changes===
What time should the Dibbing Party commense? First, you should tell us when you can have it, then tell us what you would prefer. All times in UTC, please.

23:00-5:00, 24:30 Prefered. --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 19:06, 29 Sep 2004 (EDT)

===Length Of Turn===
How long should turns be?

9 days. --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 19:06, 29 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Ghyll talk:Cranee Historical Society

2004-09-19T02:14:39Z

D8uv: I Simply Want The Lot Of You To Die Horribly.

I've decided to work on some of the details of distances of Ghyll, using the facts that one nanit is "small" according to [[Bindlet Ball]], and 18 nanits seems quite large as the basis for Ghyll distance terminology. I feel that [[sugro-nanit]] is really quite an irritating term, but I've used it and made it equivalent to a mile to give it some more substance. Cranee is to be between the [[Evesque Valley]] and Folktown, eighteen miles from Folktown and twenty five from the [[Evesque Valley]]. I'd say that a nanit could well be 20cm; that'd make the boxes 3.6m across, which seems about right for huge magnetic whatsits. A mile [http://www.google.com/search?q=one+mile+in+centimetres&oe=UTF-8 is 160934.4cm] according to Google, so that means that there are 8046.72 nanits to a mile. Okay! That means that there are 144840.96 nanits between Cranee and Folktown, and 201168 nanits between Cranee and the Evesque Valley. To tie it back into earthly distances, I can say that Cranee -> Folktown is 18 * 5280 "paces", and then hope that Ghyllians are roughly the same size as humans--and I think that they should be, but I guess there's no way of knowing. Everything in the Ghyll universe could be different, so it's a case of making all the relative distances work. This section should go in the Talk page.

--[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 03:44, 18 Sep 2004 (EDT)

==A Call To Order==
Ladies and not-so-ladies: this is, in some respects, a protest and parody entry. As I've already confided to Morbus, I'm slightly worried about the direction that Ghyll is taking on many levels, and I am here proposing a reform. The main problem is that we simply do not have enough reading and discussion time in contrast to the writing time. We have ten to twenty entries per turn: we've had eighteen this week, and it's simply too much too keep up with. Keeping up with the entries themselves isn't even the biggest problem, it's that it leads to a proliferation of entries that are written in complete isolation from one another.

I propose that instead of having a week of writing time and zero contemplation and discussion time, we should try to balance it out somewhat more. Perhaps every five turns, we could have a period of two weeks where no one is allowed to contribute to the canon, and we have to discuss what's been going on in the wiki, what we hope for the characters, where we want the game to develop. There is simply ''no'' out-of-game discussion about the game at the moment, whereas I think that ought to be its principal feature! I think this comes from us wanting to keep our ideas to ourselves so that we can surprise people when we publish them, but I also think it comes from us not planning our entries out in advance, ot wanting to seek others' input, and often from just rushing the entries full-stop. We had three entries in the half an hour before the turn's deadline, and that's silly: as Morbus suggests, we ought to place a moratorium on entries before the deadline, but I think that it should be quite a bit longer than Morbus is probably thinking. A week may be too short a time anyway, so I'm thinking about having five days to soak up the entries and discuss future directions, and then five days in which to write all our dibs. So the process will be day 1: dib; days 1-5: discuss and plan; days 6-10: write entries. That we had three entries in the last half an hour of the turn seems to indicate that a week is simply not long enough for people to catch up with Ghyll (and I must admit that this is partly spurred on by me having some commitments over the next week or so that's going to make it difficult to play Ghyll), though the period that we had for turn A seems too long.

Cranee was written quite ''extempore'', but when you look at the structure it's quite obvious that the top section is pedantry gone mad (the distance measures) and the rest is whimsy. I'm kinda irritated that people haven't been able to look into the easter eggs and puns etc. that I hid in my previous two entries, and I decided I wasn't going to waste the time on this entry doing the same--but I've also had not much time to check out the puns and cool references in other people's entries. Perhaps each time an entry is written up, people ought to discuss all the references in the Talk page instead of just leaving them all hidden. I don't think that just banging out entries every week can really be thought of as all that playing Ghyll consists of: you have to care about creating a large and consistent lexicon here, and I'm not sure what percentage of the players really feel that. --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 03:44, 18 Sep 2004 (EDT)

==Just What is the Intent of Play?==
I hate to be a dork, but I'm not "feeling" the idea of a discussion period - it seems to change the focus of the game away from "let's challenge myself by letting others pervert my ideas" to "let's put ideas on the table and collectively write them together". If that's the direction Neel wanted to take in his development of "Lexicon the RPG", then he wouldn't need to stress the facts that "you are cranky, opinionated, prejudiced, and eccentric", and that "you can argue vociferously with the interpretation and introduce new facts that shade the interpretation". If the intent of the OOG discussions is for everyone to agree on what the direction and goals are, and then to write fiction supporting those goals, we're removing the need for scholars to be cranky and prejudiced (they're just documenting what everyone agrees on), and also arguments and introduction (scholars don't need to argue because the OOG player discussions have already done that, and new facts don't need to be introduced because they've already been agreed upon in the discussion).

I think that "Lexicon the RPG", the name, and specifically, "the RPG" is telling. If you've never played a game of Dungeons & Dragons or anything similar, then you don't know about the challenge between the players and the game master. The game master has a story inside his head, and it contains plots, characters, and locations. The players are playing in ''his'' world, but the plot is now dictated by ''their'' actions. It is ''very'' common for the GM to make this wonderful plot line, and then to have the players accidentally (unbeknownst to their knowledge) kill a crucial figure, thus destroying the intricate events the GM had planned. ''This is the challenge, and fun, of roleplaying games.'' Sure, game masters can say "uh, don't do that", but that is generally vilified: players don't want to play a game ''on the rails'', where their actions are constrained to set points and results - they want the plot to revolve around them, for they are the reason the game is being played.

In "Lexicon the RPG", we are all players, but we are also all game masters. We game master the entries we write, presumably with a world view, but then the other players pervert our ideas with their own course of action. As game masters, we're constrained by the rules to ''accept'' what the players do with our ideas - as players, we're vindicated knowing we're not ''on the rails''.

With all that said, I do agree, however, that the three entries immediately before midnight is a very bad and slippery slope: going back to the RPG, it'd be like the game master inventing his plot line for the night's gaming session five minutes before it happens. Players ''will'' notice that you've come unprepared - the game stops being fun, and the effort stops being made.

I do think, however, that ''justification'' could be a decent advocate of ''contemplation''. One of my favorite pleasures is listening to DVD commentaries, or to read "developer notes" or "change logs" in games or computer software. They give me an extra level of enjoyment over what I own, read, or use every day. What if, for example, dibbing and writing occurs from Saturday to Thursday, and Friday is spent writing justifications for your entries in the Talk: namespace? These justifications wouldn't be plot revealing... I wouldn't explain why I suggested that Windsor Creame didn't murder Daniel Mboya, but I could reveal that the Folktown Records newspaper was inspired by children's magazines like Ranger Rick or Highlights, or that I really wanted a grey area between "wait, he worked for the paper for 12 years, and he flips out to the point of murder?!" --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 09:30, 18 Sep 2004 (EDT)

I've sent Neel an email pointing him to this page. Perhaps he'll weigh in too. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 09:39, 18 Sep 2004 (EDT)

What about a mandatory OOG discussion note for each entry where each author explains any hidden subtext/gives a brief explanation of why they wrote how they did? Also, I agree a week might be too short once the enthusiasm wears off- what about requiring a draft entry at the end of the week, then a week for exploring the other new entries, looking for new opportunities to connect entries, asking questions, making suggestions, and refining your own work? --[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 09:53, 18 Sep 2004 (EDT)

==A Continuing Call To Order==
The point about a discussion period is not that it takes away the room for debate, but that it fosters it. Not only can the debates still happen, but we can talk about the debates too, tell each other why we're debating in the manner that we are (if we so choose), etc. For example, I might be arguing just for the sake of argument, because I have an actual point, or because I'm trying to protect some plot nuance which is being marred.

I see your point about the RPG, and I don't want to take away from that--I want to just make sure we don't fall into pitholes of inconsistency. I also rather dislike the proliferation of so many new things without substance... who cares if Smoldock the Pinghopper fucknuzzled Gangliest Mifferfuddle III on -75/8/1 EC? Only Smoldock's girlfriend at the time, and that certainly wasn't me. I've been as guilty of the shallow invention problem as anyone, and I'm not even sure it's possible to fix now, but imagine if we decreed a rule saying that players can only create a set amount of new nomenclature per turn, or perhaps none at all. Do you think that we'd be able to get along? If you could only create one new thing to interact with the entire Ghyll world as it already exists, what would it be? That's a question which really gets you thinking, whereas the ability to create another Pluzzhucker The Hoobervlonking Ganglesmaking Fridgemagnet Collector seems to not be working as effectively. It's like being constrained by metre and rhyme in poetry--poems tend to come out better when you don't restart the basic building blocks from scratch.

In other words, I'd really like to get to know the things that are currently in Ghyll and then proceed very cautiously to investigate what we've got. For every current entry, I'm sure that there are a huge portion that have secondary ideas that the authors are hoping to expand upon later in the game, and I'd like to know them. I suppose for something like Agony Uncle I didn't actually want to know because the mystery was the best part, but I think to a great extent that was an absolutely archetypal entry. If Andelphracian Lights has to any extent fuelled the trend of creating a set of boring assed organizations and other entities then I very much regret it--I wanted to first define the toenail clipper manufacturers, the strange luminous scum that you get on the underside of some rocks in the Evesque Valley, and the strange configuration of pips that you find in Fefferberries. I don't think I can point to a single entry in the game that I've really enjoyed yet, but a handful of them show some really great promising threads that I'd love to extract and have form the proper basis of Ghyll. That's why I keep raising the idea that after the round we all vote between us which our favourite parts are, and then just stick to those and start all the rest over from scratch.

So I think that the justifications are certainly good ideas, and I'd probably support any extension to the turns' deadlines and reflection periods. But it's probably a good thing, as you've said yourself, to keep the turns fairly short as it'll force commitment from the players. If you consider my five days and five days proposal, though, note that the actual time in which we can edit is only five days, so that's less than the week that we have currently. And the ten days overall is only three days more than the current period for a turn. I don't think you can force justifications to be written on a single day--that's really restrictive and so people are just going to ignore it.

In summary: I'd like to foster out-of-game discussion of debates, restrict the shallow invention problem, instigate the five days and five days turn pattern, and require justifications to be written by players in the second five day period. I'd also like to hear what others think about these proposals. --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 10:30, 18 Sep 2004 (EDT)

==Continuing Exasperations==
''"Or because I'm trying to protect some plot nuance which is being marred"'' worries me. If the plot nuance is only a plot nuance in your entry, then it's not a fact merely a suggestion, and you can't stop other players from taking it in their own direction. Hell, I could have said that, yes, Windsor murdered Daniel, but any scholar would be able to "introduce new facts that shade the interpretation", creating a murder mystery because of newly discovered evidence. This is the challenge, and perversion, of our ideas, our truths... the inspiration and reason to play a game is arguably more important then the rules that govern it. Give and take is a part of RPGs - ''if things progress believably'', players will ''accept'' that the villian or plot device they just killed has come back from the dead, and the game master will be back on track with his previously devised plot. Of course, accidental or idiotic disregard, say that Besq boats are made out of cake pans and not trees, is call for foul - if it's not believable, if there's no justification, then it needs to be addressed.

We have both, and always, agreed on the proliferation of namealoo and macro entries - we both believe that micro entries, as per the archetypal "Agony uncle" are stronger, and we attempted to stifle macro entries by the grey area of dates, and a plea not to create new geographic locations. These pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears, and arguably, we're having this discussion (again) because certain players aren't seeing the grander picture, aren't visualing the future of disparity, or simply don't care enough to start inwards and work outwards. I can stare at my desk, and if I were beginning an encyclopedia, describing things within five feet of me would take a rather long time to describe, and I could do each without needing to expound on its history or place of origin.

Instead, we've now got a rather large area to work within, long running conflicts and history (which I exasperated in an attempt to shrink our geographic location, but also chose not to be formally recognized in an attempt to minimize its influence). None of this really gives me, as a scholar, and more importantly, an inhabitant, of the Ghyll world, any inspiration to wake up in the morning, drink a cup of fefferberry tea, read the week's Record, or tuck my daugher into her nursing sack.

As for timeframes, I personally think, and suspect others do as well, that deadlines should be based on anniversaries - every week, every two weeks, every Sunday, etc., etc - that'll be far easier to remember then "damn, has ten days gone by? is it Monday or Tuesday this week. oh bugge... oooO, J.Lo!". I think we're (ultimately) in agreement with our justification/discussion suggestions, as well as macro/micro. Per your suggestion, just waiting for everyone else to weigh in. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 11:13, 18 Sep 2004 (EDT)

A big part of the game is "The best laid plans of mice and men". I was going to introduce a really good twist to the Daniel Mboya story (and it would have both been subtle and also tied it in to something else) but there was no way I could get that into the story of a sailor from around 200 years ago, and I considered it more anti-social to have a Mexican stand-off around who took the last undibbed entry and who got to create their own from scratch, so I didn't get to add to that story. Also, [[Betrothal march]] got defined in a way that goes completely against my ideas of it. But that's where the uncertainty comes in that makes playing this different to sitting at my computer writing poor speculative fiction. --[[User:Talliesin|Talliesin]] 14:11, 18 Sep 2004 (EDT)

And, not targeting you (of course), the above is exactly what ''can't'' happen in these sorts of OOG discussions that Sean is proposing: if, at any time, someone says "well, this phantom I made, this is how I see it playing out", then the game ''will no longer be fun''. We'll either have people writing fiction that is exactly how others have envisioned it (where's the challenge in that? the fun of Lexicon is integration not supplication) or we'll have the scorn of players saying "wait, that's not what I said on IRC the other day - you just ruined my next turn! I thought we ''had'' this discussion!". --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 16:30, 18 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Exactly! I'm really pleased with what happened to [[Betrothal march]] (and tri-menth), it was totally consistent with what I'd written and totally different to what I'd thought - cool.

As for my twist to the Daniel Mboya case, maybe it'll still get in there, but if it doesn't then that's just the way the game goes.

Still, if anyone dibs [[Darvekian Party]] next round I'll give their legs such a smacking! ;p~ --[[User:Talliesin|Talliesin]] 17:21, 18 Sep 2004 (EDT)

== I Simply Want The Lot Of You To Die Horribly. ==

I like the longer-turn idea. Boo to the large talk-page discussions. I got his with a poisonous dart a while ago, tense talking before I pass out. I think the EPRs are really crucial to the whole of Ghyll, as they are subtly telling you what to do. Perhaps too subtly. Perhaps even in not enough detail. Players right now have an irritating habit of both following them too heavily, and totally ignoring them. We'll soon have around 6 historical societies all centered around the Evesque Valley. It's up to the Encyclopedants to make sure that we don't have 5 different ghylls, and up the the players as a whole to make plots. Too much dissidence. My keyboard just hissed at me. Plots should be secretive in nature, and developed by a bunch of people in rapid succession. Foomistress lays down the groundwork, Foomatic builds up on the story, we see a branch, Bardude1932 builds a story on the branch. Barista makes a plot twist on the main trunk. All of this is organically happening, no sharing of plot details needed. My desk is now an odd shade of purple. There should be a lot more cohesion. --[[User:d8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 22:12, 18 Sep 2004 (EDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD ...

Ghyll:Encyclopedants Progress Report 2

2004-09-18T03:24:32Z

D8uv: Fixing a fact /* Bysted Timperton (People) */

__TOC__

'''The Encyclopedants''' is a term applied to the small group of individuals who decided a collection of Ghyll intellect, in written and distributed form, was necessary for the bettering of society, as well as the benefit of future historians. The group now presides over the encyclopedia's integrity and "cohesion of vision". To remain an objective judge, the Encyclopedants attempt to focus only on "the facts as we're told them", asking questions, poking holes, and suggesting "standards" to further quality assurance. These Progress Reports are considered official communication between the Encyclopedants and their Scholars, and they encourage others to write their own thoughts and comments into the margins.

==The State of the Art of Ghyll==
===Geography===
===History and Dates===
===People and Politics===
===Technology and Education===

==The Facts As We're Told Them==
The second batch of entries consists of the following entries: [[Baleman]] (Location), [[Ball Lightning Liqueur]] (Invention), [[Baron Claude Lloyd Albert Smallwood]] (People), [[Battle of Barnum Stones]] (Other), [[Berell]] (People). [[Besq Boats]] (Invention), [[Bethany Mboya]] (People), [[Betrothal march]] (Other), [[Bindlet Ball]] (Other), [[Bobby Shwarmph]] (People), [[Bordingbras his hatt!]] (Other), [[Brothers of the Lantern]] (People), [[Bureau of Forgotten Knowledge]] (Organization), [[Burnflies]] (Wildlife), [[Bursine Calendar]] (Other), [[Bute University]] (Organization) and [[Bysted Timperton]] (People).

===[[Baleman]] (Location)===
* Baleman was the primary amphitheatre of the [[Amphitheatre_aristocrats]]
* It was destroyed in -75 {{EC}} by the [[Earthquake of Fluyr]]
* It is at the north end of the [[Evesque Valley]]
* The stories of [Fijjit Mejora]] were first told there
* It was crafted of heavy white stone
* Baleman could seat upwards of 25,000 people
* It was used as a location to teach Ghyll inhabitants about the night sky until -90 {{EC}}
* It is commonly thought of as one of the most impressive structures created by the current inhabitants of Ghyll

===[[Ball Lightning Liqueur]] (Invention)===
* Ball Lightning Liqueur is a counterpart to another weapon, "Awal Sleeps".
* "Awal Sleeps" comes from the [[Evesque Valley]]; Ball Lightning Liqueur originates at [[Iganefta]].
* "Awal Sleeps" is targeted against jelly mines; Ball Lightning Liqueur attacks [[Fefferberry]] crops.
* "Awal Sleeps" removes the sound of its destruction; Ball Lightning Liqueur simulates nature.
* [[Melderson]] created "Awal Sleeps" as an affront to Awal's rebuking of his work.
* "Awal Sleeps" is based on the sound suckage principles of [[Awal shrinkage]].
* Ball Lightning Liqueur requires two to deploy: one to throw the bottle, another to shatter it.
* [[Evesque Valley]] scholars are investigating unshattered Ball Lightning Liqueur bottles.
* Both weapons began active use 50 years ago in a continuing war to decide lighting supremacy.
* The war has lasted so long that it is known as the [[Conflict That Is Not Happening]].
* The [[Evesque Valley]] has frequent (natural) lightning storms, and is north of [[Iganefta]].

===[[Baron Claude Lloyd Albert Smallwood]] (People)===
* The Baron (born -62/7/11 {{EC}}) is [[Bavarian Creame]]'s former husband.
* The Baron is the most important producer of [[Adlorst Vinifera]], but also produces other wines.
* His sprawling plantation, also a tourist attraction, is located in [[Evesque Valley]].
* The Baron is known for dabbling in alchemy and is a suspected member of the [[Karcist League]].
* His alchemy mishaps purportedly (he denies it) created the [[doggerel plague]] of -11 {{EC}}.
* The Baron has written an unknown number of monographs concerning plants, alchemy, and more.
* He has recently studied animal husbandry and attempted to engineer a new breed of [[Mute Chukarandos]].
* The Baron hosts a large library on linguistics, and has been known to talk to animals and plants.
* He has funded several expeditions into distant lands to study the languages of small, dying peoples.
* The Baron has been seen performing annual rites on dates related to his previous marriage.

===[[Battle of Barnum Stones]] (Other)===
* Battles over the supremacy of different means and types of lighting techomancy have been waged.
* The Battle of Barnum Stones, somewhere between -400 {{EC}} and -332 {{EC}}, is the most celebrated.
* The Barnum Stones were moved to Stindersgrough by Corvin Axehand in –158 {{EC}}.
* In addition, a subsequent [[Raking]] has left the exact battlefield location unknown.
* The participants at the Battle of Barnum Stones were the Looliers and the Exingians.
* Salerny Redthighs was the shaman-chief of the Looliers at the time of the Battle.
* After days of consultation, Umbrage, than exasperation, bull's pizzle started the war.
* The Exingians were outnumbered and outflanked, but battled regardless of the odds.
* The Exingians have a ritual square formation of 7 warriors wide, and 7 warriors deep.
* Each center warrior of each line hold [[vorpcara]]s high, and three pages flank them.
* Pages to the left hold wooden bowls of spring water; pages to the right hold springs of adlorst.
* These symbolic items of the 7 by 7 square were meant to represent time passing.
* The Exingians were slaughtered, and the Looliers suffered no losses, nor honoured the dead.
* The group headed for home, camped at the Vale of Serdoch and were never seen again.
* The victory united the remaining Loolier tribes, and eventually led to their own downfall.
* Across the centuries, the Looliers are still despised, despite their success at the Battle.
* [[Bordingbras his hatt!]], the only known Loolian manuscript, is held at the [[Odlucian Library]].
* A scattered line of dried [[Fefferberry]] seeds is considered ritualistic in some areas.

===[[Berell]] (People)===
* Berell is revered as a patron among rural communities, although his name may be an alias.
* A popular folktalke of Berell and his history is stored at the [[Odlucian Library]].
* The philosophy of Berell is to better your own existence, as only you have control of it.
* Those who follow his precepts believe the paramount goals are secrecy and personal wealth.
* The believers have split into different sects, which have varying views and tenants.
* The number of current followers is unknown; secrecy forfeits their admission of belief.
* Formal gatherings of organized service are usually led by the oldest member, a [[rejah]].
* The gatherings rarely take more than an hour, and only happen once every two weeks or less.

===[[Besq Boats]] (Invention)===
* Besq Boats are medium sized sailing craft made from [[Sphoxolis Trees]].
* These trees can be found in many places, but plantations abound in the [[Evesque Valley]].
* The Boats typically have one mast and single sail that uses the top and main boom as support.
* Besq Boats are traditional amongst sailors, and they've appeared in drawings dating to -172 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]].
* Oral history suggests the design of the Boats have remained unchanged for 300 years.
* Building these Boats typically requires a team of eight people, normally master carpenters.
* The Boats take eight months to build, and an apprentice eleven years of study.
* Most construction begins in Ablinth, and naming ceremonies occur in Jole.
* Besq Boats are most prominently used for fishing and coastal commerce.
* Smugglers enjoy the boat's speed, and have developed methods for maritime warfare.
* The most famous Besq Boat sailor was [[Captain Riquiras]], a buccaneer and smuggler.

===[[Bethany Mboya]] (People)===
* Bethany Mboya entered the public eye in -11 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]], apparently 19 years old.
* The Bureau of Numbing Research list Bethany as the 4th most popular name for girl babies.
* Her name is assumed a pseuodym as "Mboya" is commonly used in their creation.
* Using a pseudonym is common in Ghyll, but more so in artistic circles, which Bethany influenced.
* Siam Sinch denied rumors that Bethany was a romantic partner, and a muse behind her work.
* Siam Sinch and Gabson Foye, her soon-to-be husband, argued violently over these rumors.
* Taking a lover during your final tri-menth of the [[betrothal march]] is met with scorn.
* Bethany was featured in a series of [[lumograms]] in varying states of dress and undress.
* Bethany was reported to be lovers with artists, scholars, [[Bindlet Ball]] players, and politicians.
* In -9 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]], small pamphlets written by Mboya on a variety of subjects appeared.
* In became common in -5 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]] to boast of nights spent, and pleasure had, in Bethany's presence.
* In -3 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]], it became clear that Bethany couldn't have had the 6,437 lovers attributed to her.
* Gabson Foye discovered, in -2 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]], that Bethany was really the overweight Jan ver Daath.
* Daath, a man, was a retired soldier of the [[Tarkherk Corps]], in the [[Conflict That Is Not Happening]].

===[[Betrothal march]] (Other)===
* A longstanding tradition, the length of the march is determined by math and guesswork.
* In modern times, the march tests the couple's devotion with three grueling sections called tri-menths.
* The tri-menths are not of the same length, involve a prime number distance, and increase in difficulty.
* Tri-menth lengths are determined by year, astrology, hair color, and the #27 [[Bindlet Ball]] player's name.
* The third tri-menth is the most challenging, amd mostly likely to break a couple apart.
* Distances range from several steps to a great many [[sugro-nanit]] lengths.
* The original conceiver of the march may have been [[Briorus Jan-Vanderschusen]].

===[[Bindlet Ball]] (Other)===
* Extremely popular sport, national pastime, and big business.
* The annual championship is held on the the [[Day of Champions]].
* The Ghyll Bindlet League, founded in -54 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]], consists of 27 teams.
* Game allegiances have been known to affect political races, as in the election of -38 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]].
* Games can last 5 or 6 days, and a [[Bureau of Forgotten Knowledge]] member resolves referee disputes.
* The longest game on record started in -7 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]] and is still in the 4th period (of 7).
* Players leaving the field forfeit the game, so small homes were built on the field, yet don't hinder play.
* Game play consists of two teams, with the number of players per team determined by a complex formula.
* Due to continual Mediation over the formula results, common convention is to agree on 12 players per team.
* The goal is to get a ball, one [[nanit]] in diameter, into a hole (the bindlet) ''less than'' one [[nanit]] in diameter.
* The interaction between the players and crowd affects the size of the ball due to [[Awal shrinkage]].
* Game play lasts for 7 periods, one of which is over when the ball is put through the bindlet.
* Everything is open to interpretation, and '''Bindlet Ball, Its Rules And History''', is 946 pages.
* Primitive forms have been around since -400 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]]; its current form, roughly 60 years.
* In -14 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]], an act was passed to deny any professional bindlet player from taking political office.
* The current champions are the Glossfordshire Maurlons, who won in record time of 5 hours, 17 minutes.

===[[Bobby Shwarmph]] (People)===
* Bobby "Robert" Shwarmph edits [[Aliens Everywhere]], but hasn't been seen since -4/7/22 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]].
* Since his disappearance, his matters and affairs have been handled by "Easy" Lizzard.
* [[Folktown Records]] #519 reported he may have been the victim of nature or foul play.
* Interviews indicate he was driven into alcohol addiction after a trip to the [[Alezan]] ruins.
* Shwarmph is a member of the [[Brothers of the Lantern]] and wrote a white paper in -14 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]].
* In this paper, published in the organization's journal, he rejected [[AuroAnthropology]] as heresy.
* Shwarmph is said to be a platoon leader in the [[Tarkherk Corps]] of the [[Conflict That Is Not Happening]].
* Edward, Bobby's adoptive brother, is rumored to be his son by either Izadora Gutschtup or an [[Alezanians|Alezanian]].
* Though missing, he is scheduled to produce "Aliens, Anywhere" with the Academy of Conspiracy Theologiests.
* Planned for 0 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]], drafts are highly sought, and forgeries have sold for 4,900 Quezloos.

===[[Bordingbras his hatt!]] (Other)===
* [[Theoalchemy]] caused the dispute between the Exingians and the Looliers.
* The Vale of Serdoch, where the Loolier victors camped, is close to the ruins of [[Alezan]].
* Bordingbras his hatt! is a movingly tragic tale of a hero who misunderstands, and is misunderstood.
* The poem is encoded with alchemical methods, decipherable by the [[Clamorxian Decoding Method]].
* The decoding reveals that they knew how to create chemicals out of light, including gold.
* This knowledge was apparently learned from Kiluma, the goddess of chaos to the Looliers.
* The Exingians treated Kiluma as their patron goddess, and did not have similar alchemical knowledge.

===[[Brothers of the Lantern]] (People)===
* The Brothers of the Lantern is a famous school originating before -200 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]].
* The school is located in the Eastern Province of the Dulalian Empire.
* The school specials in theology, [[whingelism]], archaeology, and tonsorial art.
* Brothers are appointed for life after a series of tests, of which great secrecy is maintained.
* Brothers are known to adopt, or be assigned, pseudonyms on appointment.
* Former students attest to the study of archetypal pairs such as light/dark, male/female.
* Brothers rarely publish their findings, but maintain a scholarly journal of no apparent relevance.
* The Brothers are believed to maintain the [[heh-blammo]] balance throughout Ghyll.

===[[Bureau of Forgotten Knowledge]] (Organization)===
* The Bureau was founded by its first President, [[Supetupheraraphes]], in -98 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]].
* The first 20 years was hampered by a Paradox, resolved through the formation of BORK.
* BORK is the Bureau of Regained Knowledge, decreed official by [[Meldersen]], the second President.
* The first great discovery, the origins of the Quezlarian Ooo, was also under [[Meldersen]]'s presidency.
* The Quezloo is Ghyll's currency, and is named after Quezlar 6's remarks upon discovering Oolite.
* The Bureau was petitioned to investigate the lost knowledge of Ghyll husbands, but declined to comment.
* Its Ternary Script motto, finally deciphered in -17 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]], was quickly changed due to embarassment.
* The next President was Rancticirchiretic, then Awal, and currently (since -11 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]]) Blivingdel.
* The Bureau's main building is known as the Cake, and consists of seven circular, concentric halls.
* The more interior the hall, the more private the knowledge within; the outer rings are open to the public.
* The circular courtyard in the middle (the "Cakehole") is used for games of Doofball between staff.
* Prominent members are often ex-members of the [[Council for Quezlarian Research]].
* Monty Thabot is the Vice Chairman of The Bureau's Steering Committee (the supreme council).
* The Steering Committee has, since -53 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]], used three oxen in its motif, based on their ox handling pasts.
* One of the greatest accomplishments of the research carried out by The Bureau was the origins of Andelphracia.
* Another example is the deciphering of one of the best poetic works of [[Alarius]], son to [[Arariax]].
* Alarius' poem will be appearing soon in the eighth revision of the Encyclopedia of Lost Lore.
* Alarius' poem contains one of the earliest known uses of the phrase "Andelphracian Light".
* More recent Bureau studies include the use of dove calling patterns, or "doveination".
* The latest research has been a focus on the religious practices of the [[Nitenmangrey]] culture.
* Farming communities have benefited from this research, based on the downing of bull pizzle.

===[[Burnflies]] (Wildlife)===
* Burnflies are classified as "Composite", as they are both "Insectile" and "Nocturnal".
* The tiny, bioluminescent, winged creatures, are social (but not hive), trainable, and long lived.
* They mate one to one, hunt in packs, and are found in moderate temperatures where smaller prey is ample.
* Most regions encourage them: they control pests, add luminary brilliance, and can be used in modern art.
* They are our closest relatives despite the differences in size, bioluminecense, and lack of prehensile thumbs.
* They share our flexible abdominal carapaces, high-set composite eyes, and third external mandibles.
* [[Cataclysmatologists]] suggest our ancestor lived 10,000,000 years ago, after the fall of the Avazians.
* Some regions refer to them as "Homonoculus Bugs" due to their physical likenss and clever natures.
* Burnflies provide beauty and inspiration; their sight "[rewards] not for doing, but just for seeing".

===[[Bursine Calendar]] (Other)===
* The Calendar is named after Bursine the 14th, an unremarkable [[Hive-Lord]] of the [[Nitenmangrey]].
* The Calendar was made as a gift to his [[Paramount Queen]], Litvia, on their joining day.
* The Calendar was adopted, along with a resetting of the year, for the [[Encyclopedant Calendar]].
* The seven days are Tuesday, Ulfsday, Varhookan, Ween, Xarochsday, YinYin, and Zalestra.
* The twelve months are Ablinth, Baros, Conti, Darwina, E, Fusil, Gomin, Homin, Ikk, Jole, Kendrit, and Lom.
* It is unknown why the days of the week and months of the year follow alphabetic progression.
* A date of 0/1/12 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]] can be read as also "YinYin, the 12th of Ablinth of the year 0."

===[[Bute University]] (Organization)===
* Bute University is known for academic excellence, and will soon celebrate its 400th anniversary.
* The University was created to legitimately research history, in defiance of the King's Story.
* The true findings angered [[King Harandraff the Great]], who raised an army and marched on Bute.
* The initial siege lasted six months, and the Kingdom found itself in a Civil War for seven years.
* When the war was finally over, no family members or descendants of the King remained.
* The Bute campus comprises three lakes, a forest, and "a blasted moorland".
* Major building projects, like the recently completed science buildings, happen every 200 years.
* The upper echelons of administration include Masters, Mistresses, Deans, and a Chancellor.
* [[Bysted Timperton]] was Chancellor for five years, and his leadership was described as "opportunistic".
* His purchases and governance challenged the status quo, and he reorganized the house system.
* The house system currently encompasses 5 teams competing yearly over 23 events.
* In his second year as Chancellor, he built the now famous [[Timperton Clocktower]].

===[[Bysted Timperton]] (People)===
* Bysted is the current vice-chairman of the secretive [[Council for Quezlarian Research]].
* Due to his high rank, almost all of his biographical information has been struck from the record.
* With an estimated birth of -70 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]], he graduated at the top of his class at [[Bute University]].
* As an early adult, he married Menia Pyre, and soon after had a son named [[Tim Timperton]].
* Near [[Tim Timperton|Tim's]] birth, Bysted was offered a job at the [[Council for Quezlarian Research]].
* Bysted accepted Chancellorship at [[Bute University]].
* Bysted forced [[Tim Timperton|Tim]] to go to [[Bute University]] while he was chancellor.
* Bysted talked the [[Council for Quezlarian Research|Council]] into letting [[Tim Timperton|Tim's]] have a major role, but it didn't last very long.
* The [[Timperton Clocktower]] is rumored to be the meeting place for [[Council for Quezlarian Research|Council]] members.
* Alternatively, the [[Timperton Clocktower]] may be a testing facility for forbidden and forgotten lore.

<br /><div align="right"><big><strong>--The Encyclopedants</strong></big></div>

[[Category:Encyclopedants]]

Ghyll:Bysted Timperton

2004-09-17T06:26:48Z

D8uv: A hastily and crappily made biography. sbp should be proud!

[[Bysted Timperton]] is current vice-chairman of the [[Council for Quezlarian Research]]. Because he holds such a high ranking in the [[Council for Quezlarian Research|Council]], almost all biographical information about him has been struck out of all public record. As you may tell, this makes my job quite difficult, but I was able to peice together enough information to write this biography.

He is estimated to be born in -70 {{EC}}, in a spot somewhere on the Ghyllian Map. Close to nothing is known about his childhood, but we can easily infer that he was an exceptional student. He graduated at the top of the class body at the [[Bute University]], further making his status in the scholarly world firmly cemented near the top. As an early adult he married Menia Pyre. They quickly had a son, the brilliant but rebellious [[Tim Timperton]]. Close to the same time as [[Tim Timperton|Tim]]'s birth, the [[Council for Quezlarian Research]] offered Bysted a job. He quickly moved up the ranks to his current position, which he has kept for ages.

[[Bute University]] offered Bysted the role of Chancellor, which he gladly accepted. It not only gave Bysted a place to put the rambunctious college-aged [[Tim Timperton|Tim]], but is rumored to have solved Bysted's task of finding the [[Council for Quezlarian Research|Council]]'s new home. During the second year of his Chancellorship, the [[Timperton Clocktower]] was constructed. It is said that the clocktower is either the meetingplace of [[Council for Quezlarian Research|Council]] members, or a testing facility for forbidden and forgotten lore. Around this time, Bysted also talked the [[Council for Quezlarian Research|Council]] into letting [[Tim Timperton|Tim]] have a major role there. He didn't last very long, however, and was spotted one night to have flown out of the [[Timperton Clocktower]] via a window, and then went straight to the local pub.

These days, he does unclear work on an unclear project in an unclear organization.

'''Citations:''' [[Bute University]], [[Council for Quezlarian Research]], [[Tim Timperton]]
--[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 02:26, 17 Sep 2004 (EDT)

[[Category:People]]

Ghyll talk:Bysted Timperton

2004-09-17T05:29:27Z

D8uv: Possible Rule Change

==Out-Of-Game Discussion==

My research shows Bobby wemt into seclusion a few years ago after an ill-fated expedition to the ruins of Alezan, he hasn't been seen by anyone other than Easy Lizzard since- although he does maintain an active correspondence. It is possible this exchange was not made face to face, but through some other medium. It is also possible Bysted was actually speaking to a body double hired for the purpose of the interview, but I never found any proof such doubles are employed by Mr Shwarmph. --[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 08:31, 13 Sep 2004

Please sign your entries. Who said the above? (Presumably, Bast ResNovae, and thus, I'm adding that signature). Eiither way, yep, they have a point. Your entry will need to be revised somehow. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 08:34, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Sorry- when I try to sign entries, all I get is a squiggle- how do I change this? I have to copy and paste in other people's stamps, then make changes manually right now. --[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 08:38, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

The squiggle is actually magick... when you "Show preview", you'll see how it gets expanded to the right information automatically. However, this'll only work properly if you're actually signed in. Without being signed in, you'll just show your IP address. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 08:50, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Actually, Robbi was going to be yelled at by sbp about this article today, and was going to fix anything wrong with it. This is First Draft, not Final Article. --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 08:57, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

The "yelling" [http://swhack.com/logs/2004-09-14#T02-16-00 took place] on Swhack. The summary is that it would be nice if there could be more substance for what it rather a pivotal entry. If you're going to dib entries that have a central role in the current Ghyll milieu, you're taking on quite an added responsibility; I have a feeling that Robbi didn't realise that at the time. Nontheless, his effort is appreciated. --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 22:44, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Hey, speaking as a newbie, it takes a bit for a newbie to get the hang of things... I think you've got to post _something_ and get it wrong and get that feedback. It's just part of the learning curve. That's why we can edit, right, to ID then iron out where things need tweaking? --[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 23:42, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Robbi's first turn caused an hour long discussion over the meaning of just one of its sentences, which we had to take some care in repairing, and which was quite different to the minor edits that all the other posts required. Note that we're still in the very early stages of the game, only the second turn, and that Robbi was there from the beginning so can hardly be considered a newbie: when his initial post was clearly going to cost us a lot of time in integrating properly with the rest of the world, we gave him quite a lot of feedback, and are just wary that this is going to be a continuing trend. For this particular entry, our fears have been assuaged since he's decided to transfer the authorship of the post over to [[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]].

I've known Robbi for about half a year now, through d8uv, and so socially this is quite a different situation to what would happen if this were some random player: Robbi owes rather a lot for the stress he's placed on everyone around him for the past months! --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 00:07, 14 Sep 2004 (EDT)

I wouldn't assuage them just yet, since I'll probably mess it all up in my own spectacular fashion. I'd rather not write this, because I know that others will write a lot better entry. However, I'm the only one here who hasn't written this turn. Oh well. I'd hate to have someone write twicely because of this. Furthermore, neither myself or Robbi really knew how crucial Bysted was to the Ghyll Lexicon. Oh well. --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 00:27, 14 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Just as a suggestion for figuring out how crucial something is, in addition to checking "what links here" for a phantom, I frequently use the search box to find *any* mention of the phantom I'm about to write. They are frequently mentioned in places without being links. That way, I make sure I've read the most recent version of statments about my subject. Hope that helps. --[[User:Qwentyth Pyre|Qwentyth Pyre]] 18:41, 14 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Actually, if you find ''canon'' pages that doesn't include a link, and should, by all means, add the link in there. However, we're trying to keep them out of Talk: pages, just so they don't bring a player "out" of the game whilst they're doing research for their new entries. I know of a few areas that I've still got to edit to follow that credo, but it'll get done eventually ;) --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:00, 14 Sep 2004 (EDT)

== Possible Rule Change ==

Are entries in the [[Ghyll Index]] canon, or are all entries at the end of the turn mass-canonized? I ask because the latter is pretty stupid. --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 01:29, 17 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Ghyll talk:Bysted Timperton

2004-09-14T05:42:09Z

D8uv:

My research shows Bobby wemt into seclusion a few years ago after an ill-fated expedition to the ruins of Alezan, he hasn't been seen by anyone other than Easy Lizzard since- although he does maintain an active correspondence. It is possible this exchange was not made face to face, but through some other medium. It is also possible Bysted was actually speaking to a body double hired for the purpose of the interview, but I never found any proof such doubles are employed by Mr Shwarmph. --[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 08:31, 13 Sep 2004

Please sign your entries. Who said the above? (Presumably, Bast ResNovae, and thus, I'm adding that signature). Eiither way, yep, they have a point. Your entry will need to be revised somehow. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 08:34, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Sorry- when I try to sign entries, all I get is a squiggle- how do I change this? I have to copy and paste in other people's stamps, then make changes manually right now. --[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 08:38, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

The squiggle is actually magick... when you "Show preview", you'll see how it gets expanded to the right information automatically. However, this'll only work properly if you're actually signed in. Without being signed in, you'll just show your IP address. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 08:50, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Actually, Robbi was going to be yelled at by sbp about this article today, and was going to fix anything wrong with it. This is First Draft, not Final Article. --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 08:57, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

The "yelling" [http://swhack.com/logs/2004-09-14#T02-16-00 took place] on Swhack. The summary is that it would be nice if there could be more substance for what it rather a pivotal entry. If you're going to dib entries that have a central role in the current Ghyll milieu, you're taking on quite an added responsibility; I have a feeling that Robbi didn't realise that at the time. Nontheless, his effort is appreciated. --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 22:44, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Hey, speaking as a newbie, it takes a bit for a newbie to get the hang of things... I think you've got to post _something_ and get it wrong and get that feedback. It's just part of the learning curve. That's why we can edit, right, to ID then iron out where things need tweaking? --[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 23:42, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Robbi's first turn caused an hour long discussion over the meaning of just one of its sentences, which we had to take some care in repairing, and which was quite different to the minor edits that all the other posts required. Note that we're still in the very early stages of the game, only the second turn, and that Robbi was there from the beginning so can hardly be considered a newbie: when his initial post was clearly going to cost us a lot of time in integrating properly with the rest of the world, we gave him quite a lot of feedback, and are just wary that this is going to be a continuing trend. For this particular entry, our fears have been assuaged since he's decided to transfer the authorship of the post over to [[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]].

I've known Robbi for about half a year now, through d8uv, and so socially this is quite a different situation to what would happen if this were some random player: Robbi owes rather a lot for the stress he's placed on everyone around him for the past months! --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 00:07, 14 Sep 2004 (EDT)

I wouldn't assuage them just yet, since I'll probably mess it all up in my own spectacular fashion. I'd rather not write this, because I know that others will write a lot better entry. However, I'm the only one here who hasn't written this turn. Oh well. I'd hate to have someone write twicely because of this. Furthermore, neither myself or Robbi really knew how crucial Bysted was to the Ghyll Lexicon. Oh well. --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 00:27, 14 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Ghyll talk:Bysted Timperton

2004-09-14T04:27:41Z

D8uv:

My research shows Bobby wemt into seclusion a few years ago after an ill-fated expedition to the ruins of Alezan, he hasn't been seen by anyone other than Easy Lizzard since- although he does maintain an active correspondence. It is possible this exchange was not made face to face, but through some other medium. It is also possible Bysted was actually speaking to a body double hired for the purpose of the interview, but I never found any proof such doubles are employed by Mr Shwarmph. --[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 08:31, 13 Sep 2004

Please sign your entries. Who said the above? (Presumably, Bast ResNovae, and thus, I'm adding that signature). Eiither way, yep, they have a point. Your entry will need to be revised somehow. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 08:34, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Sorry- when I try to sign entries, all I get is a squiggle- how do I change this? I have to copy and paste in other people's stamps, then make changes manually right now. --[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 08:38, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

The squiggle is actually magick... when you "Show preview", you'll see how it gets expanded to the right information automatically. However, this'll only work properly if you're actually signed in. Without being signed in, you'll just show your IP address. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 08:50, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Actually, Robbi was going to be yelled at by sbp about this article today, and was going to fix anything wrong with it. This is First Draft, not Final Article. --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 08:57, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

The "yelling" [http://swhack.com/logs/2004-09-14#T02-16-00 took place] on Swhack. The summary is that it would be nice if there could be more substance for what it rather a pivotal entry. If you're going to dib entries that have a central role in the current Ghyll milieu, you're taking on quite an added responsibility; I have a feeling that Robbi didn't realise that at the time. Nontheless, his effort is appreciated. --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 22:44, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Hey, speaking as a newbie, it takes a bit for a newbie to get the hang of things... I think you've got to post _something_ and get it wrong and get that feedback. It's just part of the learning curve. That's why we can edit, right, to ID then iron out where things need tweaking? --[[User:Bast ResNovae|Bast ResNovae]] 23:42, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Robbi's first turn caused an hour long discussion over the meaning of just one of its sentences, which we had to take some care in repairing, and which was quite different to the minor edits that all the other posts required. Note that we're still in the very early stages of the game, only the second turn, and that Robbi was there from the beginning so can hardly be considered a newbie: when his initial post was clearly going to cost us a lot of time in integrating properly with the rest of the world, we gave him quite a lot of feedback, and are just wary that this is going to be a continuing trend. For this particular entry, our fears have been assuaged since he's decided to transfer the authorship of the post over to [[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]].

I've known Robbi for about half a year now, through d8uv, and so socially this is quite a different situation to what would happen if this were some random player: Robbi owes rather a lot for the stress he's placed on everyone around him for the past months! --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 00:07, 14 Sep 2004 (EDT)

I wouldn't assuage them just yet, since I'll probably mess it all up in my own spectacular fashion. Going to talk to Robby about the events of this page, update pending. --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 00:27, 14 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Ghyll:Bysted Timperton

2004-09-14T03:58:11Z

D8uv: Per Robbi's Request, I Re-dib

d8uv re-dibbed this one!

Ghyll talk:Quezlarian Numerals

2004-09-13T13:07:58Z

D8uv: TOTALLY

==Out-Of-Game Discussion==

All new pages to be capitalised properly by decree of sbp now, k thx. If you see any phantoms that are going to cause problems in the future, please fix them! --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 18:43, 12 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Is "Roman numerals" capitalized? That's was the whole point of this entry, ten months ago. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:23, 12 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Incidentally, are you advocating all pages be all ucwords? Why? I'm not sure that's right. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:24, 12 Sep 2004 (EDT)

In seeing your other comments, it looks like you are. I'm steadfastly against it. Some things are just not proper names. "Awal shrinkage" should not be capitalized, any more than the "Luminous text". The distinction I've seen, and have been keeping conscious of, is between proper names and not. Bobby Shwarmph yes, Awal shrinkage, no. So, all references to "Council for Quezlarian Research" now needs a capital "For"? Forcing ucwords on all wiki pages is the equivalent, IMO, of CamelCase. The removal of CamelCase in wikis, one of the "good things", was to make reading entries better and more English like. Implementing a forced ucword seems backwards: another arbitrary decision that breaks the rules of English, imposed because one player can't keep things straight. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:30, 12 Sep 2004 (EDT)

In fact, it's the opposite: I can't keep them straight because they break the rules of English! The rationale is that the page names form the titles of the entries, and "[i]n most house styles, all the major words in an English title are capitalized — 'major' meaning the first word, the last word, and everything in between except articles, conjunctions, and prepositions" - [http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/t.html#titles Lynch on Titles] (which means that the "for" in your example doesn't need to be capitalised). In-page references probably should be capitalised normally though. --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 19:31, 12 Sep 2004 (EDT)

But therein lies the rub: how are we actually ''using'' the page titles? In most cases, they're being used inside a sentence, so the natural inclination of a person is the follow the non-title rules of English, as we've been doing. I think it's absolutely insane to force users to link to a page one way (ucwords) and then force (or, for the grammatically annoying, do ourselves) a different title for the link itself through the use of wiki syntax. The intent of wikis is to colloborate on the body of entries, and that's where all concessions should take place: in making it easier for the user to do what needs to be done. Users are thinking in sentences, not titles, and requiring them to redouble their efforts by thinking ''both ways'' (one for the link, one for the title) is obscene. Although a lack of (immediately findable) written policy, this appears to be how Wikipedia handles it (Mushroom_cloud, Nuclear_weapon) and also [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=3235 Encyclopedia Britannica]. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:52, 12 Sep 2004 (EDT)

The most concessionlessful approach would be to have <nowiki>[[Quezlarian numerals]]</nowiki> look up similar page titles in the wiki, and link to any that share its case. But in the absence of that, I'd rather do what's ''correct'' English than to have people be lazy; by extension, your argument says that it's alright to use txt spk in entries, leave out punctuation and apostrophes, and not capitalise anywhere since that's easier for the user too. Why have people link at all--too difficult! Our highly academic and scholarly lexicon has been a shining example of pedantry since its inception--correct quoting style, the Morbus removing whitespace hither and thither, anality in every nook and cranny--and this construct should not be any different. Therefore, we ought to use a <nowiki>[[Quezlarian Numerals|Quezlarian numerals]]</nowiki> [Changing over to BBC World Service! Rise for the national anthem!] syntax throughout the wiki. --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 20:03, 12 Sep 2004 (EDT)

I disagree - I see no reason to make the lives of our users more difficult, or to fly in the face of tradition. Similarly, your argument about txt spk is absolutely retarded - it'd only stand to reason if, in fact, our users were doing that already - people aren't going to "devolve" into morons regardless of this decision - they will, however, have to make conscious effort to jump out of the sentence and into titling and wiki syntax. Forcing them to break with sentence trandition, to think about syntax and not their ''fiction'', and to train them the incorrect way to contribute to the Wikipedia, or to suggest that the Britannica is "wrong" is, IMO, damaging in the extreme. I mean, sure, we're pretty smart fellows, but breaking with 100 years of encyclopedia tradition seems absolutely high and mighty. Remember the goal here: we're making a Lexicon, and in traditional examples, there are no "page titles" - just text entries. We shouldn't, just like Clean URIs, make a decision on naming or titling because of our technology (where every term is a page). Quite frankly, I've already got a zillion more important babysitting tasks to accomplish then to schoolmarm sentences into proper constructs because there's no clear indication that, yes, you're writing a sentence, but no, think about titles in your body. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 20:32, 12 Sep 2004 (EDT)

A hundred years of encyclopaedia tradition? You should've polled some more encyclopaedias rather than just finding two that support your point of view: the [http://www.iep.utm.edu/s/skepanci.htm IEP], [http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CHphysical.htm Encyclopaedia of British History], and [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aesthetic-judgment/ Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy] don't follow the "convention"--just from the first two pages of Google results for "encyclopaedia". As for having a zillion more important tasks than schoolmarming sentences, I direct you to your own [http://gamegrene.com/wiki/?title=Encyclopedant_Calendar&curid=790&diff=666&oldid=494 Accidentally clicked here, so decided to be some of TEH ANEL] diff--the first change in which is you correcting the "Folktown Records event" heading to "Folktown Records Event"! And I'm not forcing them to break with sentence tradition at all: they're having to make links anyway, so they might as well make proper ones.

Perhaps we should throw this open to a vote, since we're clearly not going to agree between ourselves, and I'm confident of my position. What say ye? --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 20:56, 12 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Well, DrBacchus's [http://gamegrene.com/wiki/?title=Bindlet_Ball&curid=847&diff=0&oldid=795 recent change] is an interesting one: he changed "Awal shrinkage" to "awal shrinkage" and it redirected properly still. Is that because of a redirect on the page? [[Awal Shrinkage]] doesn't seem to go anywhere. If that is the case, we can set the redirects up ourselves... but DrBacchus has also demonstrated just how confusing this whole thing is, since his change seems to be erroneous: in the original article, "Awal" is capitalised throughout. I'll revert his change. --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 21:11, 12 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Nope - MediaWiki automatically capitalizes the first letter of all wiki links, and this has been a bone of contention - as far as I know, there's a bug report running around for it to stop. As for "Awal shrinkage", in this case, it should be capitalized because, as we both know, it's the name of a person. As for the Folktown Record Event, I'm surprised you're considering that a good example: those are headers to a table, irregardless of technology or page titles. Concerning the vote, do whatever the hell you want, but if it passes, it becomes your responsibility to correct all the sentences, including my own. Regarding the polling of two supporting encyclopedia, honestly, I didn't poll or check others: I thought of the two that were the most well-known, in my head. Non-committally, perhaps they've trained ''me'' the wrong way, though I still find the extended wiki syntax effort daunting, unnecessary, and intrusive. Unfortunately, of your choices, I only "recognize" one (and by the Stanford name alone) which, naturally, doesn't invalidate their import. It doesn --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 21:52, 12 Sep 2004 (EDT)

doesn? Did you have more to say, before I reply? --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 22:27, 12 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Huh. I have no clue what that is. Sounds like an unfinished thought, left behind due to the allure of a paused X-File. Please go on. Oh! And yes, we can setup any redirect we want - I believe the syntax is something like #REDIRECT [term or URL]. You can actually see that in use [http://gamegrene.com/wiki/?title=Quezlarian_numerals&redirect=no on the previous Quez pages]. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 22:40, 12 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Well I think that if Ghyll is to survive and prosper, we need to have a lot more anality from all of its players. I'd like to see ten people as anal as you, not just you going around and making those careful changes. If that happens, we're going to need to have a consensus: if everybody decides that properly capitalised titles are the way to go, I don't see why you should want to do the opposite unless you're wanting to sulk or fall into a dictatorship. When you opened this up to other players than just us to, you acknowledged that it's going to be a large team effort. Perhaps you just meant you'd make the mistake automatically because that's your natural inclination, but again I think you should put the effort in to be anal in a way that the Ghyll scholars vote to agree upon, as well as your own particular analities.

On the other hand, you could start closing the wiki up to give you a greater control over it. And I really wouldn't mind that (I've been favouring it more and more lately; it'd make things so much easier from a consistency point of view, and I'm not fully enamoured with the Ghyll world as its developing), but I don't think that ''you'' want that.

As a third path, we might set the redirects up and then let people choose either method, but do we really want inconsistency for the sake of flexibility? --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 00:08, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

As a new player who has no history with Ghyll before this project started almost 2 weeks ago, I speak only for myself. I really don't care what is decided here, as long as something is. I know I can follow instructions if those instructions are clear, and I'm sure the other players can too. For my own writing, in my first post about [[Aelfants]] I use the term "Alezanian" in my text which actually links to the [[Alezanians]] entry. I needed the singular for my text, so I did the link modification thing. There will always be cases when a writer wants to link a term that is not the precise spelling or form of the entry's title. We can and do work around this. In the case of "case" however, this seems a bit of needless overhead. Let computers do what computers do well to free the humans for the creativity. If I had my druthers, links would be completely case '''insensitive'''. I'd love if the wiki could send "Aelfants," "AELFANTS," and "aElFaNtS" all to the same entry. This allows the writer maximum flexibility while writing. Writers shouldn't have to concern themselves with the case of the linked entry. In their writing, perhaps they have a reason to do some wacky capitalisation. Case insensitive matching shouldn't be too hard to hack into the wiki code. If you accept that, the problem becomes much more tractable. It then is merely a question of what you, (the creators of the game) want as a canonical form for entry titles. Whatever that turns out to be, all the scholars will honor, it will be easy to fix the strays that happen accidentally, anyone can write their links with whatever capitalisation is correct within the context of their entries, and the anal-retentive grammar-checkers can be happy with merely reviewing content, and not canonical link correctness. Less work for everybody, writers get maximum flexability, and entries all get some kind of standard, even if that standard is "it doesn't matter because all the links will work anyway." Jesse a.k.a. --[[User:Qwentyth Pyre|Qwentyth Pyre]] 02:14, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Well said, Jesse. Always knew old Qwentyth had sense bursting out all over. Couldn't agree more, or have put it better. --[[User:Ginestre|Ginestre]] 05:11, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Sbp, in poking around, I've still yet to see evidence to support either of our positions. I don't think your Titles link is valid, because we're working on an entire lexicon, and there are 50,000 entries or terms defined, not 50,000 titles (it just appears like we're working on titles because our particular technology gives us that impression). I couldn't find anything magical in the two English books I happened to have lying around (Prentice Hall Handbook For Writers, Eleventh Edition, which just showed a dictionary example from Webster's, where "howl" was uncapitalized and The New Fowler's Modern English Usage Third Edition, which itself was a lexicon, with entries all lowercased and capitalized only when needed [benefited vs. Bible]). Other less reputable books (The A-Z to Angels, and similar) capitalized every letter of every entry (and this also seems to be the case with the Dictionary of the Khazars, what Lexicon is inspired from). Your Titles link doesn't bring anything to light with an eye toward dictionary or lexicon creation but I think that's the angle we should investigate this from: "how to create a dictionary, encyclopedia, or lexicon", not titles. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 08:23, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

I think all links should be ALL CAPS. After all, they are more important than the actual text, right? --[[User:d8uv|MELIK FIZZUO]] 09:08, 13 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Ghyll talk:Bysted Timperton

2004-09-13T12:57:06Z

D8uv: Article currently First Draft, not finished yet.

Ghyll:Main Page

2004-09-12T21:25:30Z

D8uv: Making more current. Not sure if I really *should* do this.

<div style="background-color:#eee;border:1px solid #ccc;float:right;margin:1em;padding:0.5em;width:275px;">
<strong>Past Turn Spotlights:</strong>
* [[Agony uncle]]
* [[Andelphracian Lights]]
* [[Aquentravalkeration]]
* [[AuroAnthropology]]
See all entries in [[Ghyll Index]].<br /><br /><strong>[[Encyclopedants Progress Report 1]]:</strong><br />The Encyclopedants are in-game keepers of the Ghyll encyclopedia and the "voices of cohesion." Scholars: learn where we're failing, succeeding, and how things can improve!</div>

Welcome to the world of Ghyll. The basic idea is that each player takes on the role of a scholar, from before scholarly pursuits became professionalized (or possibly after they ceased to be). You are cranky, opinionated, prejudiced, and eccentric. You are also collaborating with a number of your peers -- the other players -- on the construction of an encyclopedia about Ghyll.

Despite the fact that your peers are self-important, narrow-minded dunderheads, they are honest scholars. No matter how strained their interpretations are, their facts are accurate as historical research can make them. So if you cite an entry, you have to treat its factual content as true! (Though you can argue vociferously with the interpretation and introduce new facts that shade the interpretation.)

* '''[[Current events|Next deadline]]''': September 17th (23:59:59), letter B.
* [[Current events]]: News and further information about the state of play.
* [[Lexicon discussion]]: Talk about the game, rules, questions, and OOG concerns.

==Game Rules==

New players may join in at any time. If you have questions, [[Lexicon discussion|check the FAQ or ask here]].
<br />The core of the game is based on [http://www.20by20room.com/2003/11/lexicon_an_rpg.html Neel Krishnaswami's "Lexicon: an RPG"].

# Scholars shall ''dib'' (reserve), and then write, one entry per turn. Turns loop from A to Z.
# Entries shall cite two ''phantom'' (unwritten) entries and, after the first turn, one existing entry.
# Scholars shall neither cite themselves, nor write phantoms they cited first.
# After the first turn, all phantoms for a letter shall be written before new entries are created.

===Example of Play===

# It's turn 2, letter B, and scholars must first define all phantoms starting with that letter (Rule 4).
# [[User:MorbusIff|Morbus Iff]] decides to write [[Bysted Timperton]] and commits a quick edit saying so (Rule 1).
# He checks "What links here" on the [[Bysted Timperton]] page to see what facts, if any, are known.
# He writes the entry, and cites two phantoms (either existing phantoms or brand new ones) (Rule 2).
# He also cites an existing entry ([[Andelphracian Lights]], which originated the [[Bysted Timperton]] phantom) (Rule 2).
# His citations, however, must not be those he's previously created (Rule 3; see [[Ghyll Index]] and [[Lexicon discussion|FAQ]]).

==How To Participate==
<div style="background-color:#eee;border:1px solid #ccc;float:right;margin:1em;padding:0.5em;width:275px;">You can "go above and beyond" your entries by also updating the [[Ghyll Index]], [[Encyclopedant Calendar|Ghyll Timeline]], and [[WhoIsWho|Ghyll Who's Who]] based on your turn. If you don't, no worries - it'll get done eventually.</div>

First, read everything you can! Then [[Special:Userlogin|create an account and login]]. Defining a new entry is as simple as going to its URL or clicking any red links (''phantoms''). For example, to create "Crab apples", go to http://gamegrene.com/wiki/Crab_apples, click "edit", and begin typing. More information (creating headers, links, bold, italic, etc.) can be found at [[Wikipedia:Help:Editing]].

In-game discussion about terms should occur at the bottom of each entry. Out-of-game comments should appear on the entry's "discussion" page. Be warned: other scholars may take heated issue with your comments! For an example, see [[AuroAnthropology]] and [[Talk:AuroAnthropology]].

Finally, consider writing a brief intro about your scholar (ex. [[User:MorbusIff|Morbus Iff]] and [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]]). This is NOT a "turn" - this is just you fleshing out your character, much like you'd do before a new tabletop campaign. You should not reference phantom links in your scholar description - just blurb a bio, and if entries happen to be defined later during play (by yourself or someone else), you can retroactively apply links.

Ghyll talk:AuroAnthropology

2004-09-07T14:08:12Z

D8uv: I guess I should sign /* It's Times Like This When I Realize That I'll Never Be Able To Play This Game Very Well. */

==Out-Of-Game Discussion==

For Fred reference: "Penelope's 'it's teddy or me' ultimatum appeared to [http://www.ursanity.com/da_lair/u-times/images/fred.gif have backfired]." --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 14:12, 3 Sep 2004

----

[http://www.culturematic.net/ghyll/ghyll-script-elements.eps An EPS (250Kb)] of the elements I used for the script - somebody please stop me if this is too pushy, overdoing it, out of turn, whatever. --[[User:Joe_Bowers|Joe Bowers]] 22:38, 4 Sep 2004

Not at all - I think this stuff is excellent. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 22:58, 4 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Agreed. I must admit that before I clicked on the link I was expecting a Bunch-of-Squiggles situation (call the mayor! we've got a bunch of squiggles situation on fifth street!), but when I loaded it I was rather pleasantly surprised to see a work of art. Ah, and I guess this explains it: "I recently went back to school to study digital media. I'm acting as technical director of a digital media design firm while pursuing my degree" - [http://www.culturematic.net/about.html About Joe Bowers]. In any case, I vehemently agree with Morbus, am delighted at your caution and politeness in soliciting advice about your actions, and very much look forward to further contributions. --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 14:17, 5 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Thanks! --[[User:Joe Bowers|Joe Bowers]] 01:03, 6 Sep 2004 (EDT)

----

Concerning "what is authoritative?", the short, out of game response is, "entries are authoritative, comments are not." It's fine for the scholars to argue points to death, and we certainly encourage that, but whereas comments are fast "shotgun" submissions, entries are "slower" and more "accurate." When you're writing your entries, you can certainly use scholarly discussion as influence, thus making something canonical ("ha, ha! told you!"), but naturally, it has to "work" - to fit in with the rest of what we know from previous encyclopedia entries, etc., etc., etc. Likewise, you can certainly allude in your entries that something you're making canon is "up for discussion" due to lack of hard evidence, translation issues, suspicion (did Windsor really murder Daniel, etc.) (in fact, a number of our existing entries seem to have hooks like that). "Entries yes, comments no" is just a way to give the poor admins a chance to breath in regards to stuff like the timeline, the progress reports, the who's who, and so forth. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 09:11, 6 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Outstanding. I've been having a lot of fun with the comments, and It sounds like the system above will allow for a lot of the fun kind of anarchy and the fun kind of sanity :)
--[[User:Joe Bowers|Joe Bowers]] 10:19, 6 Sep 2004 (EDT)

== It's Times Like This When I Realize That I'll Never Be Able To Play This Game Very Well. ==

Awesome job on the comments, everyone! --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 10:08, 7 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Ghyll talk:AuroAnthropology

2004-09-07T14:07:45Z

D8uv: It's Times Like This When I Realize That I'll Never Be Able To Play This Game Very Well.

Ghyll:Altoxian Bulb

2004-09-06T02:20:35Z

D8uv: Replizationing the Seanation.

As the first Encyclopedants' Progress Report [[Encyclopedants Progress Report 1|states]], "in the hopes of canvasing as much of our beloved Ghyll as possible, we sent missives far and wide, requesting entries from scholars of all walks of life, society, and culture." In doing so, however, we have had to accept entries for the Encyclopaedia that have become corrupted in their journeys. One entry in particular, on the Altoxian Bulb, came to us in a very patchy state due to it having been—as far as we can tell—sent via word of mouth in many parts of its journey. Indeed, we received several conflicting versions, none of which made sense in and of themselves, let alone when taken as a whole.

To that end, instead of using the best quality message that we received as we had previously done, we have taken it upon ourselves to draft the most likely possible original of the message. It should thus be noted that this entry may not have the same academic integrity as the main corpora, and should not be taken to be absolute fact.

==Original Messages==

For historical purposes, we have preserved two of the original messages that we received:

* [http://gamegrene.com/wiki/?title=Altox_bulb&oldid=419 First Altox Bulb message].
* [http://gamegrene.com/wiki/?title=Altox_bulb&oldid=463 Second Altox Bulb message].

Now follows the Encyclopedants' reconstructed original:

==Altoxian Bulb==

The Altoxian Bulb was invented by [[Professor Altoxian]], a native of the settlements of the city of [[Iganefta]]. The bulbs, perhaps more commonly known as "Altox Bulbs" or "Altoxian's Bulbs", serve as a primary source of light for the lower classes of the city. The upper classes, or Adrizians, possess higher quality forms of illumination.

Known colloquially as "doc", [[Professor Altoxian|Altoxian]] created the lights from a gelatinous substance for which there are many reserves deep underneath [[Iganefta]], though the substance is also known to occur in other parts of Ghyll. Altoxian Bulbs are comprised of a plastic sheath or sack which is then braided together, or held into place by a network of strands.

The lower classes had been in dire need of an inexpensive form of lighting, and [[Professor Altoxian|Altoxian]]'s breakthrough was hailed as outstanding and revolutionary. Though the process by which the gelatinous substance is garnered is kept a secret, there are rumours of a secret trail leading through the nearby Azura Mines which leads to an easily accessible underground river of the gel. Most of the Adrizian sections of the city also have access to the network of mines, but the access points are rarely used on account of the Adrizians having no purpose for the gel. Adrizians have been known to sell quantities of the gel to the lower classes in pity, but this is very rarely heard of.

'''Citations''': [[Iganefta]], [[Professor Altoxian]].

Original author: [[User:Robbi|Makarii Spitignev]] 02:44, 3 Sep 2004 (EDT)<br />
Edited by '''The Encyclopedants''' due to message integrity problems.

[[Category:Invention]]

----
Hemoss The Heretic is said to have issued his two Great Heresies after the discovery of the Altoxian Bulb. The first was that the gel never really existed at all, and old Altoxian had just found a cheaper way to make disguised [[Andelphracian Lights]]. The second was that these bulbs were the first practical application of [[Awal shrinkage]] harnessed for light production. Of course, most of you never heard any of this, because it was all termed "heresy" for so long. Bah. We are adults and scholars and if future generations are to learn, they need all of the facts. --[[User:Qwentyth Pyre|Qwentyth Pyre]] 01:18, 5 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Hemoss also believed that Quezlar 6 was a piece of fiction created for propagandic purposes, that [[Anaximancer]]s are divine creatures, and that the [[vorpcara]] Phennella discovered was a sign that the [[Alezanians]] were going to take over the world at -2/4/6 {{EC}}. His writings belong in the "Complete Nutters, And Proof Of Their Nuttery" section of the encylopaedia, not throughout the main body of it. --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 05:33, 5 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Given that Hemoss lived well out in the wilds of [[Iganefta]], how did he find out about Phennella and the archaological dig in [[Alezan]]? --[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 14:57, 5 Sep 2004 (EDT)

The same way I heard about it way out here in the wastelands of Fadr. You know us scholars love it when other scholars mess up. After all, your questioning of that member of the "[[Aminfarances Institute of Science and Technomancy]]" is the stuff of legends over here. So, how are ''your'' tools? --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 22:20, 5 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Ghyll:Altoxian Bulb

2004-09-05T09:33:20Z

D8uv: General Snarkiness

As the first Encyclopedants' Progress Report [[Encyclopedants Progress Report 1|states]], "in the hopes of canvasing as much of our beloved Ghyll as possible, we sent missives far and wide, requesting entries from scholars of all walks of life, society, and culture." In doing so, however, we have had to accept entries for the Encyclopaedia that have become corrupted in their journeys. One entry in particular, on the Altoxian Bulb, came to us in a very patchy state due to it having been—as far as we can tell—sent via word of mouth in many parts of its journey. Indeed, we received several conflicting versions, none of which made sense in and of themselves, let alone when taken as a whole.

To that end, instead of using the best quality message that we received as we had previously done, we have taken it upon ourselves to draft the most likely possible original of the message. It should thus be noted that this entry may not have the same academic integrity as the main corpora, and should not be taken to be absolute fact.

==Original Messages==

For historical purposes, we have preserved two of the original messages that we received:

* [http://gamegrene.com/wiki/?title=Altox_bulb&oldid=419 First Altox Bulb message].
* [http://gamegrene.com/wiki/?title=Altox_bulb&oldid=463 Second Altox Bulb message].

Now follows the Encyclopedants' reconstructed original:

==Altoxian Bulb==

The Altoxian Bulb was invented by [[Professor Altoxian]], a native of the settlements of the city of [[Iganefta]]. The bulbs, perhaps more commonly known as "Altox Bulbs" or "Altoxian's Bulbs", serve as a primary source of light for the lower classes of the city. The upper classes, or Adrizians, possess higher quality forms of illumination.

Known colloquially as "doc", [[Professor Altoxian|Altoxian]] created the lights from a gelatinous substance for which there are many reserves deep underneath [[Iganefta]], though the substance is also known to occur in other parts of Ghyll. Altoxian Bulbs are comprised of a plastic sheath or sack which is then braided together, or held into place by a network of strands.

The lower classes had been in dire need of an inexpensive form of lighting, and [[Professor Altoxian|Altoxian]]'s breakthrough was hailed as outstanding and revolutionary. Though the process by which the gelatinous substance is garnered is kept a secret, there are rumours of a secret trail leading through the nearby Azura Mines which leads to an easily accessible underground river of the gel. Most of the Adrizian sections of the city also have access to the network of mines, but the access points are rarely used on account of the Adrizians having no purpose for the gel. Adrizians have been known to sell quantities of the gel to the lower classes in pity, but this is very rarely heard of.

'''Citations''': [[Iganefta]], [[Professor Altoxian]].

Original author: [[User:Robbi|Makarii Spitignev]] 02:44, 3 Sep 2004 (EDT)<br />
Edited by '''The Encyclopedants''' due to message integrity problems.

[[Category:Invention]]

----
Hemoss The Heretic is said to have issued his two Great Heresies after the discovery of the Altoxian Bulb. The first was that the gel never really existed at all, and old Altoxian had just found a cheaper way to make disguised [[Andelphracian Lights]]. The second was that these bulbs were the first practical application of [[Awal shrinkage]] harnessed for light production. Of course, most of you never heard any of this, because it was all termed "heresy" for so long. Bah. We are adults and scholars and if future generations are to learn, they need all of the facts. --[[User:Qwentyth Pyre|Qwentyth Pyre]] 01:18, 5 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Hemoss also believed that Quezlar 6 was a piece of fiction created for propagandic purposes, that [[Anaximancer]]s are divine creatures, and that the vorpcara Phennella discovered was a sign that the [[Alezanians]] were going to take over the world at -2/4/6 {{EC}}. His writings belong in the "Complete Nutters, And Proof Of Their Nuttery" section of the encylopaedia, not throughout the main body of it. --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 05:33, 5 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Category:Other

2004-09-05T09:16:15Z

D8uv: And I agree with myself again!

Entries that didn't fit into other categories. Common trends will be eventually refactored.

Category:Other

2004-09-05T09:15:19Z

D8uv: Good idea, since I'm an idiot who can't read.

Entries that didn't fit into other categories. Common trends will be eventually be refactored.

Category:Other

2004-09-05T03:07:45Z

D8uv: typo

Entries that didn't fit into other categories. Common trends will be eventually be refactored.

Ghyll:Encyclopedants Progress Report 1

2004-09-04T22:13:27Z

D8uv: So is logging in!

__TOC__

'''The Encyclopedants''' is a term applied to the small group of individuals who decided a collection of Ghyll intellect, in written and distributed form, was necessary for the bettering of society, as well as the benefit of future historians. The group now presides over the encyclopedia's integrity and "cohesion of vision". To remain an objective judge, the Encyclopedants attempt to focus only on "the facts as we're told them", asking questions, poking holes, and suggesting "standards" to further quality assurance. These Progress Reports are considered official communication between the Encyclopedants and their Scholars, and they encourage others to write their own thoughts and comments into the margins.

==And Thus It Begins!==
First, we would like to thank those who have started adding terms... already we've seen some strong entries but, as feared, a definitive lack of "group think". This is our own fault: in the hopes of canvasing as much of our beloved Ghyll as possible, we sent missives far and wide, requesting entries from scholars of all walks of life, society, and culture. Naturally, the world looks remarkably different through multicolored glasses, and cohesion (what we have sworn to uphold) has yet to develop. Although the blame is ours, we'll address steps to bring things back into focus.

==The State of the Art of Ghyll==
The entries as they stand are highly disparate, chiefly caused by a "culture-centric" approach to scholarly writing. It is important to recognize the world, and other encyclopedic entries, around you, otherwise you stand to make an embarrassingly "everything revolves around me" mistake in your work. We have gone through the core aspects of the existing entries in hopes of solidifying what we know.

===Geography===
We discern from [[Alezan]] and [[Andelphracian Lights]] that part of Ghyll is forested; from [[Alezan]] and [[Avazian Box]] there are wastelands, but apart from the city in [[Altox bulb]], the gardens of [[Agony uncle]], and the mires and quayres of [[Andelphracian Lights]], landscape is not yet a chief factor in your entries. It probably should not be. With the Encyclopedia a massive undertaking already, there's plenty of time for mapmaking later. Your focus as scholars should be much smaller: life, culture, and inspiration not location, distance and direction.

: I have to disagree. While describing locations that run counter to the truth is indeed a terrible thing, we should still clarify the locations already mentioned by further describing the stage that the action happens on. I agree that geography shouldn't be a main focus, but it still should be mentioned to a degree. --[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 18:13, 4 Sep 2004 (EDT)

===History and Dates===
Due to our lack of guidance, entries have been dreadful when it comes to history, date, times, and respect for other cultural histories. There is no time like the present to realize time does not revolve around you. We appreciate that your location has developed its own unique way to measure time and tell its history - we don't dare suggest you or your elders change it! We do require, however, that your encyclopedia entries "standardize" any timeframes to what we have dubbed the "Encyclopedant Calendar", or {{EC}}. This standardized time will be measured in centuries, decades, years, months, weeks, and days. Events that occurred previous to EC time will follow the same measurements, such that 50 years before EC is written as "-50 EC." We have set the epoch of EC to the year that we sent out the call for your entries, so '''The current time is 0 EC'''; we estimate a complete Round of encyclopedia entries (A through Z) will be completed every year. To identify a Ghyll month, use the year followed by a slash followed by the number of the month. Likewise, for a day, use the year followed by a slash followed by the number of the month followed by another slash followed by the day. ''Example: the fifth day of the seventh month of -20 EC would be written as -20/7/5 EC.''

As such, the following changes will be retroactively applied to your entries:

* [[Alarius]] has had "Fifteenth century" removed. No possible conversion to EC dates is known.
* Removed mention of "epochs" from [[Avazian Box]]. Lack of civilization means lack of conversion to EC.
* The "epochs" of [[Aquentravalkeration]] have been revised to EC time.

Scholars should consider writing entries more recent than -100 EC. Due to inaccurate record keeping (which the Ghyll Encyclopedia hopes to correct for future generations), solid information from before -200 EC is very hard to come by and rarely complete. In fact, much of known "history" prior to -100 EC is passed down through fairy tales, myths, legends, and inconsistent reinvention. We recommend focusing on -150 EC and later.

For more information, including a timeline, see [[Encyclopedant Calendar]].

===People and Politics===
We have some interesting people being recorded permanently for posterity. Windsor and Bavarian Creame, Daniel Mboya, Madam Calvian, Alarius, Phennella, Professor Altoxian, Bunny Hutch, Siam Sinch, Andelphracia, Margaret Widderson, Quezlar 6, Bysted Timperton, Supetupheraraphes, Rancticirchiretic, Oblibestircus, Morphous Ibb, Tim Timperton, Violetta, and a handful of other supporting characters have been mentioned just in these very early entries. We anticipate seeing them explored further as more encyclopedia entries are received.

Politics have been sparsely mentioned, but some inferences are possible. In [[Agony uncle]], the arrest of Windsor Creame suggests a police force in the region of the [[Folktown Records]]' office. [[Andelphracian Lights|Andelphracia]] was a mayoress, so towns have people running them. There is a general order to Ghyll, and one which will grow more apparent with further entries. There appears to be no overarching control: the rural areas tend to be cooperative within themselves, and museums and organized cities with councils indicate order; the fact that quite a few of the entries are historical and that the Ghyll Encyclopedia itself is being written by a team of scholars (you) indicates the same kind of locally-regularised control (us).

===Technology and Education===
Technology, or lack there of, has been inconsistent and is again attributible to our exhuberance in selecting a variety of scholars from locations all around Ghyll. Certainly, different areas have developed in their own special way... some for the better, some for the worst. The rural technologies of the lights ([[Andelphracian Lights]] and [[Altox bulb]]) contrast with huge past towers ([[Alezan]]) and magnetic propulsion technologies ([[Avazian Box]]) contrast with frescos ([[Alarius]]) and newspaper offices ([[Agony uncle]]). It seems telling that the most amazing technologies (of magnetism and architectural immensity) are from ages long past or civilizations long dead. Suffice it to say, further cohesion and extensive historical research will need to be addressed in your upcoming submissions.

Naturally, the people of Ghyll are quite well educated: we invent, we write, and we produce publications. It's been a surprise, but we have already created a staggering amount of written documentation: the [[Folktown Records]], the Encyclopaedia of Lost Lore, [[Cranee Historical Society]] records (inferred), [[Quester and Phorrus]], The Fylesgate Annals, the ancient documents of the Nitenmangrey, and of course the Ghyll Encyclopedia itself! We have more than one research council, and even a historical society and museum. If this trend continues, Ghyll is going to have to have its educational system explained rather well. It may just be that, since we're scholars, we tend to have a scholarly bias--of course--and that most inhabitants are of a more mundane nature. We have even seen a trickling of the arts, with [[Amphitheatre aristocracy|allusions to past theatre productions]].

==The Facts As We're Told Them==

The first batch of entries consists of the following entries: [[Aelfants]] (Wildlife), [[Agony uncle]] (Language), [[Alarius]] (Person), [[Alezan]] (Land), [[Alezanians]] (People), [[Altoxian Bulb]] (Invention), [[Aminfarances Institute of Science and Technomancy]] (Organization), [[Amphitheatre aristocracy]] (Organization), [[Anaximancer]] (Person), [[Andelphracian Lights]] (Invention), [[Aquentravalkeration]] (Other), [[Arariax]] (Person), [[AuroAnthropology]] (Other), [[Avazian Box]] (Invention), [[Awal shrinkage]] (Science), and [[Quezlarian numerals]] (Other).

===[[Aelfants]] (Wildlife)===
* Aelfants are the outcome of a tryst between a [[Pyxie]] and a pachyderm.
* [[Pyxie]]s, when drunk on [[Fefferberry]] wine, shapeshift and become "quite randy".
* The Aelfants' population is dwindling, and they've retreated west to the [[Alezanians|Alezanian]] spires.
* (From comment) Aelfants have a glowing, emerald hide and reported seen a "few years back".
* (From comment) Most people doubt the existence of the Aelfants.

===[[Agony uncle]] (Language)===
* The Folktown Records is weekly newspaper.
* There are over 600 editions of the Folktown Records (-13 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]]).
* Windsor Creame has worked at the Folktown Records for 12 years (-13 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]]).
* Windsor Creame is 57 years old (birth: -58 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]]).
* Windsor Creame's wife of seven years (-8 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]]) is Bavarian Creame.
* Windsor Creame has a (young) nephew called Daniel Mboya; hence he must have a brother or sister.
* The Folktown Records offices are surrounded by gardens and, presumably, employ a gardener.
* Madam Calvian is a neighbour to a Folktown Records employee (who happens to be the transcriber).
* Daniel Mboya was severely beaten, and eventually died due to blood collecting in his lungs.
* Windsor Creame was "detained and brought in for questioning"; hence there must be a police force.

There are a series of nuances not yet dependable as facts: why did the transcriber take down the conversation? How, if any, does it relate to Mboya turning up at Madam Calvian's (the transcriber's next door neighbor)? And, assuming Windsor's murder charge is true, why would a man who has answered children's questions for so many years suddenly turn violent?

===[[Alarius]] (Person)===
* Alarius was a renaissance thinker.
* Alarius held a conspirational view of history.
* The [[Bureau of Forgotten Knowledge]] published the Encyclopaedia of Lost Lore.
* Alarius painted a fresco at the [[Palace of Lost Souls]].
* The fresco was altered by Alarius shortly after its completion.

Did Alarius fancy himself a god, as depicted by his fresco and the perspective of looking down upon all of existence? Or did he feel everyone creates and visualizes their own reality? And just who was the woman in his fresco, and why did Alarius feel the need to modify her appearance?

===[[Alezan]] (Location)===
* Alezan is a forested land to the west of the [[Evesque Valley]].
* Alezan was inhabited by an old race who built a large twin tower structure.
* Alezan is either sparsely or non-populated, and visited only rarely (mainly by children).
* The [[Cranee Historical Society]] have investigated Alezan's past.
* Phennella is a member of the [[Cranee Historical Society]].
* A [[vorpcara]] is a relic which may be embedded in the ground.
* Alezan (possibly Cranee?) has a nearby museum which houses a vorpcara.

===[[Alezanians]] (People)===
* [[Bobby Shwarmph]] lives close to the land of [[Alezan]].
* The Alezanians are a conspiracy-theory style putatively extant group.
* [[Bobby Shwarmph]] runs the [[Aliens Everywhere]] magazine.

===[[Altoxian Bulb]] (Invention)===
* The Altox, or Altoxian, Bulb was invented by [[Professor Altoxian]].
* [[Professor Altoxian]] is a native resident of the city of [[Iganefta]].
* The Adrizian are another name for the upper class of [[Iganefta]].
* Altoxian Bulbs are created from a jelly mined from deep under [[Iganefta]].
* The gelatinous substance is known to occur in other parts of Ghyll.
* It is rumored of a secret trail to an underground river of gel in the Azura Mines.
* The bulbs are comprised of a plastic sheath or sack, braided or held in place by strands.
* The Adrizian possess better form of lighting, and have no need for the jelly.

===[[Aminfarances Institute of Science and Technomancy]] (Organization)===
* The Aminfarances Institute of Science and Technomancy is a loose collective.
* The Institute is possibly ancient, and recruits bright young individuals.
* The organizational structure is arranged in a series of nested circles.
* The Institute engages in projects of scientific and technomantic research.
* [[Aminfarances]], of unknown gender, founded the Institute.

===[[Amphitheatre aristocracy]] (Organization)===
* The Amphitheatre aristocracy are a group based in Folktown.
* The Houvers are a lower-class dissident group opposed to decadence.
* The Amphitheatre aristocracy meet weekly at the Folktown Amphitheatre.
* Theatre used to be popular in Ghyll, but is much less so now.
* Trained [[Burnflies|burnfly swarms]] can be sculpted.
* Bunny Hutch is a famed performance artist, skilled in sculpting Burnfly swarms.
* Siam Sinch, daughter of [[Bavarian Creame]] from a previous marriage, does glitterthought.
* Statues were made recently of the, possibly mythical, [[Alezan pantheon]].
* The Amphitheatre Aristocracy provides scholarships.
* Folktown has its own city council.

===[[Anaximancer]] (Person)===
* An Anaximancer is a person who can produce objects from thin air.
* The "Echecharion" is, purportedly, an instructional work for this skill.
* No known originals of the Echecharion exist, save for two transcribed copies.
* These copies, from transcribers unknown, are suspected of being fake.
* The copies date from roughly -70 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]] and are held in the [[Odlucian Library]].
* [[Edvard von Craghelm]] was the most famous Anaximancer, touring throughout Ghyll.
* [[Edvard von Craghelm]] mysteriously died while travelling near a moor in -20 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]].
* Objects [[Edvard von Craghelm|Edvard]] produces are privately held, though some exist in various museums.

===[[Andelphracian Lights]] (Invention)===
* Andelphracian Lights, or Andelights, were invented by Andelphracia.
* Andelphracian Lights are used to set a return path across difficult terrain at night.
* Margaret Widderson is an Andelight craftswoman.
* The [[Evesque Valley]] has quayres which contain materials used to make Andelights.
* Andelphracia was the mayoress of the now lost Fylesgate.
* Fylesgate was likely in the [[Evesque Valley]].
* The Fefferberry is used as an ingredient in making Andelphracian Lights.
* Quezlar 6 may have used the lights in crossing the Elminster Mire.
* [[Bysted Timperton]] may write about the lights in [[Quester and Phorrus]].
* The Fylesgate Annals allude to the invention of Andelphracian Lights.
* The term "Andelphracian Lights" can't be antedated back more than a hundred and fifty years.

===[[Aquentravalkeration]] (Other)===
* Aquentravalkeration was practiced by the now extinct [[Nitenmangrey]] culture.
* The [[Nitenmangrey]] culture flourished prior to -900 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]].
* Documents from that time are currently undeciphered, and comprised of hieroglyphs.
* The term "Aquentravalkeration" was coined by [[Supetupheraraphes]].
* Rancticirchiretic is another scholar documenting the [[Nitenmangrey]].
* Oblibestircus is another, less credible, scholar investigating the [[Nitenmangrey]].

===[[Arariax]] (Person)===
* Arariax was one of Ghyll's most influential poets.
* Arariax the poet was born in -280 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]] in the [[Evesque Valley]].
* Arariax had a peculiar habit of releasing 64 poems at a time.
* Arariax wrote "The [[Deathbug]]" (poem) and "Why the Free Bird loves Tallow" (book/pamphlet).
* Arariax was in exile for an unknown reason.

===[[AuroAnthropology]] (Other)===
* AuroAnthropology is the study of the history of light and light sources.
* Studies of this kind were (until recently) taboo, if not persecuted outright.
* The [[Brothers of the Lantern]] have a religious tradition regarding light.
* Andelphracia built a "rather charming" clock tower during her mayordom.
* Gibbous Saunders wrote to the [[Folktown Records]], and was published in #312.
* The [[Unquisition]] are high-profile contributors to the study of light.
* Garth Haversham was Managing Editor of the [[Folktown Records]] on -7/9/15 EC.

===[[Avazian Box]] (Invention)===
* The Avazians were metalworkers.
* The Avazians engineered many magnetic propulsion weapons.
* There were at least three Avazian (presumably civil) Wars.
* There were many protests against the [[Third Avazian War]], to little effect.
* Avazians have very few males in the population, possibly due to the wars.
* The Blackguard Avazians are a team of primarily female Avazian scientists.
* A [[nanit]] appears to be a unit of measurement, but may be of magnetic flux.
* Avazian Boxes are also known as Avazian War Boxes or simply Their Boxes.
* Avazian Boxes dissipate magnetic devices (including weapons) over a large radius.
* Avazian Boxes and their effects completely stopped the [[Third Avazian War]].
* They also caused the reversal of technological development due to their effectiveness.
* An Avazian Box, discovered in the Avazian ruins, has been accidentally activated.

===[[Awal shrinkage]] (Science) ===
* Caused when emulsions of waxy material and [[spelgof]] are subjected to heating/cooling cycles.
* The emulsion emits a sequence of short bursts of orange lights during this process.
* Similarly, a temporary lessening in the obith weight of the emulsion is observed.
* No reliable method to sustain the light given off during these cycles has been developed.
* Low-level sound waves rapidly return the emulsion to normal; otherwise, wait 1-3 days.
* The behavior of the emulsion to these low-level sound waves is known as the "crooning effect."
* Awal, presumably a scientist, applied [[Jesper's constant]] to [[spelgof]] emulsions, and discovered the shrinkage.
* Melderson, another presumed scientist, disputes Awal's position on possible color variations.
* Awal shrinkage is routinely used in laboratories to demonstrate smilching.
* When the emulsion returns to its regular obith weight, a suction, and absence, of noise is observed.
* Melderson proposal to use the shrinkage to reduce noise in work environments is not generally held viable.

===[[Quezlarian numerals]] (Other)===
* Morphous Ibb wrote to the [[Folktown Records]], and was published in #578.
* Tim Timperton is on staff at the [[Folktown Records]].
* Ghyll's core script has aesthetic problems.
* Quezlar 6 invented Quezlarian Numerals; it is popularly believed he didn't.
* Quezlar 6 was married to Violetta, and her nickname was VI.
* Tim Timperton used to be a high ranking member of the [[Council for Quezlarian Research]].
* The [[Council for Quezlarian Research]] deny this encyclopedia entry.
* (From comment) Tim Timperton is a son of Bysted Timperton.

Also note that, for historical reasons, this entry was written nearly nine months before the Ghyll Encyclopedia officially got under way (it served well as an adequate measure for our fact checking, quality assurance, and publication methods.)

<br /><div align="right"><big><strong>--The Encyclopedants</strong></big></div>

Ghyll:Encyclopedants Progress Report 1

2004-09-03T07:00:39Z

D8uv: Fixed some of the date crap to be consistant with the EC page

''This entry is in progress.''

__TOC__

'''The Encyclopedants''' is a term applied to the small group of individuals who decided a collection of Ghyll intellect, in written and distributed form, was necessary for the bettering of society, as well as the benefit of future historians. The group now presides over the encyclopedia's integrity and "cohesion of vision". To remain an objective judge, the Encyclopedants attempt to focus only on "the facts as we're told them", asking questions, poking holes, and suggesting "standards" to further quality assurance. These Progress Reports are considered official communication between the Encyclopedants and their Scholars, and they encourage others to write their own thoughts and comments into the margins.

==And Thus It Begins!==
First, we would like to thank those who have started adding terms... already we've seen some strong entries but, as feared, a definitive lack of "group think". This is our own fault: in the hopes of canvasing as much of our beloved Ghyll as possible, we sent missives far and wide, requesting entries from scholars of all walks of life, society, and culture. Naturally, the world looks remarkably different through multicolored glasses, and cohesion (what we have sworn to uphold) has yet to develop. Although the blame is ours, we'll address steps to bring things back into focus.

==The State of the Art of Ghyll==
The entries as they stand are highly disparate, chiefly caused by a "culture-centric" approach to scholarly writing. It is important to recognize the world, and other encyclopedic entries, around you, otherwise you stand to make an embarrassingly "everything revolves around me" mistake in your work. We have gone through the core aspects of the existing entries in hopes of solidifying what we know.

===Geography===
We discern from [[Alezan]] and [[Andelphracian Lights]] that part of Ghyll is forested; from [[Alezan]] and [[Avazian Box]] there are wastelands, but apart from the city in [[Altox bulb]], the gardens of [[Agony uncle]], and the mires and quayres of [[Andelphracian Lights]], landscape is not yet a chief factor in your entries. It probably should not be. With the Encyclopedia a massive undertaking already, there's plenty of time for mapmaking later. Your focus as scholars should be much smaller: life, culture, and inspiration not location, distance and direction.

===History and Dates===
Due to our lack of guidance, entries have been dreadful when it comes to history, date, times, and respect for other cultural histories. There is no time like the present to realize time does not revolve around you. We appreciate that your location has developed its own unique way to measure time and tell its history - we don't dare suggest you or your elders change it! We do require, however, that your encyclopedia entries "standardize" any timeframes to what we have dubbed the "Encyclopedant Calendar", or {{EC}}. This standardized time will be measured in centuries, decades, years, months, weeks, and days. Events that occurred previous to EC time will follow the same measurements, such that 50 years before EC is written as "-50 EC." We have set the epoch of EC to the year that we sent out the call for your entries, so '''The current time is 0 EC'''; we estimate a complete Round of encyclopedia entries (A through Z) will be completed every year. To identify a Ghyll month, use the year followed by a slash followed by the number of the month. Likewise, for a day, use the year followed by a slash followed by the number of the month followed by another slash followed by the day. ''Example: the fifth day of the seventh month of -20 EC would be written as -20/7/5 EC.''

As such, the following changes will be retroactively applied to your entries:

* [[Alarius]] has had "Fifteenth century" removed. No possible conversion to EC dates is known.
* Removed mention of "epochs" from [[Avazian Box]]. Lack of civilization means lack of conversion to EC.
* The "epochs" of [[Aquentravalkeration]] have been revised to EC time.

Scholars should consider writing entries more recent than -100 EC. Due to inaccurate record keeping (which the Ghyll Encyclopedia hopes to correct for future generations), solid information from before -200 EC is very hard to come by and rarely complete. In fact, much of known "history" prior to -100 EC is passed down through fairy tales, myths, legends, and inconsistent reinvention. We recommend focusing on -150 EC and later.

For more information, including a timeline, see [[Encyclopedant Calendar]].

===People and Politics===
We have some interesting people being recorded permanently for posterity. Windsor and Bavarian Creame, Daniel Mboya, Madam Calvian, Alarius, Phennella, Professor Altoxian, Bunny Hutch, Siam Sinch, Andelphracia, Margaret Widderson, Quezlar 6, Bysted Timperton, Supetupheraraphes, Rancticirchiretic, Oblibestircus, Morphous Ibb, Tim Timperton, Violetta, and a handful of other supporting characters have been mentioned just in these very early entries. We anticipate seeing them explored further as more encyclopedia entries are received.

Politics have been sparsely mentioned, but some inferences are possible. In [[Agony uncle]], the arrest of Windsor Creame suggests a police force in the region of the [[Folktown Records]]' office. [[Andelphracian Lights|Andelphracia]] was a mayoress, so towns have people running them. There is a general order to Ghyll, and one which will grow more apparent with further entries. There appears to be no overarching control: the rural areas tend to be cooperative within themselves, and museums and organized cities with councils indicate order; the fact that quite a few of the entries are historical and that the Ghyll Encyclopedia itself is being written by a team of scholars (you) indicates the same kind of locally-regularised control (us).

===Technology and Education===
Technology, or lack there of, has been inconsistent and is again attributible to our exhuberance in selecting a variety of scholars from locations all around Ghyll. Certainly, different areas have developed in their own special way... some for the better, some for the worst. The rural technologies of the lights ([[Andelphracian Lights]] and [[Altox bulb]]) contrast with huge past towers ([[Alezan]]) and magnetic propulsion technologies ([[Avazian Box]]) contrast with frescos ([[Alarius]]) and newspaper offices ([[Agony uncle]]). It seems telling that the most amazing technologies (of magnetism and architectural immensity) are from ages long past or civilizations long dead. Suffice it to say, further cohesion and extensive historical research will need to be addressed in your upcoming submissions.

Naturally, the people of Ghyll are quite well educated: we invent, we write, and we produce publications. It's been a surprise, but we have already created a staggering amount of written documentation: the [[Folktown Records]], the Encyclopaedia of Lost Lore, [[Cranee Historical Society]] records (inferred), [[Quester and Phorrus]], The Fylesgate Annals, the ancient documents of the Nitenmangrey, and of course the Ghyll Encyclopedia itself! We have more than one research council, and even a historical society and museum. If this trend continues, Ghyll is going to have to have its educational system explained rather well. It may just be that, since we're scholars, we tend to have a scholarly bias--of course--and that most inhabitants are of a more mundane nature. We have even seen a trickling of the arts, with [[Amphitheatre aristocracy|allusions to past theatre productions]].

==The Facts As We're Told Them==

The first batch of entries consists of the following twelve entries: [[Agony uncle]] (Language), [[Alarius]] (Person), [[Alezan]] (Land), [[Alezanians]] (People), [[Altox bulb]] (Invention), [[Aminfarances Institute of Science and Technomancy]] (Organization), [[Amphitheatre aristocracy]] (Organization), [[Andelphracian Lights]] (Invention), [[Aquentravalkeration]] (Other), [[Arariax]] (Person), [[Avazian Box]] (Invention), and [[Quezlarian numerals]] (Other).

===[[Agony uncle]] (Language)===

* The Folktown Records is weekly newspaper.
* There are over 600 editions of the Folktown Records (-13 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]]).
* Windsor Creame has worked at the Folktown Records for 12 years (-13 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]]).
* Windsor Creame is 57 years old (birth: -58 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]]).
* Windsor Creame's wife of seven years (-8 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]]) is Bavarian Creame.
* Windsor Creame has a (young) nephew called Daniel Mboya; hence he must have a brother or sister.
* The Folktown Records offices are surrounded by gardens and, presumably, employ a gardener.
* Madam Calvian is a neighbour to a Folktown Records employee (who happens to be the transcriber).
* Daniel Mboya was severely beaten, and eventually died due to blood collecting in his lungs.
* Windsor Creame was "detained and brought in for questioning"; hence there must be a police force.

There are a series of nuances not yet dependable as facts: why did the transcriber take down the conversation? How, if any, does it relate to Mboya turning up at Madam Calvian's (the transcriber's next door neighbor)? And, assuming Windsor's murder charge is true, why would a man who has answered children's questions for so many years suddenly turn violent?

===[[Alarius]] (Person)===

* Alarius was a renaissance thinker.
* Alarius held a conspirational view of history.
* The [[Bureau of Forgotten Knowledge]] published the Encyclopaedia of Lost Lore.
* Alarius painted a fresco at the [[Palace of Lost Souls]].
* The fresco was altered by Alarius shortly after its completion.

Did Alarius fancy himself a god, as depicted by his fresco and the perspective of looking down upon all of existence? Or did he feel everyone creates and visualizes their own reality? And just who was the woman in his fresco, and why did Alarius feel the need to modify her appearance?

===[[Alezan]] (Land)===

* Alezan is a forested land to the west of the [[Evesque Valley]].
* Alezan was inhabited by an old race who built a large twin tower structure.
* Alezan is either sparsely or non-populated, and visited only rarely (mainly by children).
* The [[Cranee Historical Society]] have investigated Alezan's past.
* Phennella is a member of the [[Cranee Historical Society]].
* A [[vorpcara]] is a relic which may be embedded in the ground.
* Alezan (possibly Cranee?) has a nearby museum which houses a vorpcara.

===[[Alezanians]] (People)===

* [[Bobby Shwarmph]] lives close to the land of [[Alezan]].
* The Alezanians are a conspiracy-theory style putatively extant group.
* [[Bobby Shwarmph]] runs the [[Aliens Everywhere]] magazine.

===[[Altox bulb]] (Invention)===

* The Altox, or Altoxian, bulb was invented by [[Professor Altoxian]].
* [[Professor Altoxian]] is a resident of the city of [[Iganefta]].
* [[Professor Altoxian]] is well acquainted with the lower class.
* [[Altox bulbs]] are created from a jelly mined from deep under [[Iganefta]].
* The Azura Mines have a stream of the jelly, it is rumoured.
* The Adrizian are another name for the upper class of [[Iganefta]].

This entry seems to have similarities with Andelphracian Lights, but the last sentence has confounded Encyclopedants, sending some to blows. Are the entrances in the Adrizian sections to mines of jelly reserves underneath the city? If not, what are the entrances to, and what does it mean that the entrances are 'rarely used on account of not needing the jelly'?

: The city consists of one level (in terms to height), while the 'upper' and 'lower' terms relate to the classes of citizens. I apologize, and I should have stated that in my entry. In response to your second question, I stated that the upper classes DO infact know where this rumoured stream of jelly is, and have no need for the jelly, unless to sell to the lower classes, which is not done very often, which was also stated. Once again I apologize. --[[User:Robbi|Makarii Spitignev]] 02:36, 3 Sep 2004 (EDT)

===[[Aminfarances Institute of Science and Technomancy]] (Organization)===

* The Aminfarances Institute of Science and Technomancy is a loose collective.
* The Institute is possibly ancient, and recruits bright young individuals.
* The organizational structure is arranged in a series of nested circles.
* The Institute engages in projects of scientific and technomantic research.
* [[Aminfarances]], of unknown gender, founded the Institute.

===[[Amphitheatre aristocracy]] (Organization)===

* The Amphitheatre aristocracy are a group based in Folktown.
* The Houvers are a lower-class dissident group opposed to decadence.
* The Amphitheatre aristocracy meet weekly at the Folktown Amphitheatre.
* Theatre used to be popular in Ghyll, but is much less so now.
* Trained [[Burnflies|burnfly swarms]] can be sculpted.
* Bunny Hutch is a famed performance artist, skilled in sculpting Burnfly swarms.
* Siam Sinch, daughter of [[Bavarian Creame]] from a previous marriage, does glitterthought.
* Statues were made recently of the, possibly mythical, [[Alezan pantheon]].
* The Amphitheatre Aristocracy provides scholarships.
* Folktown has its own city council.

===[[Andelphracian Lights]] (Invention)===

* Andelphracian Lights, or Andelights, were invented by Andelphracia.
* Andelphracian Lights are used to set a return path across difficult terrain at night.
* Margaret Widderson is an Andelight craftswoman.
* The [[Evesque Valley]] has quayres which contain materials used to make Andelights.
* Andelphracia was the mayoress of the now lost Fylesgate.
* Fylesgate was likely in the [[Evesque Valley]].
* The Fefferberry is used as an ingredient in making Andelphracian Lights.
* Quezlar 6 may have used the lights in crossing the Elminster Mire.
* [[Bysted Timperton]] may write about the lights in [[Quester and Phorrus]].
* The Fylesgate Annals allude to the invention of Andelphracian Lights.
* The term "Andelphracian Lights" can't be antedated back more than a hundred and fifty years.

===[[Aquentravalkeration]] (Other)===

* Aquentravalkeration was practiced by the now extinct [[Nitenmangrey]] culture.
* The [[Nitenmangrey]] culture flourished prior to -900 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]].
* Documents from that time are currently undeciphered, and comprised of hieroglyphs.
* The term "Aquentravalkeration" was coined by [[Supetupheraraphes]].
* The [[Nitenmangrey]] had shamans and Paramount Queens.
* Rancticirchiretic is another scholar documenting the [[Nitenmangrey]].
* Oblibestircus is another, less creditable, scholar investigating the [[Nitenmangrey]].

===[[Arariax]] (Person)===

* Arariax was one of Ghyll's most influential poets.
* Arariax the poet was born in -280 [[Encyclopedant Calendar|EC]] in the [[Evesque Valley]].
* Arariax had a peculiar habit of releasing 64 poems at a time.
* Arariax wrote "The [[Deathbug]]" (poem) and "Why the Free Bird loves Tallow" (book/pamphlet).
* Arariax was in exile for an unknown reason.

===[[Avazian Box]] (Invention)===

* The Avazians were metalworkers.
* The Avazians engineered many magnetic propulsion weapons.
* There were at least three Avazian (presumably civil) Wars.
* There were many protests against the [[Third Avazian War]], to little effect.
* Avazians have very few males in the population, possibly due to the wars.
* The Blackguard Avazians are a team of primarily female Avazian scientists.
* A [[nanit]] appears to be a unit of measurement, but may be of magnetic flux.
* Avazian Boxes are also known as Avazian War Boxes or simply Their Boxes.
* Avazian Boxes dissipate magnetic devices (including weapons) over a large radius.
* Avazian Boxes and their effects completely stopped the [[Third Avazian War]].
* They also caused the reversal of technological development due to their effectiveness.
* An Avazian Box, discovered in the Avazian ruins, has been accidentally activated.

===[[Quezlarian numerals]] (Other)===

* Morphous Ibb wrote to the [[Folktown Records]], and was published in #578.
* Tim Timperton is on staff at the [[Folktown Records]].
* Ghyll's core script has aesthetic problems.
* Quezlar 6 invented Quezlarian Numerals; it is popularly believed he didn't.
* Quezlar 6 was married to Violetta, and her nickname was VI.
* Tim Timperton used to be a high ranking member of the [[Council for Quezlarian Research]].
* The [[Council for Quezlarian Research]] deny this encyclopedia entry.

Is Tim Temperton related to Bysted Templeton, currently a member of the [[Council for Quezlarian Research]]? Also note that, for historical reasons, this entry was written nearly nine months before the Ghyll Encyclopedia officially got under way (it served well as an adequate measure for our fact checking, quality assurance, and publication methods.)

<br /><div align="right"><big><strong>--The Encyclopedants</strong></big></div>

Ghyll:Arariax

2004-09-02T15:06:25Z

D8uv: More date finengling

'''Arariax''', born around -280 EC, was one of Ghyll's most influential poets.
Poeting in close to every style, on the subject of close to anything, his
notebooks reveal an evident truth close to everyone who reads it. Rumor has it
he was so good at poetry, that even the way he talked, and even his shopping
list are all works of art prized by literary scholars.

<blockquote>
One box of Soap, to cleanse myself.<br />
Some tomes of Old, to rear myself.<br />
3 sacks of Beans, to fill myself.<br />
And some Rear Paper, to cleanse myself again.
</blockquote>

Another one of his poems, "The [[Deathbug]]", retells a story about his encounter with a [[Deathbug|deathbug]] in a style that has been copied ruthlessly since it was first penned.

<blockquote>
I went to a picnic with sister<br />
Then that bug did come here to pester.<br />
The bug then did sting,<br />
'Twas the darndest thing,<br />
I don't think she can get more deader.
</blockquote>

While in exile, the style of the poetry there seemed to greatly influence his last publication, "Why the Free Bird loves Tallow". His peculiar habit of releasing 64 poems at a time, combined with the fact that the regional style was unusually terse, made this less of a book and more like a large pamphlet. He speaks of his birthplace, the [[Evesque Valley]], and its archeological role.

<blockquote>
Home of adventure.<br />
Brave souls venture into lands<br />
of great loneliness
</blockquote>

'''Citations:''' [[Deathbug]], [[Evesque Valley]].

--[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 23:22, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

User:Sbp/notepad

2004-09-02T04:27:38Z

D8uv: Adding a fact.

In this notepad currently are a couple of experiments: firstly, I round up all of the normative bits of information that collectively make up the spoken and unspoken rules of Ghyll; secondly, I read the current entries and try to extract the facts and links between them.

'''It's the law!''' - The idea of drafting a set of rules that are extremely concise and extremely to-the-point is a commendable one, but I think we've overdone it by a huge margin. Here I'd like to explore some alternative methods that I can then propose to Morbus and the other players, in the hope that we can come up with something a little more inclusive of all the house styles etc.

'''What Goes On?''' - As I said in the [[Lexicon discussion]], it'd be nice if once per turn we could issue a canonical summary of what's been going on in the definitionry. Once per round we could have a really large summary, but in any case, it'd be nice for me personally to go through and really understand what's been defined so far.

==Those That Are Rules of Ghyll==

The playing of the game of Ghyll consists of a set of augmentations over time to an Encyclopaedia describing the Ghyll world. There may be other, related, canonical activities, but these rules define play only as it concerns the Encyclopaedia.

(@@ Currently draughting this as a set of "truths", i.e. statements of rules that are as atomic as possible. Hopefully then some structure can be discerned.)

Definitions:

# The '''Encyclopaedia''' is the Ghyll Encyclopaedia hosted on this, the gamegrene.com wiki.
# The '''game''' shall be taken to mean the game of Ghyll as regards the Encyclopaedia.
# A '''phantom''' is an entry which has been cited but not yet written.
# A '''dib''' is the process of reserving a phantom with a short statement expressing the intention of creating that entry, in the place where the entry is to be created.

Rules:

* Turns:
*# A game consists of a series of turns.
*# The turns of the game start with "A", progress through the English alphabet to "Z", and restart at "A".
*# New players may join on any turn, at any point in the turn.
*# Turns progress according to the calendar maintained by the administrators of the game, which should be agreeable to player consensus.
* Entries:
*# Scholars shall dib, and then write, one entry per turn.
*# Scholars that have dibbed entries must write those entries before the end of the turn.
*# Scholars may write, and revise, their entries at any point in the turn.
*# Each entry written by a scholar must have a title beginning with the current turn's letter.
*# Each entry written by a scholar shall cite two phantom entries.
*# Each entry written by a scholar after the first turn of the game shall cite at least one existing entry.
*# Scholars shall neither cite themselves, nor write phantoms they cited first.
*# All phantoms for a letter shall be written before new entries are created for that letter.

@@ Morbus text: "Neither of these three citations can be terms you've created or written." - dubious. What's the difference between linking and citing again?

@@ However, if you've properly met these requirements, your entry can certainly refer to other terms in the Ghyll encyclopedia, including those you've personally written. These "other terms", however, MUST have been previously defined or created.

@@ Stuff from IRC, general mumblings of Morbus. Really, rule creating for Ghyll is somewhat of a Morbus observation activity since he seems to be pretty certain about what the rules should be (and with good reason since this is his idea, and he's read all of the initial rules and done the legwork in finding out how previous lexicons have done); the rest of us need to be just as certain as well.

==Those That Are Summaries of Ghyll==

The first turn consists of at least the following eleven entries:

* [[Agony uncle]] (phrase)
* [[Alarius]] (person)
* [[Alezan]] (land)
* [[Alezanians]] (group)
* [[Altox bulb]] (invention)
* [[Amphitheatre aristocracy]] (group)
* [[Andelphracian Lights]] (invention)
* [[Aquentravalkeration]] (practice)
* [[Arariax]] (person)
* [[Avazian Box]] (invention)
* [[Quezlarian numerals]] (system)

Note that [[Quezlarian numerals]] has been included as the initial test entry, but is irregular with the rules as they stand (equity).

===Agony Uncle (phrase)===

Discussion summary: Morbus's entry, and a good one as expected. He establishes the existence of the Folktown Records--which is carried over from the original wiki, and hence the ur-Ghyll--and then segues into a little intriguing plot which forms an excellent basis for further development.

* The Folktown Records is weekly newspaper.
* There are over 600 editions of the Folktown Records; hence it is roughly a dozen years old.
* Windsor Creame works at the Folktown Records.
* Windsor Creame is 57 years old.
* Windsor Creame is married to Bavarian Creame; they have been married for seven years.
* Windsor Creame has a (young) nephew called Daniel Mboya; hence he must have a brother or sister.
* The Folktown Records offices are surrounded by gardens.
* The Folktown Records, presumably, employ a gardener.
* Madam Calvian is a neighbour to a Folktown Records employee.
* Windsor Creame was "detained and brought in for questioning"; hence there must be a police force.

There are also a series of nuances that can't really be captured as facts: why, for example, did the transcriber take down the conversation? Is that related to Mboya turning up in Madam Calvian's?

===Alarius, renaissance man===

Discussion summary: from an unknown author comes this highly renaissance-inspired entry. Though short, it sets an interesting intellectual bar for Ghyll. It's an historical account of a particular person. It seems to espouse a conspiracy theory.

* Alarius was a C15 renaissance figure.
* Alarius held a conspirational view of history.
* The Bureau of Forgotten Knowledge published the Encyclopaedia of Lost Lore.
* Alarius painted a fresco at the Palace of Lost Souls.

There's also a nice plot hook in here that has room for development--that of the mysterious lady and the sudden urge on Alarius's behalf to want to travel.

===The Land of Alezan===

Discussion summary: crschmidt here comes up with his opening entry, which is geographical in the abstract, but focusses on some more granular features. He links in with the game as it has currently been played, and alludes to a distant past for Ghyll.

* Alezan is a land to the west of the Evesque Valley.
* Alezan is forested, and was inhabited by an old race who built a large twin tower structure.
* Alezan is either sparsely or non-populated, and visited only rarely (mainly by children).
* The Cranee Historical Society have investigated Alezan's past.
* Phennella is a member of the Cranee Historical Society.
* A vorpcara is a relic which may be embedded in the ground.
* Alezan (or Cranee) has a nearby museum which houses a vorpcara.

It's a careful entry, with substantive information, and yet only a passing reference to time, and very thin details when it comes to the historical society, the museum, the vorpcara etc., which makes it easier for scholars to define those terms, and restricts the world less at this point.

===Alezanians (group)===

Discussion summary: a short, funny entry from a passing browser who may yet turn out to be a regular contributor.

* Bobby Shwarmph lives close to the Land of Alezan.
* The Alezanians are a conspiracy-theory style putatively extant group.
* Bobby Shwarmph runs the Aliens Everywhere magazine.

Displays an odd juxtaposition of slapdashry and understanding of the current corpora, but nevertheless overall holds together well. Ties in extremely well with a couple of entries: Agony Uncle and Alezan.

===Altox bulb (invention)===

Discussion summary: Robbi's entry, over which I mildly grumble.

* The Altox, or Altoxian, Bulb was invented by Professor Altoxian.
* Professor Altoxian is a resident of the city of Iganefta.
* Professor Altoxian is well acquianted with the lower class.
* Altox Bulbs are created from a jelly mined from deep under Iganefta.
* The Azura Mines have a stream of the jelly, it is rumoured.
* There are Adrizian sections of the Iganefta which apparently can access the jelly stream.

A clear lift of Andelphracian Lights, and the first entry to mention a city. More mild grumbling.

===Amphitheatre Aristocracy (group)===

Discussion summary: Arnia's entry, written after the first draft of these summaries, and with a care and diligence that sets it apart from possibly all others. It's close in keeping with Agony Uncle and Quezlarian Numerals, but takes a slightly different social view.

* The Amphitheatre Aristocracy are a group based in Folktown.
* The Houvers are a lower-class dissident group opposed to decadence.
* The Amphitheatre Aristocracy meet weekly at the Folktown Amphitheatre.
* Theatre used to be popular in Ghyll, but is much less so now.
* Burnfly swarms can be sculpted (no, really).
* Bunny Hutch is a famed performance artist.
* Siam Sinch, daughter of Bavarian Creame from a previous marriage, does glitterthought.
* Statues were made recently of the, possibly mythical, Alezan Pantheon.
* Folktown has its own city council.
* The Amphitheatre Aristocracy provides scholarships.

This is a careful entry that reinforces the small and distributed political feel to Ghyll, whilst expanding on the whimsy (Bunny Hutch), and linking to other entries. It also imposes a couple of constraints of its own, that of a high-class academia, which is possibly a fair exchange.

===Andelphracian Lights (invention)===

Discussion summary: my entry, and one which was carefully crafted out of pieces from the ur-Ghyll, some other previous endeavours, and new material. It attempts to be as micro an entry as possible, though it has to introduce some new concepts. It's based in rurality, but discusses the lights and their utility for the most part.

* Andelphracian Lights, or Andelights, were invented by Andelphracia.
* Andelphracian Lights are used to set a return path across difficult terrain at night.
* Margaret Widderson is an Andelight craftswoman.
* The Evesque Valley has quayres which contain materials used to make Andelphracian Lights.
* Andelphracia was the mayoress of the now lost Fylesgate.
* Fylesgate was likely in the Evesque Valley.
* The Fefferberry is used as an ingredient in making Andelphracian Lights.
* Quezlar 6 may have used the lights in crossing the Elminster Mire.
* Bysted Timperton of the Council for Quezlarian Research may write in Quester and Phorrus soon.
* The Fylesgate Annals allude to the invention of Andelphracian Lights.
* The term "Andelphracian Lights" can't be antedated back more than fifty years.

This is the longest entry so far of this turn, and has correspondingly quite a bit of information, though apart from the setting, some small history elements, and the dating, it's not too limiting.

===Aquentravalkeration (practice)===

Discussion summary: jcowan's entry, and apparently a parody of Wikipedia's NPOV.

* Aquentravalkeration was practiced by the now extinct Nitenmangrey culture.
* The Nitenmangrey culture flourished in the Third Epoch.
* Third Epoch documents are currently undeciphered, and comprised of hieroglyphs.
* The term "Aquentravalkeration" was coined by Supetupheraraphes.
* The Nitenmangrey had shamans and Paramount Queens.
* Rancticirchiretic is another scholar of the Nitenmangrey.
* Oblibestircus is another, less creditable, scholar of the Nitenmangrey.

Long names, lots of facts, bits of interspersed Latin, a complex plot, a parody, and all-in-all a very clearly jcowan authored entry!

===Arariax (person)===

Discussion summary: a post that spent a long time in production, it's non-limiting and links in fairly well to the whimsy of the world and even some details, but the invention of yet another timesystem, and the fancy-free nature of the post in general is dubious.

* Arariax the poet was born at 3237.170 UGT in the Evesque Valley.
* Arariax wrote "The Deathbug" and "Why the Free Bird loves Tallow" at least.
* Arariax was in exile for an unknown reason.

Remarkably fact-free, apart from the claim that Arariax was the greatest Ghyll poet (and the short sci-fi based contrived name), this is a post which can easily be integrated into the feel of Ghyll as it stands in its most cohesive parts.

===Avazian Box (invention)===

Discussion summary: Pixel slightly convolutes and constrains Ghyll with this entry, adding a timeframe, various technologies, and an entire race of people.

* The Avazians flourished in the First Epoch.
* The Avazians were metalworkers.
* The Avazians engineered many magnetic propulsion weapons.
* There were at least three Avazian (presumably civil) Wars.
* Avazians have very few males in the population, possibly due to the Wars.
* The Blackguard Avazians are a team of primarily female Avazian scientists.
* A nanit appears to be a unit of measurement, but may be of magnetic flux.
* Avazian Boxes dissipate magnetic devices (including weapons) over a large radius.
* An Avazian Box was accidentally activated in the Third Epoch.

An ambiguous entry, this seems mainly detached from the rest of Ghyll, and was written independently by pixel. Nontheless, this is a clean slate turn, and the entry is internally consistent.

===Quezlarian numerals (system)===

Discussion summary: the prototype test entry from the ur-Ghyll, carried over to this wiki since we're rather proud of it--constituting, as it does, much of the substance of nine months of work on Ghyll!

* Morphous Ibb wrote to the Folktown Records, and was published in #578.
* Tim Timperton is on staff at the Folktown Records.
* Ghyll's core script has aesthetic problems.
* Quezlar 6 invented Quezlarian Numerals; it is popularly believed that he didn't.
* Quezlar 6 was married to Violetta.
* Tim Timperton used to be a high ranking member of the Folktown Records.

For a short entry, it has quite a bit of pith.

==The State of the Art of Ghyll==

The entries as they stand at the moment are highly disparate: Quezlarian Numerals and Agony Uncle are strongly linked, and Andelphracian Lights is weakly linked with Agony Uncle and the Land of Alezan. Other than that, and the lifting of Altox Bulb from Andelphracian Lights, there's no interdependence to speak of. Epochs are mentioned in both Aquentravalkeration and Avezian Box, but even then Avezian Box had to be edited slightly for consistency.

===Geography of Ghyll===

We discern from Alezan and Andelphracian Lights that part of Ghyll is forested; from Alezan and Avazian Box we learn that there are wastelands, but apart from the city in Altox Bulb and the gardens in Agony Uncle, landscape is not mentioned. Andelphracian Lights mentions mires and quayres too.

===History of Ghyll===

Ghyll was close to being a mess: we've had at least three Epochs, a century numering system where the 15th Century is apparently past and the 25th Century yet to come, and the UGT scheme. This has, however, largely been fixed thanks to [[Progress Report 1]]. Still, Alarius and Avazian Box are going to be difficult to reconcile with Alezan, Andelphracian Lights, and Aquentravalkeration's general consensus that the past is difficult to gain knowledge from.

===People of Ghyll===

We have some interesting characters shaping up. Windsor Creame, Bavarian Creame, Daniel Mboya, Madam Calvian, Alarius, Phennella, Professor Altoxian, Bunny Hutch, Siam Sinch, Andelphracia, Margaret Widderson, Quezlar 6, Bysted Timperton, Supetupheraraphes, Rancticirchiretic, Oblibestircus, Morphous Ibb, Tim Timperton, Violetta, and a handful of other supporting characters have been defined just on this first turn. Pixel's entry appears to be the only one that doesn't specifically name at least one person. Many of these are related, and some have roots in the ur-Ghyll, so they shape up for some excellent future exploration in terms of plot and character.

===Politics of Ghyll===

Very sparsely mentioned at the moment, but some inferences are possible. In Agony Uncle, the arrest of Windsor Creame suggests a police force in the region of the Folktown Records's office. Andelphracia was a mayoress, so towns have people running them. There is a general order to Ghyll, and one which does not yet appear to diverge from general earth practices. There is a rather more autonomous feel to Ghyll, though, as though there is no overarching control: the rural areas tend to be cooperative within themselves, and museums and organized cities with councils indicate order; the fact that quite a few of the entries are historical and that the Ghyll Encyclopaedia itself is being written by a team of (scrappy, at present!) scholars indicates the same kind of locally-regularised control.

===Technology of Ghyll===

Very inconsistent. We have the rural technologies of the lights contrasting with huge past towers and magnetic propulsion technologies contrasting with frescos and newspaper offices. We have cities whose bulbs are tied together with rope. Very much a mess, and perhaps ought to be addressed alongside the historical/timeframe proclamation that Morbus is to issue.

===Education of Ghyll===

The folk of Ghyll are obviously quite well educated: they invent, they write, and they produce publications. One of the probably lesser noticed points about Ghyll so far is that we have mentioned a staggering amount of publications: Folktown Records, Encyclopaedia of Lost Lore, Cranee Historical Society records (inferred), Quester and Phorrus, The Fylesgate Annals, the Third Epoch documents of the Nitenmangrey, and of course the Ghyll Encyclopaedia itself! We have more than one research council, and even a historical society and museum. If this trend continues, Ghyll is going to have to have its educational system explained rather well. It may just be that, since we're scholars, we tend to have a scholarly bias--of course--and that most inhabitants are of a more mundane nature. The arts are emphacised in Arnia's entry, with an allusion to past theatre productions.

===Culture of Ghyll===

The names used in Ghyll so far display interesting origins: Mboya (African), Alarius (Latin), Bavarian Creame (German; bizarre), Tim Timperton (English), Alezan (sci-fi), Aquentravalkeration (...good flipping grief!), Andelphracian (phenomicity), Phennella (parody). The cultures and races seem, however, to have an interesting characteristic: the whimsical "quaint British, with hints of invention" names are all contemporary. Tim Timperton, Mrs. Widderson, Bysted Timperton (any relation to Tim?), Bavarian Creame. The historical names are long forms, and often comprised of only single words. The older races have their Alarius, Quezlar 6, and Nitenmangrey. The only two exceptions are of the scholar names that jcowan has used (though there's nothing to say that those are contemporary scholars!), and perhaps the Professor Altoxian of Robbi's, though that's at least two words if not quaint. His cityscape is removed from the rest of Ghyll as it stands anyway, so that might be a regional thing. We can assume that Phennella has a surname.

----

Abandoned: Quirks of Ghyll; These probably need tracking already! We have quayres, glitterthought, vorpcaras, etc.

Issue: Alezan, Alarius, Altox, Arariax, Avazian? Starting to think that some of these ought to be changed outright. All of them except for "Agony uncle" show a yearning to coin new names, but when seven out of eight entries do that, I think that's a bad precedent for future turns. Discussed this [http://swhack.com/logs/2004-09-01#T23-51-59 on IRC] with Morbus.

@@ Styles of the entries, time systems, the geography, characters, inventions, themes.

--[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 19:11, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

User:Sbp/notepad

2004-09-02T04:23:02Z

D8uv: I'm a fool!

In this notepad currently are a couple of experiments: firstly, I round up all of the normative bits of information that collectively make up the spoken and unspoken rules of Ghyll; secondly, I read the current entries and try to extract the facts and links between them.

'''It's the law!''' - The idea of drafting a set of rules that are extremely concise and extremely to-the-point is a commendable one, but I think we've overdone it by a huge margin. Here I'd like to explore some alternative methods that I can then propose to Morbus and the other players, in the hope that we can come up with something a little more inclusive of all the house styles etc.

'''What Goes On?''' - As I said in the [[Lexicon discussion]], it'd be nice if once per turn we could issue a canonical summary of what's been going on in the definitionry. Once per round we could have a really large summary, but in any case, it'd be nice for me personally to go through and really understand what's been defined so far.

==Those That Are Rules of Ghyll==

The playing of the game of Ghyll consists of a set of augmentations over time to an Encyclopaedia describing the Ghyll world. There may be other, related, canonical activities, but these rules define play only as it concerns the Encyclopaedia.

(@@ Currently draughting this as a set of "truths", i.e. statements of rules that are as atomic as possible. Hopefully then some structure can be discerned.)

Definitions:

# The '''Encyclopaedia''' is the Ghyll Encyclopaedia hosted on this, the gamegrene.com wiki.
# The '''game''' shall be taken to mean the game of Ghyll as regards the Encyclopaedia.
# A '''phantom''' is an entry which has been cited but not yet written.
# A '''dib''' is the process of reserving a phantom with a short statement expressing the intention of creating that entry, in the place where the entry is to be created.

Rules:

* Turns:
*# A game consists of a series of turns.
*# The turns of the game start with "A", progress through the English alphabet to "Z", and restart at "A".
*# New players may join on any turn, at any point in the turn.
*# Turns progress according to the calendar maintained by the administrators of the game, which should be agreeable to player consensus.
* Entries:
*# Scholars shall dib, and then write, one entry per turn.
*# Scholars that have dibbed entries must write those entries before the end of the turn.
*# Scholars may write, and revise, their entries at any point in the turn.
*# Each entry written by a scholar must have a title beginning with the current turn's letter.
*# Each entry written by a scholar shall cite two phantom entries.
*# Each entry written by a scholar after the first turn of the game shall cite at least one existing entry.
*# Scholars shall neither cite themselves, nor write phantoms they cited first.
*# All phantoms for a letter shall be written before new entries are created for that letter.

@@ Morbus text: "Neither of these three citations can be terms you've created or written." - dubious. What's the difference between linking and citing again?

@@ However, if you've properly met these requirements, your entry can certainly refer to other terms in the Ghyll encyclopedia, including those you've personally written. These "other terms", however, MUST have been previously defined or created.

@@ Stuff from IRC, general mumblings of Morbus. Really, rule creating for Ghyll is somewhat of a Morbus observation activity since he seems to be pretty certain about what the rules should be (and with good reason since this is his idea, and he's read all of the initial rules and done the legwork in finding out how previous lexicons have done); the rest of us need to be just as certain as well.

==Those That Are Summaries of Ghyll==

The first turn consists of at least the following eleven entries:

* [[Agony uncle]] (phrase)
* [[Alarius]] (person)
* [[Alezan]] (land)
* [[Alezanians]] (group)
* [[Altox bulb]] (invention)
* [[Amphitheatre aristocracy]] (group)
* [[Andelphracian Lights]] (invention)
* [[Aquentravalkeration]] (practice)
* [[Arariax]] (person)
* [[Avazian Box]] (invention)
* [[Quezlarian numerals]] (system)

Note that [[Quezlarian numerals]] has been included as the initial test entry, but is irregular with the rules as they stand (equity).

===Agony Uncle (phrase)===

Discussion summary: Morbus's entry, and a good one as expected. He establishes the existence of the Folktown Records--which is carried over from the original wiki, and hence the ur-Ghyll--and then segues into a little intriguing plot which forms an excellent basis for further development.

* The Folktown Records is weekly newspaper.
* There are over 600 editions of the Folktown Records; hence it is roughly a dozen years old.
* Windsor Creame works at the Folktown Records.
* Windsor Creame is 57 years old.
* Windsor Creame is married to Bavarian Creame; they have been married for seven years.
* Windsor Creame has a (young) nephew called Daniel Mboya; hence he must have a brother or sister.
* The Folktown Records offices are surrounded by gardens.
* The Folktown Records, presumably, employ a gardener.
* Madam Calvian is a neighbour to a Folktown Records employee.
* Windsor Creame was "detained and brought in for questioning"; hence there must be a police force.

There are also a series of nuances that can't really be captured as facts: why, for example, did the transcriber take down the conversation? Is that related to Mboya turning up in Madam Calvian's?

===Alarius, renaissance man===

Discussion summary: from an unknown author comes this highly renaissance-inspired entry. Though short, it sets an interesting intellectual bar for Ghyll. It's an historical account of a particular person. It seems to espouse a conspiracy theory.

* Alarius was a C15 renaissance figure.
* Alarius held a conspirational view of history.
* The Bureau of Forgotten Knowledge published the Encyclopaedia of Lost Lore.
* Alarius painted a fresco at the Palace of Lost Souls.

There's also a nice plot hook in here that has room for development--that of the mysterious lady and the sudden urge on Alarius's behalf to want to travel.

===The Land of Alezan===

Discussion summary: crschmidt here comes up with his opening entry, which is geographical in the abstract, but focusses on some more granular features. He links in with the game as it has currently been played, and alludes to a distant past for Ghyll.

* Alezan is a land to the west of the Evesque Valley.
* Alezan is forested, and was inhabited by an old race who built a large twin tower structure.
* Alezan is either sparsely or non-populated, and visited only rarely (mainly by children).
* The Cranee Historical Society have investigated Alezan's past.
* Phennella is a member of the Cranee Historical Society.
* A vorpcara is a relic which may be embedded in the ground.
* Alezan (or Cranee) has a nearby museum which houses a vorpcara.

It's a careful entry, with substantive information, and yet only a passing reference to time, and very thin details when it comes to the historical society, the museum, the vorpcara etc., which makes it easier for scholars to define those terms, and restricts the world less at this point.

===Alezanians (group)===

Discussion summary: a short, funny entry from a passing browser who may yet turn out to be a regular contributor.

* Bobby Shwarmph lives close to the Land of Alezan.
* The Alezanians are a conspiracy-theory style putatively extant group.
* Bobby Shwarmph runs the Aliens Everywhere magazine.

Displays an odd juxtaposition of slapdashry and understanding of the current corpora, but nevertheless overall holds together well. Ties in extremely well with a couple of entries: Agony Uncle and Alezan.

===Altox bulb (invention)===

Discussion summary: Robbi's entry, over which I mildly grumble.

* The Altox, or Altoxian, Bulb was invented by Professor Altoxian.
* Professor Altoxian is a resident of the city of Iganefta.
* Professor Altoxian is well acquianted with the lower class.
* Altox Bulbs are created from a jelly mined from deep under Iganefta.
* The Azura Mines have a stream of the jelly, it is rumoured.
* There are Adrizian sections of the Iganefta which apparently can access the jelly stream.

A clear lift of Andelphracian Lights, and the first entry to mention a city. More mild grumbling.

===Amphitheatre Aristocracy (group)===

Discussion summary: Arnia's entry, written after the first draft of these summaries, and with a care and diligence that sets it apart from possibly all others. It's close in keeping with Agony Uncle and Quezlarian Numerals, but takes a slightly different social view.

* The Amphitheatre Aristocracy are a group based in Folktown.
* The Houvers are a lower-class dissident group opposed to decadence.
* The Amphitheatre Aristocracy meet weekly at the Folktown Amphitheatre.
* Theatre used to be popular in Ghyll, but is much less so now.
* Burnfly swarms can be sculpted (no, really).
* Bunny Hutch is a famed performance artist.
* Siam Sinch, daughter of Bavarian Creame from a previous marriage, does glitterthought.
* Statues were made recently of the, possibly mythical, Alezan Pantheon.
* Folktown has its own city council.
* The Amphitheatre Aristocracy provides scholarships.

This is a careful entry that reinforces the small and distributed political feel to Ghyll, whilst expanding on the whimsy (Bunny Hutch), and linking to other entries. It also imposes a couple of constraints of its own, that of a high-class academia, which is possibly a fair exchange.

===Andelphracian Lights (invention)===

Discussion summary: my entry, and one which was carefully crafted out of pieces from the ur-Ghyll, some other previous endeavours, and new material. It attempts to be as micro an entry as possible, though it has to introduce some new concepts. It's based in rurality, but discusses the lights and their utility for the most part.

* Andelphracian Lights, or Andelights, were invented by Andelphracia.
* Andelphracian Lights are used to set a return path across difficult terrain at night.
* Margaret Widderson is an Andelight craftswoman.
* The Evesque Valley has quayres which contain materials used to make Andelphracian Lights.
* Andelphracia was the mayoress of the now lost Fylesgate.
* Fylesgate was likely in the Evesque Valley.
* The Fefferberry is used as an ingredient in making Andelphracian Lights.
* Quezlar 6 may have used the lights in crossing the Elminster Mire.
* Bysted Timperton of the Council for Quezlarian Research may write in Quester and Phorrus soon.
* The Fylesgate Annals allude to the invention of Andelphracian Lights.
* The term "Andelphracian Lights" can't be antedated back more than fifty years.

This is the longest entry so far of this turn, and has correspondingly quite a bit of information, though apart from the setting, some small history elements, and the dating, it's not too limiting.

===Aquentravalkeration (practice)===

Discussion summary: jcowan's entry, and apparently a parody of Wikipedia's NPOV.

* Aquentravalkeration was practiced by the now extinct Nitenmangrey culture.
* The Nitenmangrey culture flourished in the Third Epoch.
* Third Epoch documents are currently undeciphered, and comprised of hieroglyphs.
* The term "Aquentravalkeration" was coined by Supetupheraraphes.
* The Nitenmangrey had shamans and Paramount Queens.
* Rancticirchiretic is another scholar of the Nitenmangrey.
* Oblibestircus is another, less creditable, scholar of the Nitenmangrey.

Long names, lots of facts, bits of interspersed Latin, a complex plot, a parody, and all-in-all a very clearly jcowan authored entry!

===Arariax (person)===

Discussion summary: a post that spent a long time in production, it's non-limiting and links in fairly well to the whimsy of the world and even some details, but the invention of yet another timesystem, and the fancy-free nature of the post in general is dubious.

* Arariax the poet was born at 3237.170 UGT in the Evesque Valley.
* Arariax wrote "The Deathbug" and "Why the Free Bird loves Tallow" at least.

Remarkably fact-free, apart from the claim that Arariax was the greatest Ghyll poet (and the short sci-fi based contrived name), this is a post which can easily be integrated into the feel of Ghyll as it stands in its most cohesive parts.

===Avazian Box (invention)===

Discussion summary: Pixel slightly convolutes and constrains Ghyll with this entry, adding a timeframe, various technologies, and an entire race of people.

* The Avazians flourished in the First Epoch.
* The Avazians were metalworkers.
* The Avazians engineered many magnetic propulsion weapons.
* There were at least three Avazian (presumably civil) Wars.
* Avazians have very few males in the population, possibly due to the Wars.
* The Blackguard Avazians are a team of primarily female Avazian scientists.
* A nanit appears to be a unit of measurement, but may be of magnetic flux.
* Avazian Boxes dissipate magnetic devices (including weapons) over a large radius.
* An Avazian Box was accidentally activated in the Third Epoch.

An ambiguous entry, this seems mainly detached from the rest of Ghyll, and was written independently by pixel. Nontheless, this is a clean slate turn, and the entry is internally consistent.

===Quezlarian numerals (system)===

Discussion summary: the prototype test entry from the ur-Ghyll, carried over to this wiki since we're rather proud of it--constituting, as it does, much of the substance of nine months of work on Ghyll!

* Morphous Ibb wrote to the Folktown Records, and was published in #578.
* Tim Timperton is on staff at the Folktown Records.
* Ghyll's core script has aesthetic problems.
* Quezlar 6 invented Quezlarian Numerals; it is popularly believed that he didn't.
* Quezlar 6 was married to Violetta.
* Tim Timperton used to be a high ranking member of the Folktown Records.

For a short entry, it has quite a bit of pith.

==The State of the Art of Ghyll==

The entries as they stand at the moment are highly disparate: Quezlarian Numerals and Agony Uncle are strongly linked, and Andelphracian Lights is weakly linked with Agony Uncle and the Land of Alezan. Other than that, and the lifting of Altox Bulb from Andelphracian Lights, there's no interdependence to speak of. Epochs are mentioned in both Aquentravalkeration and Avezian Box, but even then Avezian Box had to be edited slightly for consistency.

===Geography of Ghyll===

We discern from Alezan and Andelphracian Lights that part of Ghyll is forested; from Alezan and Avazian Box we learn that there are wastelands, but apart from the city in Altox Bulb and the gardens in Agony Uncle, landscape is not mentioned. Andelphracian Lights mentions mires and quayres too.

===History of Ghyll===

Ghyll is a mess already. We have at least three Epochs, a century numering system where the 15th Century is apparently past and the 25th Century yet to come, and the UGT scheme. We should have had at least a general consensus that the past is difficult to gain knowledge from--but Alarius and Avazian Box are in conflict with Alezan, Andelphracian Lights, and Aquentravalkeration. Alezan and Aquentravalkeration both mention far off epochs that little is known about, and Andelphracian Lights mentions a lack of knowledge past fifty years; Avazian Box mentions a fair amount of detail for a race in the First Epoch (First! even though we know little of jcowan's Third Epoch race, nor crschmidt's "distant past" Alezan inhabitants), and Alarius alludes to probably at least a hundred years in the past, and probably more due to its obvious renaissance period basis. It may be the case that we can ask for Alarius to be updated under Earth Parody rule enforcement, but Avazian Box is a much more difficult proposition.

===People of Ghyll===

We have some interesting characters shaping up. Windsor Creame, Bavarian Creame, Daniel Mboya, Madam Calvian, Alarius, Phennella, Professor Altoxian, Bunny Hutch, Siam Sinch, Andelphracia, Margaret Widderson, Quezlar 6, Bysted Timperton, Supetupheraraphes, Rancticirchiretic, Oblibestircus, Morphous Ibb, Tim Timperton, Violetta, and a handful of other supporting characters have been defined just on this first turn. Pixel's entry appears to be the only one that doesn't specifically name at least one person. Many of these are related, and some have roots in the ur-Ghyll, so they shape up for some excellent future exploration in terms of plot and character.

===Politics of Ghyll===

Very sparsely mentioned at the moment, but some inferences are possible. In Agony Uncle, the arrest of Windsor Creame suggests a police force in the region of the Folktown Records's office. Andelphracia was a mayoress, so towns have people running them. There is a general order to Ghyll, and one which does not yet appear to diverge from general earth practices. There is a rather more autonomous feel to Ghyll, though, as though there is no overarching control: the rural areas tend to be cooperative within themselves, and museums and organized cities with councils indicate order; the fact that quite a few of the entries are historical and that the Ghyll Encyclopaedia itself is being written by a team of (scrappy, at present!) scholars indicates the same kind of locally-regularised control.

===Technology of Ghyll===

Very inconsistent. We have the rural technologies of the lights contrasting with huge past towers and magnetic propulsion technologies contrasting with frescos and newspaper offices. We have cities whose bulbs are tied together with rope. Very much a mess, and perhaps ought to be addressed alongside the historical/timeframe proclamation that Morbus is to issue.

===Education of Ghyll===

The folk of Ghyll are obviously quite well educated: they invent, they write, and they produce publications. One of the probably lesser noticed points about Ghyll so far is that we have mentioned a staggering amount of publications: Folktown Records, Encyclopaedia of Lost Lore, Cranee Historical Society records (inferred), Quester and Phorrus, The Fylesgate Annals, the Third Epoch documents of the Nitenmangrey, and of course the Ghyll Encyclopaedia itself! We have more than one research council, and even a historical society and museum. If this trend continues, Ghyll is going to have to have its educational system explained rather well. It may just be that, since we're scholars, we tend to have a scholarly bias--of course--and that most inhabitants are of a more mundane nature. The arts are emphacised in Arnia's entry, with an allusion to past theatre productions.

===Culture of Ghyll===

The names used in Ghyll so far display interesting origins: Mboya (African), Alarius (Latin), Bavarian Creame (German; bizarre), Tim Timperton (English), Alezan (sci-fi), Aquentravalkeration (...good flipping grief!), Andelphracian (phenomicity), Phennella (parody). The cultures and races seem, however, to have an interesting characteristic: the whimsical "quaint British, with hints of invention" names are all contemporary. Tim Timperton, Mrs. Widderson, Bysted Timperton (any relation to Tim?), Bavarian Creame. The historical names are long forms, and often comprised of only single words. The older races have their Alarius, Quezlar 6, and Nitenmangrey. The only two exceptions are of the scholar names that jcowan has used (though there's nothing to say that those are contemporary scholars!), and perhaps the Professor Altoxian of Robbi's, though that's at least two words if not quaint. His cityscape is removed from the rest of Ghyll as it stands anyway, so that might be a regional thing. We can assume that Phennella has a surname.

----

Abandoned: Quirks of Ghyll; These probably need tracking already! We have quayres, glitterthought, vorpcaras, etc.

Issue: Alezan, Alarius, Altox, Arariax, Avazian? Starting to think that some of these ought to be changed outright. All of them except for "Agony uncle" show a yearning to coin new names, but when seven out of eight entries do that, I think that's a bad precedent for future turns. Discussed this [http://swhack.com/logs/2004-09-01#T23-51-59 on IRC] with Morbus.

@@ Styles of the entries, time systems, the geography, characters, inventions, themes.

--[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 19:11, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

User:Sbp/notepad

2004-09-02T04:18:43Z

D8uv: Wikification!

In this notepad currently are a couple of experiments: firstly, I round up all of the normative bits of information that collectively make up the spoken and unspoken rules of Ghyll; secondly, I read the current entries and try to extract the facts and links between them.

'''It's the law!''' - The idea of drafting a set of rules that are extremely concise and extremely to-the-point is a commendable one, but I think we've overdone it by a huge margin. Here I'd like to explore some alternative methods that I can then propose to Morbus and the other players, in the hope that we can come up with something a little more inclusive of all the house styles etc.

'''What Goes On?''' - As I said in the [[Lexicon discussion]], it'd be nice if once per turn we could issue a canonical summary of what's been going on in the definitionry. Once per round we could have a really large summary, but in any case, it'd be nice for me personally to go through and really understand what's been defined so far.

==Those That Are Rules of Ghyll==

The playing of the game of Ghyll consists of a set of augmentations over time to an Encyclopaedia describing the Ghyll world. There may be other, related, canonical activities, but these rules define play only as it concerns the Encyclopaedia.

(@@ Currently draughting this as a set of "truths", i.e. statements of rules that are as atomic as possible. Hopefully then some structure can be discerned.)

Definitions:

# The '''Encyclopaedia''' is the Ghyll Encyclopaedia hosted on this, the gamegrene.com wiki.
# The '''game''' shall be taken to mean the game of Ghyll as regards the Encyclopaedia.
# A '''phantom''' is an entry which has been cited but not yet written.
# A '''dib''' is the process of reserving a phantom with a short statement expressing the intention of creating that entry, in the place where the entry is to be created.

Rules:

* Turns:
# A game consists of a series of turns.
# The turns of the game start with "A", progress through the English alphabet to "Z", and restart at "A".
# New players may join on any turn, at any point in the turn.
# Turns progress according to the calendar maintained by the administrators of the game, which should be agreeable to player consensus.
* Entries:
# Scholars shall dib, and then write, one entry per turn.
# Scholars that have dibbed entries must write those entries before the end of the turn.
# Scholars may write, and revise, their entries at any point in the turn.
# Each entry written by a scholar must have a title beginning with the current turn's letter.
# Each entry written by a scholar shall cite two phantom entries.
# Each entry written by a scholar after the first turn of the game shall cite at least one existing entry.
# Scholars shall neither cite themselves, nor write phantoms they cited first.
# All phantoms for a letter shall be written before new entries are created for that letter.

@@ Morbus text: "Neither of these three citations can be terms you've created or written." - dubious. What's the difference between linking and citing again?

@@ However, if you've properly met these requirements, your entry can certainly refer to other terms in the Ghyll encyclopedia, including those you've personally written. These "other terms", however, MUST have been previously defined or created.

@@ Stuff from IRC, general mumblings of Morbus. Really, rule creating for Ghyll is somewhat of a Morbus observation activity since he seems to be pretty certain about what the rules should be (and with good reason since this is his idea, and he's read all of the initial rules and done the legwork in finding out how previous lexicons have done); the rest of us need to be just as certain as well.

==Those That Are Summaries of Ghyll==

The first turn consists of at least the following eleven entries:

* [[Agony uncle]] (phrase)
* [[Alarius]] (person)
* [[Alezan]] (land)
* [[Alezanians]] (group)
* [[Altox bulb]] (invention)
* [[Amphitheatre aristocracy]] (group)
* [[Andelphracian Lights]] (invention)
* [[Aquentravalkeration]] (practice)
* [[Arariax]] (person)
* [[Avazian Box]] (invention)
* [[Quezlarian numerals]] (system)

Note that [[Quezlarian numerals]] has been included as the initial test entry, but is irregular with the rules as they stand (equity).

===Agony Uncle (phrase)===

Discussion summary: Morbus's entry, and a good one as expected. He establishes the existence of the Folktown Records--which is carried over from the original wiki, and hence the ur-Ghyll--and then segues into a little intriguing plot which forms an excellent basis for further development.

* The Folktown Records is weekly newspaper.
* There are over 600 editions of the Folktown Records; hence it is roughly a dozen years old.
* Windsor Creame works at the Folktown Records.
* Windsor Creame is 57 years old.
* Windsor Creame is married to Bavarian Creame; they have been married for seven years.
* Windsor Creame has a (young) nephew called Daniel Mboya; hence he must have a brother or sister.
* The Folktown Records offices are surrounded by gardens.
* The Folktown Records, presumably, employ a gardener.
* Madam Calvian is a neighbour to a Folktown Records employee.
* Windsor Creame was "detained and brought in for questioning"; hence there must be a police force.

There are also a series of nuances that can't really be captured as facts: why, for example, did the transcriber take down the conversation? Is that related to Mboya turning up in Madam Calvian's?

===Alarius, renaissance man===

Discussion summary: from an unknown author comes this highly renaissance-inspired entry. Though short, it sets an interesting intellectual bar for Ghyll. It's an historical account of a particular person. It seems to espouse a conspiracy theory.

* Alarius was a C15 renaissance figure.
* Alarius held a conspirational view of history.
* The Bureau of Forgotten Knowledge published the Encyclopaedia of Lost Lore.
* Alarius painted a fresco at the Palace of Lost Souls.

There's also a nice plot hook in here that has room for development--that of the mysterious lady and the sudden urge on Alarius's behalf to want to travel.

===The Land of Alezan===

Discussion summary: crschmidt here comes up with his opening entry, which is geographical in the abstract, but focusses on some more granular features. He links in with the game as it has currently been played, and alludes to a distant past for Ghyll.

* Alezan is a land to the west of the Evesque Valley.
* Alezan is forested, and was inhabited by an old race who built a large twin tower structure.
* Alezan is either sparsely or non-populated, and visited only rarely (mainly by children).
* The Cranee Historical Society have investigated Alezan's past.
* Phennella is a member of the Cranee Historical Society.
* A vorpcara is a relic which may be embedded in the ground.
* Alezan (or Cranee) has a nearby museum which houses a vorpcara.

It's a careful entry, with substantive information, and yet only a passing reference to time, and very thin details when it comes to the historical society, the museum, the vorpcara etc., which makes it easier for scholars to define those terms, and restricts the world less at this point.

===Alezanians (group)===

Discussion summary: a short, funny entry from a passing browser who may yet turn out to be a regular contributor.

* Bobby Shwarmph lives close to the Land of Alezan.
* The Alezanians are a conspiracy-theory style putatively extant group.
* Bobby Shwarmph runs the Aliens Everywhere magazine.

Displays an odd juxtaposition of slapdashry and understanding of the current corpora, but nevertheless overall holds together well. Ties in extremely well with a couple of entries: Agony Uncle and Alezan.

===Altox bulb (invention)===

Discussion summary: Robbi's entry, over which I mildly grumble.

* The Altox, or Altoxian, Bulb was invented by Professor Altoxian.
* Professor Altoxian is a resident of the city of Iganefta.
* Professor Altoxian is well acquianted with the lower class.
* Altox Bulbs are created from a jelly mined from deep under Iganefta.
* The Azura Mines have a stream of the jelly, it is rumoured.
* There are Adrizian sections of the Iganefta which apparently can access the jelly stream.

A clear lift of Andelphracian Lights, and the first entry to mention a city. More mild grumbling.

===Amphitheatre Aristocracy (group)===

Discussion summary: Arnia's entry, written after the first draft of these summaries, and with a care and diligence that sets it apart from possibly all others. It's close in keeping with Agony Uncle and Quezlarian Numerals, but takes a slightly different social view.

* The Amphitheatre Aristocracy are a group based in Folktown.
* The Houvers are a lower-class dissident group opposed to decadence.
* The Amphitheatre Aristocracy meet weekly at the Folktown Amphitheatre.
* Theatre used to be popular in Ghyll, but is much less so now.
* Burnfly swarms can be sculpted (no, really).
* Bunny Hutch is a famed performance artist.
* Siam Sinch, daughter of Bavarian Creame from a previous marriage, does glitterthought.
* Statues were made recently of the, possibly mythical, Alezan Pantheon.
* Folktown has its own city council.
* The Amphitheatre Aristocracy provides scholarships.

This is a careful entry that reinforces the small and distributed political feel to Ghyll, whilst expanding on the whimsy (Bunny Hutch), and linking to other entries. It also imposes a couple of constraints of its own, that of a high-class academia, which is possibly a fair exchange.

===Andelphracian Lights (invention)===

Discussion summary: my entry, and one which was carefully crafted out of pieces from the ur-Ghyll, some other previous endeavours, and new material. It attempts to be as micro an entry as possible, though it has to introduce some new concepts. It's based in rurality, but discusses the lights and their utility for the most part.

* Andelphracian Lights, or Andelights, were invented by Andelphracia.
* Andelphracian Lights are used to set a return path across difficult terrain at night.
* Margaret Widderson is an Andelight craftswoman.
* The Evesque Valley has quayres which contain materials used to make Andelphracian Lights.
* Andelphracia was the mayoress of the now lost Fylesgate.
* Fylesgate was likely in the Evesque Valley.
* The Fefferberry is used as an ingredient in making Andelphracian Lights.
* Quezlar 6 may have used the lights in crossing the Elminster Mire.
* Bysted Timperton of the Council for Quezlarian Research may write in Quester and Phorrus soon.
* The Fylesgate Annals allude to the invention of Andelphracian Lights.
* The term "Andelphracian Lights" can't be antedated back more than fifty years.

This is the longest entry so far of this turn, and has correspondingly quite a bit of information, though apart from the setting, some small history elements, and the dating, it's not too limiting.

===Aquentravalkeration (practice)===

Discussion summary: jcowan's entry, and apparently a parody of Wikipedia's NPOV.

* Aquentravalkeration was practiced by the now extinct Nitenmangrey culture.
* The Nitenmangrey culture flourished in the Third Epoch.
* Third Epoch documents are currently undeciphered, and comprised of hieroglyphs.
* The term "Aquentravalkeration" was coined by Supetupheraraphes.
* The Nitenmangrey had shamans and Paramount Queens.
* Rancticirchiretic is another scholar of the Nitenmangrey.
* Oblibestircus is another, less creditable, scholar of the Nitenmangrey.

Long names, lots of facts, bits of interspersed Latin, a complex plot, a parody, and all-in-all a very clearly jcowan authored entry!

===Arariax (person)===

Discussion summary: a post that spent a long time in production, it's non-limiting and links in fairly well to the whimsy of the world and even some details, but the invention of yet another timesystem, and the fancy-free nature of the post in general is dubious.

* Arariax the poet was born at 3237.170 UGT in the Evesque Valley.
* Arariax wrote "The Deathbug" and "Why the Free Bird loves Tallow" at least.

Remarkably fact-free, apart from the claim that Arariax was the greatest Ghyll poet (and the short sci-fi based contrived name), this is a post which can easily be integrated into the feel of Ghyll as it stands in its most cohesive parts.

===Avazian Box (invention)===

Discussion summary: Pixel slightly convolutes and constrains Ghyll with this entry, adding a timeframe, various technologies, and an entire race of people.

* The Avazians flourished in the First Epoch.
* The Avazians were metalworkers.
* The Avazians engineered many magnetic propulsion weapons.
* There were at least three Avazian (presumably civil) Wars.
* Avazians have very few males in the population, possibly due to the Wars.
* The Blackguard Avazians are a team of primarily female Avazian scientists.
* A nanit appears to be a unit of measurement, but may be of magnetic flux.
* Avazian Boxes dissipate magnetic devices (including weapons) over a large radius.
* An Avazian Box was accidentally activated in the Third Epoch.

An ambiguous entry, this seems mainly detached from the rest of Ghyll, and was written independently by pixel. Nontheless, this is a clean slate turn, and the entry is internally consistent.

===Quezlarian numerals (system)===

Discussion summary: the prototype test entry from the ur-Ghyll, carried over to this wiki since we're rather proud of it--constituting, as it does, much of the substance of nine months of work on Ghyll!

* Morphous Ibb wrote to the Folktown Records, and was published in #578.
* Tim Timperton is on staff at the Folktown Records.
* Ghyll's core script has aesthetic problems.
* Quezlar 6 invented Quezlarian Numerals; it is popularly believed that he didn't.
* Quezlar 6 was married to Violetta.
* Tim Timperton used to be a high ranking member of the Folktown Records.

For a short entry, it has quite a bit of pith.

==The State of the Art of Ghyll==

The entries as they stand at the moment are highly disparate: Quezlarian Numerals and Agony Uncle are strongly linked, and Andelphracian Lights is weakly linked with Agony Uncle and the Land of Alezan. Other than that, and the lifting of Altox Bulb from Andelphracian Lights, there's no interdependence to speak of. Epochs are mentioned in both Aquentravalkeration and Avezian Box, but even then Avezian Box had to be edited slightly for consistency.

===Geography of Ghyll===

We discern from Alezan and Andelphracian Lights that part of Ghyll is forested; from Alezan and Avazian Box we learn that there are wastelands, but apart from the city in Altox Bulb and the gardens in Agony Uncle, landscape is not mentioned. Andelphracian Lights mentions mires and quayres too.

===History of Ghyll===

Ghyll is a mess already. We have at least three Epochs, a century numering system where the 15th Century is apparently past and the 25th Century yet to come, and the UGT scheme. We should have had at least a general consensus that the past is difficult to gain knowledge from--but Alarius and Avazian Box are in conflict with Alezan, Andelphracian Lights, and Aquentravalkeration. Alezan and Aquentravalkeration both mention far off epochs that little is known about, and Andelphracian Lights mentions a lack of knowledge past fifty years; Avazian Box mentions a fair amount of detail for a race in the First Epoch (First! even though we know little of jcowan's Third Epoch race, nor crschmidt's "distant past" Alezan inhabitants), and Alarius alludes to probably at least a hundred years in the past, and probably more due to its obvious renaissance period basis. It may be the case that we can ask for Alarius to be updated under Earth Parody rule enforcement, but Avazian Box is a much more difficult proposition.

===People of Ghyll===

We have some interesting characters shaping up. Windsor Creame, Bavarian Creame, Daniel Mboya, Madam Calvian, Alarius, Phennella, Professor Altoxian, Bunny Hutch, Siam Sinch, Andelphracia, Margaret Widderson, Quezlar 6, Bysted Timperton, Supetupheraraphes, Rancticirchiretic, Oblibestircus, Morphous Ibb, Tim Timperton, Violetta, and a handful of other supporting characters have been defined just on this first turn. Pixel's entry appears to be the only one that doesn't specifically name at least one person. Many of these are related, and some have roots in the ur-Ghyll, so they shape up for some excellent future exploration in terms of plot and character.

===Politics of Ghyll===

Very sparsely mentioned at the moment, but some inferences are possible. In Agony Uncle, the arrest of Windsor Creame suggests a police force in the region of the Folktown Records's office. Andelphracia was a mayoress, so towns have people running them. There is a general order to Ghyll, and one which does not yet appear to diverge from general earth practices. There is a rather more autonomous feel to Ghyll, though, as though there is no overarching control: the rural areas tend to be cooperative within themselves, and museums and organized cities with councils indicate order; the fact that quite a few of the entries are historical and that the Ghyll Encyclopaedia itself is being written by a team of (scrappy, at present!) scholars indicates the same kind of locally-regularised control.

===Technology of Ghyll===

Very inconsistent. We have the rural technologies of the lights contrasting with huge past towers and magnetic propulsion technologies contrasting with frescos and newspaper offices. We have cities whose bulbs are tied together with rope. Very much a mess, and perhaps ought to be addressed alongside the historical/timeframe proclamation that Morbus is to issue.

===Education of Ghyll===

The folk of Ghyll are obviously quite well educated: they invent, they write, and they produce publications. One of the probably lesser noticed points about Ghyll so far is that we have mentioned a staggering amount of publications: Folktown Records, Encyclopaedia of Lost Lore, Cranee Historical Society records (inferred), Quester and Phorrus, The Fylesgate Annals, the Third Epoch documents of the Nitenmangrey, and of course the Ghyll Encyclopaedia itself! We have more than one research council, and even a historical society and museum. If this trend continues, Ghyll is going to have to have its educational system explained rather well. It may just be that, since we're scholars, we tend to have a scholarly bias--of course--and that most inhabitants are of a more mundane nature. The arts are emphacised in Arnia's entry, with an allusion to past theatre productions.

===Culture of Ghyll===

The names used in Ghyll so far display interesting origins: Mboya (African), Alarius (Latin), Bavarian Creame (German; bizarre), Tim Timperton (English), Alezan (sci-fi), Aquentravalkeration (...good flipping grief!), Andelphracian (phenomicity), Phennella (parody). The cultures and races seem, however, to have an interesting characteristic: the whimsical "quaint British, with hints of invention" names are all contemporary. Tim Timperton, Mrs. Widderson, Bysted Timperton (any relation to Tim?), Bavarian Creame. The historical names are long forms, and often comprised of only single words. The older races have their Alarius, Quezlar 6, and Nitenmangrey. The only two exceptions are of the scholar names that jcowan has used (though there's nothing to say that those are contemporary scholars!), and perhaps the Professor Altoxian of Robbi's, though that's at least two words if not quaint. His cityscape is removed from the rest of Ghyll as it stands anyway, so that might be a regional thing. We can assume that Phennella has a surname.

----

Abandoned: Quirks of Ghyll; These probably need tracking already! We have quayres, glitterthought, vorpcaras, etc.

Issue: Alezan, Alarius, Altox, Arariax, Avazian? Starting to think that some of these ought to be changed outright. All of them except for "Agony uncle" show a yearning to coin new names, but when seven out of eight entries do that, I think that's a bad precedent for future turns. Discussed this [http://swhack.com/logs/2004-09-01#T23-51-59 on IRC] with Morbus.

@@ Styles of the entries, time systems, the geography, characters, inventions, themes.

--[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] 19:11, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Ghyll:Arariax

2004-09-02T04:03:28Z

D8uv: Changing date

'''Arariax''', born -100/3/2 EC, was one of Ghyll's most influential poets.
Poeting in close to every style, on the subject of close to anything, his
notebooks reveal an evident truth close to everyone who reads it. Rumor has it
he was so good at poetry, that even the way he talked, and even his shopping
list are all works of art prized by literary scholars.

<blockquote>
One box of Soap, to cleanse myself.<br />
Some tomes of Old, to rear myself.<br />
3 sacks of Beans, to fill myself.<br />
And some Rear Paper, to cleanse myself again.
</blockquote>

Another one of his poems, "The [[Deathbug]]", retells a story about his encounter with a [[Deathbug|deathbug]] in a style that has been copied ruthlessly since it was first penned.

<blockquote>
I went to a picnic with sister<br />
Then that bug did come here to pester.<br />
The bug then did sting,<br />
'Twas the darndest thing,<br />
I don't think she can get more deader.
</blockquote>

While in exile, the style of the poetry there seemed to greatly influence his last publication, "Why the Free Bird loves Tallow". His peculiar habit of releasing 64 poems at a time, combined with the fact that the regional style was unusually terse, made this less of a book and more like a large pamphlet. He speaks of his birthplace, the [[Evesque Valley]], and its archeological role.

<blockquote>
Home of adventure.<br />
Brave souls venture into lands<br />
of great loneliness
</blockquote>

'''Citations:''' [[Deathbug]], [[Evesque Valley]].

--[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 23:22, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Ghyll:Ghyll Index

2004-09-02T03:41:02Z

D8uv: Adding myself

The following is a list of all encyclopedia entries, who originally phantomed them, and the entry author.
<br />As a player, don't worry about maintaining this list - the admins can take care of it if you forget.

==Phantom Entries==

<br /><table border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3">
<tr>
<th>Entry Name</th><th>Phantomed by</th><th>Notes</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[Alezan pantheon]]</td><td>[[User:Arnia|Fingest Arnia]]</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td>[[Aliens Everywhere]]</td><td>[[User:tehwalrus|Edward Shwarmph]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Bavarian Creame]]</td><td>[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Bobby Shwarmph]]</td><td>[[User:tehwalrus|Edward Shwarmph]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Bureau of Forgotten Knowledge]]</td><td>[[User:Bartmoss|Bartmoss]]</td><td>-</td>
<tr><td>[[Burnflies]]</td><td>[[User:Arnia|Fingest Arnia]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Bysted Timperton]]</td><td>[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Council for Quezlarian Research]]</td><td>[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]]</td><td>Original test phantom.</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Cranee Historical Society]]</td><td>[[User:Crschmidt|Christopher Schmidt]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Deathbug]]</td><td>[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Evesque Valley]]</td><td>[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Folktown Records]]</td><td>[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Iganefta]]</td><td>[[User:Robbi|Makarii Spitignev]]</td><td>-</td>
<tr><td>[[Nanit]]</td><td>[[User:Pixel|Eric Vitiello]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Nitanmangrey]]</td><td>[[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Palace of Lost Souls]]</td><td>[[User:Bartmoss|Bartmoss]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Professor Altoxian]]</td><td>[[User:Robbi|Makarii Spitignev]]</td><td>-</td>
<tr><td>[[Quester and Phorrus]]</td><td>[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Supetupheraraphes]]</td><td>[[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Third Avazian War]]</td><td>[[User:Pixel|Eric Vitiello]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Vorpcara]]</td><td>[[User:Crschmidt|Christopher Schmidt]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
</table>

==Encyclopaedic Entries==

<br /><table border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3">
<tr>
<th>Entry Name</th><th>Phantomed by</th><th>Defined by</th><th>Notes</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[Agony uncle]]</td><td>[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]]</td><td>[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]]</td><td>Original test phantom.</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Alarius]]</td><td>-</td><td>[[User:Bartmoss|Bartmoss]]</td><td>-</td>
<tr><td>[[Alezan]]</td><td>-</td><td>[[User:Crschmidt|Christopher Schmidt]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Alezanians]]</td><td>-</td><td>[[User:tehwalrus|Edward Shwarmph]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Altox bulb]]</td><td>-</td><td>[[User:Robbi|Makarii Spitignev]]</td><td>-</td>
<tr><td>[[Amphitheatre aristocracy]]</td><td>-</td><td>[[User:Arnia|Fingest Arnia]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Andelphracian Lights]]</td><td>-</td><td>[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Aquentravalkeration]]</td><td>-</td><td>[[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Arariax]]</td><td>-</td><td>[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Avazian Box]]</td><td>-</td><td>[[User:Pixel|Eric Vitiello]]</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Quezlarian numerals]]</td><td>-</td><td>[[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]]</td><td>Original test entry.</td>
</table>

User:D8uv

2004-09-02T03:37:55Z

D8uv: Adding meta talk! We love meta-talk!

I am d8uv! So uncool! He has a [http://purl.org/net/d8uv/ crappy page], and a [http://d8uv.com less crappy website]! He is emphatic! And Broken Sentences! He lives! In Alaska! A friend to all [[User:Sbp|Sean]]s and [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbii]] everywhere! He plays as the poorly-named Melik Fizzuo! He also made the Ghyll Logo!

==Scholar:Melik Fizzuo==
'''Melik Fizzuo''' was born and raised in the poor section of the poorest large city, Fadr. His upbringing got him a lot of degenerate streetrat friends, who know a lot of illicit material. Now in his one room converted shoe-makers store headquarters, he combines the collective knowledge of his network of hoodlums with the little licit material he knows. He has intense hatred with the [[Amphitheatre aristocracy]] and the Encyclopedants. He is quoted as saying, "Buncha rich elitist jerks. If they suddenly get half a clue, it would be a new record high." With shiny hair, tattered clothing, a pleasent foul odor, and actual soda-bottle glasses, he serves as Ghyll's poorest researcher.

Ghyll:Arariax

2004-09-02T03:22:56Z

D8uv:

'''Arariax''', born 3237.170 UGT, was one of Ghyll's most influential poets.
Poeting in close to every style, on the subject of close to anything, his
notebooks reveal an evident truth close to everyone who reads it. Rumor has it
he was so good at poetry, that even the way he talked, and even his shopping
list are all works of art prized by literary scholars.

<blockquote>
One box of Soap, to cleanse myself.<br />
Some tomes of Old, to rear myself.<br />
3 sacks of Beans, to fill myself.<br />
And some Rear Paper, to cleanse myself again.
</blockquote>

Another one of his poems, "The [[Deathbug]]", retells a story about his encounter with a [[deathbug]] in a style that has been copied ruthlessly since it was first penned.

<blockquote>
I went to a picnic with sister<br />
Then that bug did come here to pester.<br />
The bug then did sting,<br />
'Twas the darndest thing,<br />
I don't think she can get more deader.
</blockquote>

While in exile, the style of the poetry there seemed to greatly influence his last publication, "Why the Free Bird loves Tallow". His peculiar habit of releasing 64 poems at a time, combined with the fact that the regional style was unusually terse, made this less of a book and more like a large pamphlet. He speaks of his birthplace, the [[Evesque Valley]], and it's role in archeology.

<blockquote>
Home of adventure.<br />
Brave souls venture into lands<br />
of great loneliness
</blockquote>

'''Citations:''' [[Deathbug]], [[Evesque Valley]].

--[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 23:22, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

User:D8uv/notepad

2004-09-02T02:54:11Z

D8uv:

'''Arariax''', born 3237.170 UGT, was one of Ghyll's most influential poets.
Poeting in close to every style, on the subject of close to anything, his
notebook reveals an evident truth close to everyone who reads it. Rumor has it
he was so good at poetry, that even the way he talked, and even his shopping
list are all works of art prized by literary scholars.

<blockquote>
One box of Soap, to cleanse myself.<br />
Some tomes of Old, to rear myself.<br />
3 sacks of Beans, to fill myself.<br />
And some Rear paper, to cleanse myself again.
</blockquote>

Another one of his poems, "The [[Deathbug]]", retells a story about his encounter with a [[deathbug]] in a style that has been copied ruthlessly since it was first penned.

<blockquote>
I went to a picnic with sister
Then that bug did come here to pester.
The bug then did sting,
'Twas the darndest thing,
I don't think she can get more deader.
</blockquote>

User:D8uv/notepad

2004-09-01T22:57:28Z

D8uv:

'''Arariax Mane''', born 3237.170 UGT, was Ghyll's most influential poet.
Poeting in close to every style, on the subject of close to anything, his
notebook reveals an evident truth close to everyone who reads it. Rumor has it
he was so good at poetry, that even the way he talked, and even his shopping
list are all works of art prized by literary scholars.

<blockquote>
One box of Soap, to cleanse myself.<br />
Some tomes of Old, to rear myself.<br />
3 sacks of Beans, to fill myself.<br />
And some Rear paper, to cleanse myself again.
</blockquote>

His most famous poem, "Serious Stinger", is about the [[Deathbug]].

--[[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzou]] 18:57, 1 Sep 2004 (EDT)

Ghyll:Main Page

2004-09-01T22:02:32Z

D8uv: FAQ #2 in the Game Rules.

Welcome to the world of Ghyll. The basic idea is that each player takes on the role of a scholar, from before scholarly pursuits became professionalized (or possibly after they ceased to be). You are cranky, opinionated, prejudiced, and eccentric. You are also collaborating with a number of your peers -- the other players -- on the construction of an encyclopedia about Ghyll.

<div style="background-color:#f2f2f2;border:1px solid #ccc;float:right;padding:0.5em;width:200px;">
<strong>Letter "A" Spotlights:</strong>
* [[Agony uncle]]
* [[Andelphracian Lights]]
* [[Aquentravalkeration]]
See all entries in [[Ghyll Index]].
</div>

Despite the fact that your peers are self-important, narrow-minded dunderheads, they are honest scholars. No matter how strained their interpretations are, their facts are accurate as historical research can make them. So if you cite an entry, you have to treat its factual content as true! (Though you can argue vociferously with the interpretation and introduce new facts that shade the interpretation.)

* '''[[Current events|Next deadline]]''': September 10th (midnight), letter A. For this turn, scholars<br />'''create ONE entry starting with the letter A, with only TWO phantoms.'''
* [[Current events]]: News and further information about the state of play.
* [[Lexicon discussion]]: Talk about the game, rules, questions, and OOG concerns.

==Game Rules==

New players may join in at any time. If you have questions, [[Lexicon discussion|check the FAQ or ask here]].

# Scholars shall ''dib'' (reserve), and then write, one entry per turn. Turns loop from A to Z.
# Entries shall cite two ''phantom'' (unwritten) entries and, after the first turn, one or more existing entry.
# Scholars shall neither cite themselves, nor write phantoms they cited first.
# All phantoms for a letter shall be written before new entries are created for that letter.

The core of the game is based on [http://www.20by20room.com/2003/11/lexicon_an_rpg.html Neel Krishnaswami's "Lexicon: an RPG"].

Ghyll is different from previous Lexicons ([http://paranoia.allenvarney.com/index.cgi/ParanoiaLexicon The Toothpaste Disaster], [http://www.respectstartstomorrow.com/oceanwiki/HomePage Nobilis], etc.) because there is no pre-existing world for entries to derive from. We don't know if the world of Ghyll is fantasy, cyberpunk, sci-fi, horror, or all of the above. Ghyll is a blank slate, and will be defined and finessed by our entries. Anything goes until everyone knows.

===Example of Play===

# On the first turn, [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] defines his one entry for the letter A: [[Andelphracian Lights]] (Rule 1).
# In [[Andelphracian Lights]], he creates two phantoms: [[Bysted Timperton]] and [[Quester and Phorrus]] (Rule 2).
# [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]] may never define [[Bysted Timperton]] and [[Quester and Phorrus]] now. (Rule 3).
# On the next turn, all phantoms for the letter B (like [[Bysted Timperton]]) must be defined (Rule 4).

==How To Participate==

To join the other scholars documenting Ghyll, [[Special:Userlogin|create an account and login]]. Defining a new entry is as simple as going to its URL or clicking any red links (''phantoms''). For example, to create "Crab apples", go to http://gamegrene.com/wiki/Crab_apples, click "edit", and begin typing your entry. More information about wiki syntax (creating headers, links, bold, italic, etc.) can be found at [[Wikipedia:Help:Editing]].

Each defined entry has a "discussion" page. When discussing an entry (in-game or not), do so on this discussion page and not the entry itself. Think of the discussion pages as the footnotes in the encyclopedia's margins. Be warned: other scholars may take heated issue with your comments!

Finally, consider writing a brief intro about your character/scholar (ex. [[User:MorbusIff|Morbus Iff]] and [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]]). This is NOT a "turn" - this is just you fleshing out your character, much like you'd do before a new tabletop campaign. You should not reference phantom links in your scholar description - just blurb a bio, and if entries happen to be defined later during play (by yourself or someone else), you can retroactively apply links.

User:D8uv

2004-08-31T04:38:33Z

D8uv: Shameless gloating.

User:D8uv

2004-08-30T19:36:09Z

D8uv: Adding player

User:D8uv

2004-08-30T19:13:29Z

D8uv: DO NOT LEAVE OUT THE MORBUS

User:D8uv

2004-08-30T19:07:36Z

D8uv: SO WEIRD!