Disobiki - User contributions [en]

Ghyll:Quentabulos

2005-09-13T22:34:47Z

Lankin:

The '''Quentabulos''' is a subject of much discussion, for though there are a barrage of theories to explain it, there is even more controversy as to the actual effects it produces. Indeed, very few have ever heard this rare musical instrument played, and much of what is known about it is pure guesswork made from poetry written by fans of its quirky yet rich and mellifluous tones. The only certain thing is that the device is powered in its entirety by a [[Qulirian Energy Converter]]. One of the most famous of these poems were written by the esteemed poet [[Dashpine]], which was deeply moved when he one night heard his wife [[Eixis Anos]] play the bulbous and crystalline construction. The poem reads as follows:

<blockquote>
Oh the queer Quentabulos, so full of qoo, 
the shivering tones drift over me as cows must moo, 
I know not what my heart may do, 
until I once again will spend my time with you. 
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
For you are not here, nor here has been, 
and never were you here, yet still is seen, 
the faintly throbbing sound produced 
by metallic crystals finely fused. 
</blockquote>

As one can guess by the text, the most strange and thought-provoking aspect of the Quentabulos is the fact that the music is generated days, weeks, and sometimes months before or after the instrument is played. Exact timing is an artform only ever mastered by a handful of people. Many believe that the [[theoalchemy|theoalchemical]] crystals utilized in the construction is to blame for this temporal effect, yet this would not usually account for the ways in which the tubing, made of purified [[Quezlarian Ooo]], coils like tentacles while played. Though this ability to transcend the rather mundane barrier of time has inspired many insipid poets, it has made the instrument most reviled and hated by orchestras across Ghyll. Nothing is quite as bad as having a Quentabulos-player join in, only to find out his performance isn't really heard until six days after the concert.

The sound of the Quentabulos has been likened to glass being smashed by repeated beatings with hammers, though this would hardly do the instrument justice. A few daring players of [[Quiver'n'bend]] have experimented with the Quentabulos, mainly because of the humorous alliteration, to varying degrees of success. Indeed, in the entire history of the instrument there has been only six successful public performances. This brings us to the most impressive and mind-bogglingly stupid piece of trivia when one discusses the Quentabulos: "The Queeging Qataract of Queen Qigara", a symphony composed by [[Trung Tro Hampher]] especially for the instrument in question. It is performed by playing the instrument at specific places and at specific times over the course of a month, and each performance must be expertly calculated, usually using advanced equations made with [[Quezlarian Numerals]]to achieve the desired result. If done correctly, one gather an audience at the calculated time and all the previous played pices will become audible at the same time, harmonizing as perfectly as if hundreds of Quentabuloses were being played in concert, even though not a single instrument need even be present. Of course, if even one part-performance is a tenth of a second off-beat the entire symphony will sound worse than a [[pyxie]] overdosing on chalk. It is possible to play this piece in reverse, that is, performing it after the effect has been generated, but none have been foolish enough to attempt it just yet.

'''Citations''': [[Qulirian Energy Converter]], [[Dashpine]], [[Trung Tro Hampher]].

--[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 18:22, 13 Sep 2005 (EDT)

[[Category:Inventions]]

Ghyll:Quentabulos

2005-09-13T22:33:26Z

Lankin: more formatting

The '''Quentabulos''' is a subject of much discussion, for though there are a barrage of theories to explain it, there is even more controversy as to the actual effects it produces. Indeed, very few have ever heard this rare musical instrument played, and much of what is known about it is pure guesswork made from poetry written by fans of its quirky yet rich and mellifluous tones. The only certain thing is that the device is powered in its entirety by a [[Qulirian Energy Converter]]. One of the most famous of these poems were written by the esteemed poet [[Dashpine]], which was deeply moved when he one night heard his wife [[Eixis Anos]] play the bulbous and crystalline construction. The poem reads as follows:

<blockquote>
Oh the queer Quentabulos, so full of qoo, 
the shivering tones drift over me as cows must moo, 
I know not what my heart may do, 
until I once again will spend my time with you. 
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
For you are not here, nor here has been, 
and never were you here, yet still is seen, 
the faintly throbbing sound produced 
by metallic crystals finely fused. 
</blockquote>

As one can guess by the text, the most strange and thought-provoking aspect of the Quentabulos is the fact that the music is generated days, weeks, and sometimes months before or after the instrument is played. Exact timing is an artform only ever mastered by a handful of people. Many believe that the [[theoalchemy|theoalchemical]] crystals utilized in the construction is to blame for this temporal effect, yet this would not usually account for the ways in which the tubing, made of purified [[Quezlarian Ooo]], coils like tentacles while played. Though this ability to transcend the rather mundane barrier of time has inspired many insipid poets, it has made the instrument most reviled and hated by orchestras across Ghyll. Nothing is quite as bad as having a Quentabulos-player join in, only to find out his performance isn't really heard until six days after the concert.

The sound of the Quentabulos has been likened to glass being smashed by repeated beatings with hammers, though this would hardly do the instrument justice. A few daring players of [[Quiver'n'bend]] have experimented with the Quentabulos, mainly because of the humorous alliteration, to varying degrees of success. Indeed, in the entire history of the instrument there has been only six successful public performances. This brings us to the most impressive and mind-bogglingly stupid piece of trivia when one discusses the Quentabulos: "The Queeging Qataract of Queen Qigara", a symphony composed by [[Trung Tro Hampher]] especially for the instrument in question. It is performed by playing the instrument at specific places and at specific times over the course of a month, and each performance must be expertly calculated, usually using advanced equations made with [[Quezlarian Numerals]]to achieve the desired result. If done correctly, one gather an audience at the calculated time and all the previous played pices will become audible at the same time, harmonizing as perfectly as if hundreds of Quentabuloses were being played in concert, even though not a single instrument need even be present. Of course, if even one part-performance is a tenth of a second off-beat the entire symphony will sound worse than a [[pyxie]] overdosing on chalk. It is possible to play this piece in reverse, that is, performing it after the effect has been generated, but none have been foolish enough to attempt it just yet.

'''Citations''': [[Qulirian Energy Converter]], [[Dashpine]], [[Trung Tro Hampher]].

--[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 18:22, 13 Sep 2005 (EDT)

[[Category:Inventions]]

Ghyll:Quentabulos

2005-09-13T22:29:32Z

Lankin: obscene misspellings removed

The '''Quentabulos''' is a subject of much discussion, for though there are a barrage of theories to explain it, there is even more controversy as to the actual effects it produces. Indeed, very few have ever heard this rare musical instrument played, and much of what is known about it is pure guesswork made from poetry written by fans of its quirky yet rich and mellifluous tones. The only certain thing is that the device is powered in its entirety by a [[Qulirian Energy Converter]]. One of the most famous of these poems were written by the esteemed poet [[Dashpine]], which was deeply moved when he one night heard his wife [[Eixis Anos]] play the bulbous and crystalline construction. The poem reads as follows:

Oh the queer Quentabulos, so full of qoo,
the shivering tones drift over me as cows must moo,
I know not what my heart may do,
until I once again will spend my time with you.

For you are not here, nor here has been,
and never were you here, yet still is seen,
the faintly throbbing sound produced
by metallic crystals finely fused.

As one can guess by the text, the most strange and thought-provoking aspect of the Quentabulos is the fact that the music is generated days, weeks, and sometimes months before or after the instrument is played. Exact timing is an artform only ever mastered by a handful of people. Many believe that the [[theoalchemy|theoalchemical]] crystals utilized in the construction is to blame for this temporal effect, yet this would not usually account for the ways in which the tubing, made of purified [[Quezlarian Ooo]], coils like tentacles while played. Though this ability to transcend the rather mundane barrier of time has inspired many insipid poets, it has made the instrument most reviled and hated by orchestras across Ghyll. Nothing is quite as bad as having a Quentabulos-player join in, only to find out his performance isn't really heard until six days after the concert.

The sound of the Quentabulos has been likened to glass being smashed by repeated beatings with hammers, though this would hardly do the instrument justice. A few daring players of [[Quiver'n'bend]] have experimented with the Quentabulos, mainly because of the humorous alliteration, to varying degrees of success. Indeed, in the entire history of the instrument there has been only six successful public performances. This brings us to the most impressive and mind-bogglingly stupid piece of trivia when one discusses the Quentabulos: "The Queeging Qataract of Queen Qigara", a symphony composed by [[Trung Tro Hampher]] especially for the instrument in question. It is performed by playing the instrument at specific places and at specific times over the course of a month, and each performance must be expertly calculated, usually using advanced equations made with [[Quezlarian Numerals]]to achieve the desired result. If done correctly, one gather an audience at the calculated time and all the previous played pices will become audible at the same time, harmonizing as perfectly as if hundreds of Quentabuloses were being played in concert, even though not a single instrument need even be present. Of course, if even one part-performance is a tenth of a second off-beat the entire symphony will sound worse than a [[pyxie]] overdosing on chalk. It is possible to play this piece in reverse, that is, performing it after the effect has been generated, but none have been foolish enough to attempt it just yet.

'''Citations''': [[Qulirian Energy Converter]], [[Dashpine]], [[Trung Tro Hampher]].

--[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 18:22, 13 Sep 2005 (EDT)

[[Category:Inventions]]

Ghyll:Quentabulos

2005-09-13T22:22:49Z

Lankin: It's bee a while. Thought I'd contribute with something small this time

The '''Quentabulos''' is a subject of much discussion, for though there are a barrage of theories to explain it, there is even more controversy as to the actual effects it produces. Indeed, very few have ever heard this rare musical instrument played, and much of what is known about is pure guesswork made from poetry written by fans of its quirky yet rich and mellifluous tones. The only certain thing is that the device is powered in its entirety by a [[Qulirian Energy Converter]]. One of the most famous of these poems were written by the esteemed poet [[Dashpine]], which was deeply moved when he one night heard his wife [[Eixis Anos]] play the bulbous and crystalline construction. THe poem reads as follows:

Oh the queer Quentabulos, so full of qoo
the shivering tones drift over me as cows must moo
I know not what my heart may do
until I once again will spend my time with you.

For you are not here, nor here has been
and never were you here, yet still is seen,
the faintly throbbing sound produced
by metallic crystals finely fused.

As one can guess by the text, the most strange and thought-provoking aspect of the Quentabulos is the fact that the music is generated days, weeks, and sometimes months before or after the instrument is played. Exact timing is an artform only ever mastered by a handful of people. Many believe that the [[theoalchemy|theoalchemical]] crystals utilized in the construction is to blame for this temporal effect, yet this would not usually account for the ways in which the tubing, made of purified [[Quezlarian Ooo]], coils like tentacles while played. Though this ability to transcend the rather mundane barrier of time has inspired many insipid poets, it has made the instrument most reviled and hated by orchestras across Ghyll. Nothing is quite as bad as having a Quentabulos-player join in, only to find out his performance isn't really heard until sex days after the concert.

The sound of the Quentabulos has been likened to glass being smashed by repeated beatings with hammers, though this would hardly do the instrument justice. A few daring players of [[Quiver'n'bend]] have experimented with the Quentabulos, mainly because of the humorous alliteration, to varying degrees of success. Indeed, in the entire history of the instrument there has been only six successful public performances. This brings us to the most impressive and mind-bogglingly stupid piece of trivia when one discusses the Quentabulos: "The Queeging Qataract of Queen Qigara", a symphony composed by [[Trung Tro Hampher]] especially for the instrument in question. It is performed by playing the instrument at specific places and at specific times over the course of a month, and each performance must be expertly calculated, usually using advanced equations made with [[Quezlarian Numerals]]to achieve the desired result. If done correctly, one gather an audience at the calculated time and all the previous played pices will become audible at the same time, harmonizing as perfectly as if hundreds of Quentabuloses were being played in concert, even though not a single instrument need even be present.

'''Citations''': [[Eixis Anos]], [[Dashpine]], [[Trung Tro Hampher]].

--[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 18:22, 13 Sep 2005 (EDT)

[[Category:Inventions]]

Ghyll:Alezan Script

2005-05-19T14:13:35Z

Lankin: La-di-da, nothing to see here. Correcting errors...

One of the few remaining traces of the ancient [[Alezan|Alezians]] are the few writings they left behind. Though numerous scholars, [[Occultologists]] and researchers have tried through the ages to descipher this strange language, none have been successful to this date. A few scraps of knowledge have been uncovered through diligent research, but the key to the mystery remains lost to us, and many doubt that we will ever be able to read the books of the mysterious and forgotten race.

Their alphabet didn't have any wowels. We can only guess that they were implied by the context, which is one of the reasons that it's so hard to decipher the language. It's written from the bottom right-hand corner and upwards, with a special code-line running from the middle of the left side of the page and to the right. This accenuates the contents of the enitre page, and is a brief summary of its intent.

The script itself was recorded by etching it into plates of glass-like crystal. By pouring sand on the plates so that it filled the grooves the text appeared. The only reason some of the plates have survived through the years is the fact that the crystal is much more solid than it appears, and can withstand surprisingly harsh treatment before finally shattering. In recent years, the [[theoalchemy|theoalchemist]] [[Harv Gretborn]] managed to replicate the strange material, enabling damaged plates to be copied. The process is extremely expensive, however, so mass-production of Alezan script replicas is not possible at this time. Nonetheless, some researchers are quite willing to pay handsomely for copies of the ancient plates, in the vain hope that they will be the ones to deschipher them at last.

MAny have wondered why it is so important to record the script on the plates. Why can't one simply copy them on the standard luminous pages we use in our day to day businesses? The answer is that the script was recorded on a transparent medium for a purpose. Six years ago, the esteemed researcher [[Wilhelmina Corinne Bardway]] revealed that is two or more plates are stacked on top of each other, new patches of text appeared as the different lines and curves joined each other. Simply put, the pages can be superimposed to reveal hidden massages and chapters. Later, she also revealed that in some cases the crystal itself fractured the ligth so that some of the letters and circles changed places, thereby changing the entire meaning of the text. So the only way to copy the script as it was originally written is to copy it on the original material, since it holds more information than normal paper can record. It has also been revealed that the crystal can perform [[Superluminescent radiance storage]], which raises a whole lot of questions which are beyond this article.

These new facts reveal quite a lot about the ancient [[Alezan|Alezians]]. Firstly, that they were well versed in the properties of crystals. Secondly, they were highly intelligent, and felt that much of what they wrote had to be kept secret and encoded. Lastly, it shows that the [[Alezan|Alezians]] were just as fascinated by light and its properties as we are today, since they seem to have studied it so thoroughly. Many [[AuroAnthropology| AuroAnthropologists]] find this extremely interesting, and point to it as proof that we have more in common with the ancient race than previously believed. They claim that anyone with so much knowledge couldn't have been all that bad. This doesn't exactly help their reputation, given the feelings towards [[Alezan|Alezians]] in the common populace.

It should also be noted that even though [[Hack And The Jacks|Hackleford “Hack” Vermeer]], founder of the [[NeoAlezanians]] claim that they alone have deschipered the scriptures, one should not take his word for it. The [[NeoAlezanians]] blatantly claim that their ancient rituals and teachings are genuine and collected from the translated plates, but since there is no proof whatsoever one cannot seriously consider them. We must only assume that the Alezan Script is as much of a mystery to them as it is to us. And some wish it would stay that way, considering what sort of people the [[Alezan|Alezians]] probably were. Who knows what's actually written down on thaose plates...

'''Citations''': [[Harv Gretborn]], [[Wilhelmina Corinne Bardway]], [[Superluminescent radiance storage]].

--[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 09:30, 19 May 2005 (EDT)

[[Category:Texts]]

Ghyll:Alezan Script

2005-05-19T14:10:21Z

Lankin: Speling, the elusive art.

One of the few remaining traces of the ancient [[Alezan|Alezians]] are the few writings they left behind. Though numerous scholars, [[Occultologists]] and researchers have tried through the ages to descipher this strange language, none have been successful to this date. A few scraps of knowledge have been uncovered through diligent research, but the key to the mystery remains lost to us, and many doubt that we will ever be able to read the books of the mysterious and forgotten race.

Their alphabet didn't have any wowels. We can only guess that they were implied by the context, which is one of the reasons that it's so hard to decipher the language. It's written from the bottom right-hand corner and upwards, with a special code-line running from the middle of the left side of the page and to the right. This accenuates the contents of the enitre page, and is a brief summary of its intent.

The script itself was recorded by etching it into plates of glass-like crystal. By pouring sand on the plates so that it filled the grooves the text appeared. The only reason some of the plates have survived through the years is the fact that the crystal is much more solid than it appears, and can withstand surprisingly harsh treatment before finally shattering. In recent years, the [[theoalchemy|theoalchemist]] [[Harv Gretborn]] managed to replicate the strange material, enabling damaged plates to be copied. The process is extremely expensive, however, so mass-production of Alezan script replicas is not possible at this time. Nonetheless, some researchers are quite willing to pay handsomely for copies of the ancient plates, in the vain hope that they will be the ones to deschipher them at last.

MAny have wondered why it is so important to record the script on the plates. Why can't one simply copy them on the standard luminous pages we use in our day to day businesses? The answer is that the script was recorded on a transparent medium for a purpose. Six years ago, the esteemed researcher [[Wilhelmina Corinne Bardway]] revealed that is two or more plates are stacked on top of each other, new patches of text appeared as the different lines and curves joined each other. Simply put, the pages can be superimposed to reveal hidden massages and chapters. Later, she also revealed that in some cases the crystal itself fractured the ligth so that some of the letters and circles changed places, thereby changing the entire meaning of the text. So the only way to copy the script as it was originally written is to copy it on the original material, since it holds more information than normal paper can record.

These new facts reveal quite a lot about the ancient [[Alezan|Alezians]]. Firstly, that they were well versed in the properties of crystals. Secondly, they were highly intelligent, and felt that much of what they wrote had to be kept secret and encoded. Lastly, it shows that the [[Alezan|Alezians]] were just as fascinated by light and its properties as we are today, since they seem to have studied it so thoroughly. Many [[AuroAnthropology| AuroAnthropologists]] find this extremely interesting, and point to it as proof that we have more in common with the ancient race than previously believed. They claim that anyone with so much knowledge couldn't have been all that bad. This doesn't exactly help their reputation, given the feelings towards [[Alezan|Alezians]] in the common populace.

It should also be noted that even though [[Hack And The Jacks|Hackleford “Hack” Vermeer]], founder of the [[NeoAlezanians]] claim that they alone have deschipered the scriptures, one should not take his word for it. The [[NeoAlezanians]] blatantly claim that their ancient rituals and teachings are genuine and collected from the translated plates, but since there is no proof whatsoever one cannot seriously consider them. We must only assume that the Alezan Script is as much of a mystery to them as it is to us. And some wish it would stay that way, considering what sort of people the [[Alezan|Alezians]] probably were. Who knows what's actually written down on thaose plates...

'''Citations''': [[Harv Gretborn]], [[Wilhelmina Corinne Bardway]], [[Hack And The Jacks|Hackleford “Hack” Vermeer]].

--[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 09:30, 19 May 2005 (EDT)

[[Category:Texts]]

Ghyll:Alezan Script

2005-05-19T14:09:00Z

Lankin: Adding some last paragraphs.

One of the few remaining traces of the ancient [[Alezan|Alezians]] are the few writings they left behind. Though numerous scholars, [[Occultologists]] and researchers have tried through the ages to descipher this strange language, none have been successful to this date. A few scraps of knowledge have been uncovered through diligent research, but the key to the mystery remains lost to us, and many doubt that we will ever be able to read the books of the mysterious and forgotten race.

Their alphabet didn't have any wowels. We can only guess that they were implied by the context, which is one of the reasons that it's so hard to descipher the language. It's written from the bottom right-hand corner and upwards, with a special code-line running from the middle of the left side of the page and to the right. This accenuates the contents of the enitre page, and is a brief summary of its intent.

The script itself was recorded by etching it into plates of glass-like crystal. By pouring sand on the plates so they filled the grooves, the text appeared. The only reason some of the plates have survived through the years is the fact that the crystal is much more solid than it appears, and can withstand surprisingly harsh treatment before finally shattering. In recent years, the [[theoalchemy|theoalchemist]] [[Harv Gretborn]] managed to replicate the strange material, enabling damaged plates to be copied. The process is extremely expensive, however, so mass-production of Alezan script replicas is not possible at this time. Nonetheless, some researchers are quite willing to pay handsomely for copies of the ancient plates, in the vain hope that they will be the ones to deschipher them at last.

MAny have wondered why it is so important to record the script on the plates. Why can't one simply copy them on the standard luminous pages we use in our day to day businesses? The answer is that the script was recorded on a transparent medium for a purpose. Six years ago, the esteemed researcher [[Wilhelmina Corinne Bardway]] revealed that is two or more plates are stacked on top of each other, new patches of text appeared as the different lines and curves joined each other. Simply put, the pages can be superimposed to reveal hidden massages and chapters. Later, she also revealed that in some cases the crystal itself fractured the ligth so that some of the letters and circles changed places, thereby changing the entire meaning of the text. So the only way to copy the script as it was originally written is to copy it on the original material, since it holds more information than normal paper can record.

These new facts reveal quite a lot about the ancient [[Alezan|Alezians]]. Firstly, that they were well versed in the properties of crystals. Secondly, they were highly intelligent, and felt that much of what they wrote had to be kept secret and encoded. Lastly, it shows that the [[Alezan|Alezians]] were just as fascinated by light and its properties as we are today, since they seem to have studied it so thoroughly. Many [[AuroAnthropology| AuroAnthropologists]] find this extremely interesting, and point to it as proof that we have more in common with the ancient race than previously believed. They claim that anyone with so much knowledge couldn't have been all that bad. This doesn't exactly help their reputation, given the feelings towards [[Alezan|Alezians]] in the common populace.

It should also be noted that even though [[Hack And The Jacks|Hackleford “Hack” Vermeer]], founder of the [[NeoAlezanians]] claim that they alone have deschipered the scriptures, one should not take his word for it. The [[NeoAlezanians]] blatantly claim that their ancient rituals and teachings are genuine and collected from the translated plates, but since there is no proof whatsoever one cannot seriously consider them. We must only assume that the Alezan Script is as much of a mystery to them as it is to us. And some wish it would stay that way, considering what sort of people the [[Alezan|Alezians]] probably were. Who knows what's actually written down on thaose plates...

'''Citations''': [[Harv Gretborn]], [[Wilhelmina Corinne Bardway]], [[Hack And The Jacks|Hackleford “Hack” Vermeer]].

--[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 09:30, 19 May 2005 (EDT)

[[Category:Texts]]

Ghyll:Alezan Script

2005-05-19T13:30:53Z

Lankin: Adding more to the article

Ghyll talk:Alezan Script

2005-05-19T13:18:40Z

Lankin: Mine, all mine!!

Ugh, I'm really sorry - I had a bunch of ideas about what to put in here, but things have gotten really hectic this week and I don't think I'll have time to finish writing it out. If someone else wants to take it over, go on ahead. I think I'll have to sit it out until I get some free time. --[[User:Rufian|Rufian]] 23:32, 18 May 2005 (EDT)

Then I'll take it. Thank you for the opportunity. I can't tell you how disappointed I was when this was dibbed before I could take it, and I'll try to make the best out of this second chance. --[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 09:18, 19 May 2005 (EDT)

Ghyll:Alezan Script

2005-05-19T13:14:00Z

Lankin: Since the dibber said this was up for grabs....I grabbed it....

Ghyll:Encyclopedants Progress Report 26

2005-05-10T01:24:02Z

Lankin: Painting doesn't take that long.

__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.

==Whither Our Dropped Mandibles?==
One year ago as we, the Encyclopedants, put out a call for contributors to a new collection of knowledge, we never expected to reach this, the end of the Encyclopedia's first draft. Even now, as our editors diligently wrangle the wealth of text into a shape suitable for mass consumption and printing for your peers, we realize that a Second Edition is uncontestable: there is simply so much more to discover, uncover and, in the case of the [[Bureau of Recovered Knowledge]], recover. While a number of our regular scholars have signed on for the expanded Second Edition, we're quite pleased to see new fingers anxious to catalog the intellect that, until now, has been spread only across the minds of all.

This Encyclopedia is not without hazard, though. Besides the [[User:Stottlemeyer O'Phelan|Stottlemeyer]] incident (which has been thankfully settled), there have been numerous (and sometimes begrudgingly successful) attempts to sabotage, clarify, [[Council for Quezlarian Research|censor]], or corrupt entire parts of your work. Some knowledge transferred [[Altoxian Bulb|none too cleanly]]. Still, throughout it all, our editors and copywriters persevered ''(And sometimes not very willingly! --Burgengute)'', delivering a completed work that has no equal. While we all pat our own carapaces' here, we'd like to give our scholars a chance to state their opinions on our first yearly journey. But be prepared! We'll be accepting entries for the Second Draft within a scant few weeks, so don't go overboard on the <strike>[[Adlorst Vinifera|Adlorst]]</strike> [[Winelust Syrup]]. ''(That wasn't me. --Burgengute)''

==Scholar Reports==

===Morbus Iff===
Were my "esteemed" colleagues [[yesticale worms]], I fear it quite impossible to prevent a regression to my youth of squishing and squashing, if only to replace their [[Cranee Historical Society|bilious permanence]] to the somber and shortlived sound of my wood-living friends. Many times did I [[New Year's Day|partake]] in [[Ghoulwood viola|distracting pleasures]] merely to submit my work to a project I foresee down a [[Cataract Road|waterfall]] of furious malcontent. I digress. Whilst my nerves have been grated small enough such as to be forever ungrateful, this encyclopedia has proven a welcome and light distraction from my search for the [[User:Morbus Iff|fluid source]]. It, and the mysteries since recorded, continue to pique my oblique, and for that I will remain.

===Sean B. Palmer===
I really don't think it's possible to top the fluidity, the magnanimousity of poetic warmth and prosodic rigour that was imbued into my T through Z entries; I'm sure they're quite simply Ghyll-changing in their calibre to such an extent that it may spark off that which I wrote about in them calling a "renaissance". I really hope that at least one copy of these entries gets through to the editors' office some day. I'd also like to apologise for the grumpiness of my brother, Morbus Iff, but the brown goo really was putrid, and if you've ever had his oblique foisted on you in the dark you'd know why it's always piqued.

: How I pine for words to adequately describe the Sneer King whom has graced my composure! Brother? Ha! I eschewed the bonds of your creation many Perks ago. I also suspect a fair amount of disgusted, and unpaid for, eschewing from the [[TransAvian]] tasked with bringing your "entries" to the editors. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 16:01, 29 Apr 2005 (EDT)

===Theophenes===
Despite my relatively new emergence onto the actual task of writing, I watched with fervor and interest almost from the very beginning, when the subject of Andelphracian Lights was being yanked off the presses. I believe that we are accomplishing the mission of adequately and accurately recording events to create a simpled collective view of our world. but isn't that what an encyclopedia is for?--[[User:Theophenes|Theophenes]] 04:03, 7 May 2005 (EDT)

===Trousle Undrhil===
I, too, am a relatively new addition to the scholarly bunch, but I feel that the encyclopedia is becoming what it was meant to be. Over time, more knowledge shall be gleaned and added to this work in progress and we shall know even more than we do now! Isn't it wonderful? This marvelous search for knowledge. I am still in the process of working out the problems with my current system of measures (which are not actual measures - more like guidelines) and which might appear in this encyclopedia one day in the future. I complete this entry on the note that we are all still learning and if ever anyone feels that he/she has learned everything, they should be hard at work filling out encyclopedia entries for the rest of us to catch up to them!--[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 03:20, 8 May 2005 (EDT)

===John Cowan===
I sincerely hope that I'll be able to write up my conclusions on the little-understood subject of justification by faith this time. In general, however, I believe that the first draft was as much of a success as anything of that kind deserves to be. Onward and upward with more about our wondrous world of Ghyll! --[[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]] 21:06, 8 May 2005 (EDT)

===Dr. H. L. Ackroyd===
Having been engaged in successful writing prior to this almost purely mechanical endeavor, I cannot help but marvel at the way in which it has been elevated to art by no less august presences than my fellow scholars. And by art, I mean to say that it is open to the wildest and most fanciful of interpretations and is devoid of factual content (with the exception of my own brilliant contributions of course) as almost all art can be. As with some art, one cannot argue that an arrangement of [[Zhur Fruit]] in a bowl is anything but an arrangement of [[Zhur Fruit]] in this case the results are somewhat more abstract, and as entertainment for the masses will extend well into the far-flung future as a prime example of its medium. --[[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]] 13:11, 8 May 2005 (EDT)

:A bowl of [[Zhur Fruit]] is not good for still life paintings, it rots too fast. I covered that, thank you very much, and I'll have you know that we are quite factual, we just happen to have a sense of humor under our carapace (unlike some amongst the crowd), and damn strong adeagea as well. --[[User:Theophenes|Theophenes]] 19:38, 9 May 2005 (EDT)

:But isn't that exactly what makes it such a piece of art to paint a still-life of [[Zhur Fruit]]? The fact that you're capturing one of the most transient beauties, to preserve it forever on canvas? And the fact that it's quite hard to finish before it rots only adds to the poignancy of the art, I think. Ah, pointless digressions, where would we be without them? --[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 21:24, 9 May 2005 (EDT)

==Round 1 Statistics==
At the end of Round 1 there are a total of 219 article pages visible on [[Special:Allpages]], of which one is the [[Main Page]], 15 belong to the special [[:Category:Encyclopedants|Encyclopedants]] category, 4 belong to the special [[:Category:Lexicon|Lexicon]] category, and 9 are #REDIRECTS. That leaves a total of 190 actual Ghyll Encyclopedia articles, of which 65 have appeared as [[Round 1 Spotlights|spotlights]] on the [[Main Page]].

There are 116 users in the user list, of which 46 have at least minimal user pages. Of these, 32 have actually contributed articles. (This includes [[User:Stottlemeyer O'Phelan|Stottlemeyer O'Phelan]], who doesn't exist in real life.) --[[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]] 15:17, 26 Apr 2005 (EDT)

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

[[Category:Encyclopedants]]

Ghyll:Round 2 discussion

2005-05-07T01:39:13Z

Lankin: Questions about geography

__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]] 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)

This is incredibly cool. I'm going to join up in May, and try not to butcher the wiki too badly. --[[User:Snafu Bohica|Snafu Bohica]] 13:03, 29 Apr 2005 (EDT)

This sounds incredible. I will join in May, and hope that my articles will be acceptable.
--[[User:Cauship|Cauship]] 10:47, 3 May 2005 (EDT)

Wow, I'd really like to contribute to this, or at least watch it develop. Hopefully I'll have read up on all the current articles by the time the next round starts. Is there a way to submit drafts of articles for proofreading/suggestions before they become official entries? --[[User:Rufian|Rufian]] 02:56, 3 May 2005 (EDT)

:Generally speaking, yes. Your article isn't "truly" submitted until the end of the turn. So, you could write a first draft on Monday, post it on the site, think about it on Tuesday, come back and edit it on Wednesday, finalize it Thursday, and then plead for a review. I also do a copyediting phase of the previous turn every Monday morning, and I'll usually catch errors then too and write about them in the "Discussion" page of the article itself. These errors are usually pretty small, so there's no problem with retroactively fixing them (or planning to explain them away in a future entry). --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 09:01, 3 May 2005 (EDT)

::I just wanted to make sure I have the correct understanding of procedues before Round 2 begins. On Saturday 14 May, I can submit an 'A' article. Being the 'A' turn, it doesn't have to be a pre-existing phantom. The turn finishes on the following Friday, by which time I have to have completed and finalised my 'A' entry. --[[User:Urik Orr|Urik Orr]] 04:00, 4 May 2005 (EDT)

:::Does that necessarily mean that if it's not an 'A' turn, the entry has to be a pre-existing phantom? --[[User:Rufian|Rufian]] 18:10, 5 May 2005 (EDT)

:::I think, though I am as new as you, that Rule #4 (on the ''Main Page'') answers your question, ie. ''After the first turn, all phantoms for a letter shall be written before new entries are created''. If I read this correctly, once Turn 'B' starts we are limited to defining only already existing phantoms, unless and until they are all dibbed out. This is my reading of the rule, if I am wrong, some of you in the know jump in. --[[User:Nikos of Ant|Nikos of Ant]] 19:45, 5 May 2005 (EDT)

::The dates are confusing me, and it would be appreciated if someone could confirm that I'm understanding this correctly. I don't want to begin Round 2 by breaking rules. I have until the end of turn 1 (Friday 20 May) to upload an 'A' entry. On Saturday 21 May turn 2 begins and I dib a 'B' phantom. I then have until Friday 27 May to write my 'B' entry (which contains two new phantoms). The following day turn 3 begins and I dib a 'C' phantom. And so on. Have I assumed correctly? --[[User:Urik Orr|Urik Orr]] 23:02, 5 May 2005 (EDT)

I've just joined the group; looking forward to participating in an actively working wiki. Any suggestions for orienting ourselves for new participants (shorter than reading everything on the whole site)? --[[User:Brother Arfrus|Brother Arfrus]] 10:52, 3 May 2005 (EDT)

:Welp, hmm. You could read through the [[:Category:Encyclopedants|Encyclopedants]] pages to get a partial overview of the early rounds, as well as a global metaview of timelines, etc. But there's really no Overview or shortcut to Ghyll just yet. You could check out the [[Round 1 Spotlights]] too, to get an idea of what I considered the "best" entries for a particular turn. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 11:20, 3 May 2005 (EDT)

::Thank you. That helps get my research started. I found the [[WhereIsWhere|Ghyll Geography]] also to be useful. As a cloistered researcher with limited resources, I hope to concentrate on just a few topics of interest. --[[User:Brother Arfrus|Brother Arfrus]] 10:38, 4 May 2005 (EDT)

I have a couple of questions about the geography of Ghyll. The Geography sections clearly states that it's frozen and that no new areas can be added. Does this mean that we can't make ''any'' new places? Like towns and hamlets and such? Or is it only large features like mountains and countries which can't be added at this point? Where's the limit? Secondly, said section also states that the gaography ''might'' get un-frozen in the second round. Any news on this? --[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 21:39, 6 May 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;
 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:Undivaggen

2005-05-05T23:46:31Z

Lankin: I smell a future article here

'''Undivaggen''' is the ancestral home of the aristocratic Wallinger family, situated in the village of Marsh Gibbon. The long-abandoned core of the building, according to archaeological investigations, dates back to at least -500 [[EC]], although the Wallingers do not appear in the Marsh Gibbon records as being in possession of it until at least a century later. The meaning of the name is not known, although scholarly conjecture is not lacking (as can be seen below).

The architectural style of the building is unique. In addition to the core, which formerly comprised about twelve rooms, the building consists of three wings or tentacles, usually called the Northeast, the Northwest, and the South wings based on the point at which they attach to the core. Each wing, however, has developed by adding new rooms in a clockwise spiral chain; as a result, the fifteenth room of the Northeast wing, counting from the core (to pick an example at random), actually stands in a southerly direction from the core. As of 0 [[EC]], there were 353 rooms in the Northeast wing, 422 rooms in the Northwest wing, and only 294 (comparatively large) rooms in the South wing.

The family now uses only the outermost twenty or so rooms in the South wing, which provide more than sufficient facilities for the extended family during the annual Wallinger/Vallinger/Vallian/Yekhoto reunions. These rooms were lovingly restored, after a long period of neglect, by [[Bavarian Creame]] and her younger sisters, [[Hack And The Jacks|Jack Juffers]] and [[Madam Calvian]] of [[Folktown]].

The remaining rooms, which are amazing examplars of the various periods of interior design and decoration in Ghyll history and prehistory, have been long out of use, of course, due to the difficulties of getting access to them, since each room is reachable only from its outward neighbor. Indeed, the main reason for building new rooms over the centuries is that various Wallingers have found it cheaper and simpler to add rooms than to provide the access required to perform necessary upkeep on older rooms. In addition, the open ground between the wings has become a giant compost heap due to the habits of earlier and less civilized Wallingers of tossing their garbage out the windows. The rooms themselves have been spared the depredations of vermin, both sentient and not, due to a judicious application of [[theoalchemy]].

A major source of income for the Wallingers in these degenerate days is the user fees collected from tourist parties who wish to explore the outer (or in the case of the highly motivated, the inner) windings of Undivaggen, as well as the sale of bottled water, G.O.R.P., walking sticks, booby-trap detectors, and other useful materiel to such above-ground spelunkers. A short connective passage that provides access from the Northeast to the South wing, about twenty-five rooms inward, has made essentially the whole of the uninhabited parts of Undivaggen accessible to visitors. It is most certainly a sight not to be missed for those traveling to [[Folktown|the capital city of Ghyll]].

'''Citations''': [[Bavarian Creame]], [[Madam Calvian]], [[Vemish]].

--[[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]] 13:41, 15 Mar 2005 (EST)

----

The name of Undivaggen is indeed a curious one, especially if one remembers that the house didn't originally belong to the Wallingers. I have recently come to the conclusion, after deciphering some ancient manuscripts at the Bureau for Forgotten Knowledge, that the place was built by a tribe of vicious and hitherto unknown pygmies. The name derives from their proto-language, and consists of the phrase "Undig", which translates as "He Who Belongs Beneath a Huge Pile of Splak", and "Vaggenn" which means "We Really Need a Bigger Bedroom". My theory states that the mansion was built after the wife of the chief pygmy wanted to impress the neighbors, and that the whole thing kinda got out of control after that. Nobody knows how the tribe perished, and I myself am of the belief that they're still living in there somewhere, waiting to be discovered by some unfortunate explorers. --[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 20:20, 2 May 2005 (EDT)

I believe, my fellow scholar, that your translation of "Vaggenn" is somewhat misinformed, shall I say? The word to which you are referring, which means "We Really Need a Bigger Bedroom" is "Vaggemm". I can see how the two words can get confused since they are of similar spelling. From my studies, "Vaggenn" is always translated as "One Who Owns the Splak". Thus, Undivaggen would roughly translate to "He Who Belongs Beneath a Huge Pile of His Own Splak". Again, that's a rough translation. I'm sure the ancient Pygmies had a more appropriate meaning for it. Possibly "Where is the toilet again?" or "How the Splak are you?" It's all up to the individual doing the translating, I'm afraid. --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 23:20, 2 May 2005 (EDT)

Though you might be correct in pointing out that I have confused the two words, I am most grieved to state that your own translation of the word "Vagenn" is quite erroneous. Perhaps even pathetically wrong, as anyone can see that the relevant pictogram is clearly holding a fish and not a rock. It would therefore not mean "His Own Splak", but "His Own Richness of Being", which I would believe implies the wealth the dwelling itself symbolized to the pygmies. One can therefore assume that they lived beneath it, since the name would then translate as "He Who Lives Beneath His Own OBcene Amount Of Wealth." Perhaps future explorers should try finding caves beneath the floors in the central building? --[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 17:40, 3 May 2005 (EDT)

Well, of course "Vagenn" means "His Own Richness of Being". I was speaking of "Vaggenn". Again, I can understand the misunderstanding. You are, of course, correct about the pictogram. I can concede that this is probably a mistranslation but only by complete examination of the source material can anyone be certain. --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 00:05, 4 May 2005 (EDT)

Damn my lack of spelling, for I must now concede that you have bested me in the scholarly arts my good sir. I bow down to your superior research. --[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 08:47, 4 May 2005 (EDT)

I beg to differ, my fine if somewhat befuddled colleagues. First and foremost, if one is to understand the true meaning of "Undivaggen" one must not forget its origin: "Undivaggen" is derived from an application of ''Modern'' Ghyllian upon the ''Early Irregular Ghyllian'' that was prevalent amongst scholars prior to as recently as circa -60 [[EC]]. Of course misconceptions from misspellings will be (and are) abundant in our times but I, however, have taken this into account. "Undig" whose current meaning is incontestably "He Who Belongs Beneath a Huge Pile of Splak" is also a modern transliteration of the more ancient and less common "Uhtig" which means "They Who Take Home Huge Piles of Splak"; it is very important in archaeolinguistic studies to take into account the synonyms of pre-modern terms! As to the problem of "vaggenn," "vagenn," and "vaggemm," this is all moot as it is only modern squabbling - the pictograph, as translated in ''Way Early Inconcise Ghyllian'' stemming from some three hundred years ago is: "''faghenn''" (notice the subtle labiamutation which has occurred over the last three centuries); this term is understood to mean "Disobedient & Slippery Child." Therefore, '''Undivaggen''' stems truly from "'''uhtigfaghenn'''" which means assuredly "''They who Take Home Huge Piles of Splak for their Disobedient & Slippery Child''." --[[User:Nikos of Ant|Nikos of Ant]] 19:54, 4 May 2005 (EDT)

My dear scholar, Nikos ... I commend you on your etymological skills. I had overlooked the Earlier translations. I will consider this for future review. --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 09:23, 5 May 2005 (EDT)

Nikos, though both I and the esteemed Scholar Undrhill both agree that you have pointed out facts that we had not yet considered in our always vigilant search for the truth (the warping through the earlier forms of our own language), I am sad to say point out that you have yourself forgotten the final step. You see, even though the original spelling in ''Way Early Inconcise Ghyllian'' is indeed, as you have revealed to us, ''uhtigfaghenn'', this is itself a translation from the actual pictograms of the original tribe into that early version of our own tongue. As such is is just as prone to an etymological corruption in regards to its actual meaning, as is always a danger when translating from one language to another. We must alays remember that the original text, written by the pygmies, probably had quite different context. I personally believe that the first four images (which were translated as 'faghenn') has a marginally different meaning. The symbols are (in order of appearance):

1. A man with stick standing beside a triangle
2. A figure with a smaller figure inside, with three lines highlighting the one inside
3. A man strangling an inverted triangle
4. A Winged fish with a bottle

The scholar who originally translated this into ''Way Early Inconcise Ghyllian'' interpreted this as small (man beside mountain) + child (figure inside mother) which is slippery (the bottle is clearly a lubricating oil of some sort, to keep the wings of the fish smooth underwater) and also disobedient (the figure committing deitycide upon the god-symbol og the upside-down mountain).

This is in itself a flawed translation, as anyone can see that the first figure is merely a man who is going for a fishing trip in the mountains. The second pictogram is also wrongly interpreted, as it merely stands for a female carrying a whelp. The whole word would then end up as 'He Who Goes Hunting to Get Slippery Substance for his Impregnated Wife'. If we then assume that the rest of the translation is correct ( a risky business to say the least) the word 'uthigfaghenn' would in reality be 'The one who belongs under a huge pile of Splak for going away fishing while his wife needs him'. But it could just as easily be 'The huge pile of Splak gathered together for the missus while the guy is off fishing.' It all depends on the context and nuances, none of which we have available today. --[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 14:57, 5 May 2005 (EDT)

Hmmm, point well taken... I do believe that this deserves an expedition, yes! let us set off as in the days of old, let us go within that behemoth of the Wallinger mansion, and let us not see if we can't find ourselves some hitherto unknown pygmies (or at least we can send in our research students to take the brunt of the possible pygmy attac- um, historical findings)! --[[User:Nikos of Ant|Nikos of Ant]] 16:31, 5 May 2005 (EDT)

Indeed my fine fellow, we should immediately begin the long and arduous process of planning such an expedition. Packing alone should take about a year, and we will need to prepare thoroughly for the dangers along the way. Recruiting suitably stupi, er, ''brave'' students to be our scouting troupe will also require lots and lots of effort. I propose that we should try to reach the central building, since this is the original place where the pygmies must have lived. Our goal for the most dangerous expedition should be to discover more of their writings (and as few traps as possible, since we can only bring a limited supply of students), and if they still exist somewhere in there we should try to establish friendly contact with them. Remember to bring glass beads. --[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 19:46, 5 May 2005 (EDT)

[[Category:Locations]]

Ghyll:Undivaggen

2005-05-05T18:57:32Z

Lankin: Touché

'''Undivaggen''' is the ancestral home of the aristocratic Wallinger family, situated in the village of Marsh Gibbon. The long-abandoned core of the building, according to archaeological investigations, dates back to at least -500 [[EC]], although the Wallingers do not appear in the Marsh Gibbon records as being in possession of it until at least a century later. The meaning of the name is not known, although scholarly conjecture is not lacking (as can be seen below).

The architectural style of the building is unique. In addition to the core, which formerly comprised about twelve rooms, the building consists of three wings or tentacles, usually called the Northeast, the Northwest, and the South wings based on the point at which they attach to the core. Each wing, however, has developed by adding new rooms in a clockwise spiral chain; as a result, the fifteenth room of the Northeast wing, counting from the core (to pick an example at random), actually stands in a southerly direction from the core. As of 0 [[EC]], there were 353 rooms in the Northeast wing, 422 rooms in the Northwest wing, and only 294 (comparatively large) rooms in the South wing.

The family now uses only the outermost twenty or so rooms in the South wing, which provide more than sufficient facilities for the extended family during the annual Wallinger/Vallinger/Vallian/Yekhoto reunions. These rooms were lovingly restored, after a long period of neglect, by [[Bavarian Creame]] and her younger sisters, [[Hack And The Jacks|Jack Juffers]] and [[Madam Calvian]] of [[Folktown]].

The remaining rooms, which are amazing examplars of the various periods of interior design and decoration in Ghyll history and prehistory, have been long out of use, of course, due to the difficulties of getting access to them, since each room is reachable only from its outward neighbor. Indeed, the main reason for building new rooms over the centuries is that various Wallingers have found it cheaper and simpler to add rooms than to provide the access required to perform necessary upkeep on older rooms. In addition, the open ground between the wings has become a giant compost heap due to the habits of earlier and less civilized Wallingers of tossing their garbage out the windows. The rooms themselves have been spared the depredations of vermin, both sentient and not, due to a judicious application of [[theoalchemy]].

A major source of income for the Wallingers in these degenerate days is the user fees collected from tourist parties who wish to explore the outer (or in the case of the highly motivated, the inner) windings of Undivaggen, as well as the sale of bottled water, G.O.R.P., walking sticks, booby-trap detectors, and other useful materiel to such above-ground spelunkers. A short connective passage that provides access from the Northeast to the South wing, about twenty-five rooms inward, has made essentially the whole of the uninhabited parts of Undivaggen accessible to visitors. It is most certainly a sight not to be missed for those traveling to [[Folktown|the capital city of Ghyll]].

'''Citations''': [[Bavarian Creame]], [[Madam Calvian]], [[Vemish]].

--[[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]] 13:41, 15 Mar 2005 (EST)

----

The name of Undivaggen is indeed a curious one, especially if one remembers that the house didn't originally belong to the Wallingers. I have recently come to the conclusion, after deciphering some ancient manuscripts at the Bureau for Forgotten Knowledge, that the place was built by a tribe of vicious and hitherto unknown pygmies. The name derives from their proto-language, and consists of the phrase "Undig", which translates as "He Who Belongs Beneath a Huge Pile of Splak", and "Vaggenn" which means "We Really Need a Bigger Bedroom". My theory states that the mansion was built after the wife of the chief pygmy wanted to impress the neighbors, and that the whole thing kinda got out of control after that. Nobody knows how the tribe perished, and I myself am of the belief that they're still living in there somewhere, waiting to be discovered by some unfortunate explorers. --[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 20:20, 2 May 2005 (EDT)

I believe, my fellow scholar, that your translation of "Vaggenn" is somewhat misinformed, shall I say? The word to which you are referring, which means "We Really Need a Bigger Bedroom" is "Vaggemm". I can see how the two words can get confused since they are of similar spelling. From my studies, "Vaggenn" is always translated as "One Who Owns the Splak". Thus, Undivaggen would roughly translate to "He Who Belongs Beneath a Huge Pile of His Own Splak". Again, that's a rough translation. I'm sure the ancient Pygmies had a more appropriate meaning for it. Possibly "Where is the toilet again?" or "How the Splak are you?" It's all up to the individual doing the translating, I'm afraid. --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 23:20, 2 May 2005 (EDT)

Though you might be correct in pointing out that I have confused the two words, I am most grieved to state that your own translation of the word "Vagenn" is quite erroneous. Perhaps even pathetically wrong, as anyone can see that the relevant pictogram is clearly holding a fish and not a rock. It would therefore not mean "His Own Splak", but "His Own Richness of Being", which I would believe implies the wealth the dwelling itself symbolized to the pygmies. One can therefore assume that they lived beneath it, since the name would then translate as "He Who Lives Beneath His Own OBcene Amount Of Wealth." Perhaps future explorers should try finding caves beneath the floors in the central building? --[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 17:40, 3 May 2005 (EDT)

Well, of course "Vagenn" means "His Own Richness of Being". I was speaking of "Vaggenn". Again, I can understand the misunderstanding. You are, of course, correct about the pictogram. I can concede that this is probably a mistranslation but only by complete examination of the source material can anyone be certain. --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 00:05, 4 May 2005 (EDT)

Damn my lack of spelling, for I must now concede that you have bested me in the scholarly arts my good sir. I bow down to your superior research. --[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 08:47, 4 May 2005 (EDT)

I beg to differ, my fine if somewhat befuddled colleagues. First and foremost, if one is to understand the true meaning of "Undivaggen" one must not forget its origin: "Undivaggen" is derived from an application of ''Modern'' Ghyllian upon the ''Early Irregular Ghyllian'' that was prevalent amongst scholars prior to as recently as circa -60 [[EC]]. Of course misconceptions from misspellings will be (and are) abundant in our times but I, however, have taken this into account. "Undig" whose current meaning is incontestably "He Who Belongs Beneath a Huge Pile of Splak" is also a modern transliteration of the more ancient and less common "Uhtig" which means "They Who Take Home Huge Piles of Splak"; it is very important in archaeolinguistic studies to take into account the synonyms of pre-modern terms! As to the problem of "vaggenn," "vagenn," and "vaggemm," this is all moot as it is only modern squabbling - the pictograph, as translated in ''Way Early Inconcise Ghyllian'' stemming from some three hundred years ago is: "''faghenn''" (notice the subtle labiamutation which has occurred over the last three centuries); this term is understood to mean "Disobedient & Slippery Child." Therefore, '''Undivaggen''' stems truly from "'''uhtigfaghenn'''" which means assuredly "''They who Take Home Huge Piles of Splak for their Disobedient & Slippery Child''." --[[User:Nikos of Ant|Nikos of Ant]] 19:54, 4 May 2005 (EDT)

My dear scholar, Nikos ... I commend you on your etymological skills. I had overlooked the Earlier translations. I will consider this for future review. --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 09:23, 5 May 2005 (EDT)
[[Category:Locations]]

Nikos, though both I and the esteemed Scholar Undrhill both agree that you have pointed out facts that we had not yet considered in our always vigilant search for the truth (the warping through the earlier forms of our own language), I am sad to say point out that you have yourself forgotten the final step. You see, even though the original spelling in ''Way Early Inconcise Ghyllian'' is indeed, as you have revealed to us, ''uhtigfaghenn'', this is itself a translation from the actual pictograms of the original tribe into that early version of our own tongue. As such is is just as prone to an etymological corruption in regards to its actual meaning, as is always a danger when translating from one language to another. We must alays remember that the original text, written by the pygmies, probably had quite different context. I personally believe that the first four images (which were translated as 'faghenn') has a marginally different meaning. The symbols are (in order of appearance):

1. A man with stick standing beside a triangle
2. A figure with a smaller figure inside, with three lines highlighting the one inside
3. A man strangling an inverted triangle
4. A Winged fish with a bottle

The scholar who originally translated this into ''Way Early Inconcise Ghyllian'' interpreted this as small (man beside mountain) + child (figure inside mother) which is slippery (the bottle is clearly a lubricating oil of some sort, to keep the wings of the fish smooth underwater) and also disobedient (the figure committing deitycide upon the god-symbol og the upside-down mountain).

This is in itself a flawed translation, as anyone can see that the first figure is merely a man who is going for a fishing trip in the mountains. The second pictogram is also wrongly interpreted, as it merely stands for a female carrying a whelp. The whole word would then end up as 'He Who Goes Hunting to Get Slippery Substance for his Impregnated Wife'. If we then assume that the rest of the translation is correct ( a risky business to say the least) the word 'uthigfaghenn' would in reality be 'The one who belongs under a huge pile of Splak for going away fishing while his wife needs him'. But it could just as easily be 'The huge pile of Splak gathered together for the missus while the guy is off fishing.' It all depends on the context and nuances, none of which we have available today. --[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 14:57, 5 May 2005 (EDT)

Ghyll:Undivaggen

2005-05-04T12:47:57Z

Lankin: I surrender. Darn.

Ghyll:Undivaggen

2005-05-03T21:40:46Z

Lankin: And the discussion continues....

Ghyll:Undivaggen

2005-05-03T00:20:17Z

Lankin: Etymological babbling. Kinda silly.

Ghyll:Zaprosingfrink Gallery

2005-04-29T02:27:16Z

Lankin: Arguing. Will be doing this a lot in the future.

[[Alarius]]' most celebrated work is the fresco at the [[Palace of Lost Souls]], but his other works are also well known and on display in the '''Zaprosingfrink Gallery''' in [[Threel]].

While [[Alarius]] isn't the only artist represented there, he is certainly one of the best known. This in no way diminishes the accomplishments of the [[Nitenmangrey]] Master Semolina Pilchard or the subtle color stylings of Prudence, both of whom are featured in the gallery. Other artists of note include Lucy O'Donnell, whose experiments in incongruent imagery have made her artwork highly prized among the [[vlorm]]-smoking populace, who claim that the experience is enhanced by contemplating the colorful doodles.

The Zaprosingfrink Gallery is open on odd dates in even numbered months and even dates in odd numbered months from sunrise until they have had 14 visitors, whereupon it is closed for precisely 70 minutes and then reopened until [[Perky]]rise.

--[[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]] 15:32, 22 Apr 2005 (EDT)

'''Citations''': [[Alarius]], [[Palace of Lost Souls]], [[Perky]].

[[Category:Locations]]

----

Maybe it's just me, but O'Donnell's daubs make me want to puke. --[[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]] 10:25, 27 Apr 2005 (EDT)

I must beg to differ with your so crudely stated opinion of quite possibly the best artist of our time. O'Donnell has time and again proved her mastery of the aesthetics and the techniques necessary in the act of creation. I presume that none of my fellow scholars would be among the ranks of those short-sighted critics who dismiss her work as 'pure plebian shock trollop,' because there is clearly so much more than the mere incongruency in her work. O'Donnell's paintings ''speak'' to the viewer, to the arbiterarity and precariousness of our times. Recall, for example, that beautiful work "Aelfant, Freege Horn and Luscious Pink Grapefruit Section, Still Bloody and Oozing." Have you ever seen such power, such pathos captured and transmuted so expressively by one artist's hands? --[[User:Lady Aleksandra Quininery|Lady Aleksandra Quininery]] 03:23, 28 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Quite. --[[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]] 14:34, 28 Apr 2005 (EDT)

My dear Lady, if you have paintings ''speaking'' to you, then might I recommend some [[Theoalchemy|theoalchemical]] remedies for your ailments? Surely you cannot expect us to believe that artwork can have a ''voice''? This is sheer madness! Then again, I suppose if a disease such as [[Zygotic Dermatosis]] is in existance, quite anything is possible. Still, I would hope that you are not quite serious about talking paintings. --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 18:46, 28 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Once again I am saddened by the lack of artistic appreciation which fills my fellow scholars. How can you not know how it feels when a piece of art reaches out and touches your very soul with its many-colored tentacles of inspiration and understanding? We must always remember that no matter how much dry knowledge we accumulate, no matter how many luminous pages we fill with our droning, it is all dead and in vain if we do not allow beauty spirit and soul to touch our hearts and other internal organs. Anyone so spiritually dead that they have never been moved, or at least nudged, by the art of the likes of O'Donnel should not be allowed to call themselves men (or women) of Knowledge. --[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 22:27, 28 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Ghyll talk:Zodiacal twins

2005-04-27T10:01:14Z

Lankin:

I enjoyed this entry immensely. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:00, 26 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Wow, thanks. Didn't think my little last-minue squibble would be appreciated that much. Means a lot to me. --[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 06:00, 27 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Ghyll talk:Zodiacal twins

2005-04-27T10:00:58Z

Lankin:

I enjoyed this entry immensely. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:00, 26 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Wow, thanks. Didn't think my little last-minue squibble would be appreciated that much. Means a lot to me.

Wow, thanks. Didn't think my little last-minue squibble would be appreciated that much. Means a lot to me. --[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 06:00, 27 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Ghyll talk:Zodiacal twins

2005-04-27T10:00:40Z

Lankin:

I enjoyed this entry immensely. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 19:00, 26 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Wow, thanks. Didn't think my little last-minue squibble would be appreciated that much. Means a lot to me.

Ghyll talk:EctoMechanauts

2005-04-23T11:32:17Z

Lankin:

Right, the names are changed. One of them happens to be an actual corporation acronym, but that was totally accidental. Sorry for all the extra copyediting work on this one, but I was actually getting work done at work for a change! I hope the rest of the jokes aren't too heavy-handed. --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 07:30, 7 Oct 2004 (EDT)

I heartily enjoyed this entry. Al Bundy, love objects, dead babies, hooHAH! --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 23:38, 13 Oct 2004 (EDT)

Thank you! I hope everyone caught the jokes. Of course, I snuck C3PO in there and my wife came up with the reference to Data for me. Her favorite ST:NG joke is the bit about him being "fully functional". (Luckily, she likes goofy guys with big noses, since she thinks I bear a passing resemblance to Mr. Spiner.) --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 07:47, 14 Oct 2004 (EDT)

Thorougly enjoyable, especially the part about Carl Kapek. One cannot help but love obscure references, especially C3PO. --[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 07:32, 23 Apr 2005 (EDT)

Ghyll:Round 2 discussion

2005-04-22T14:08:28Z

Lankin: /* Do you plan on playing regularly in Round 2? */

__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.

==Do you plan on playing regularly in Round 2?==
Ultimately, we're looking for 5 to 10 regulars.

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) 
I'm new but I definitly 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 round. But I'd like to express interest. New user. --[[User:Lisa B. Underhalh|Lisa B. Underhalh]] 18:10, 21 Apr 2005 (EDT)
: Well, since a 'round' consists of 26 'turns' I don't think you'll have any problems, really. :-D --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 20:45, 21 Apr 2005 (EDT)
::I meant, of course, every turn rather than every round. Thank you for the astute correction, sir. --[[User:Lisa B. Underhalh|Lisa B. Underhalh]] 21:45, 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)

==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.

YEA: [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]], [[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]], [[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzuo]], [[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]], [[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]], [[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]]
 NAY:

===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.

YEA: [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]], [[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]], [[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzuo]], [[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]], [[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]]
 NAY:

==Rule Changes==

* '''WHOOPS''' are from the original Lexicon: an RPG and were (accidentally) missed.
* '''HOUSE''' rules are specific to Ghyll only, and tweak the rules to our conditions.

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

I've (Morbus) deleted the previous discussion here, and have reconsidered this rule. Whilst I still think this would be ''useful'' in enforcing "themed" rounds ('this round will only talk about things from the [[cactus forests]]'), I feel that the raw intent behind this WHOOPS (and the next) were based on the game ending at letter Z (where there'd be no "going back" to write remaining phantoms). Since we've already HOUSE'd "this game will run forever", rules that increase constriction and a "definite finish" are detrimental.

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

I've (Morbus) deleted the previous discussion here, and have reconsidered this rule. No one wants to run around and be a "EDIT YOUR ENTRY!" whore, especially when we've all got short amounts of time already. The raw intent behind this WHOOPS (and the previous) were based on the game ending at letter Z (where there'd be no "going back" to write remaining phantoms). Since we've already HOUSE'd "this game will run forever", rules that increase constriction and a "definite finish" are detrimental. Anyways, we can always do emergency "two entries per letter" as we did for this round's S and T.

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

YEA: [[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]], [[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]]
 NAY: [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]], [[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]], [[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzuo]], [[User:Clsn|clsn]], [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]], [[User:Lisa B. Underhalh|Lisa B. Underhalh]]

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

: 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)

:Actually doing a speed turn isn't really tough if you pre-write one or two entries. All of the cross-linking to Index, Phantoms, and other pages can be done later, writing the entries themselves is the tough part. LMNOP just seemed like a "cute" place to do it in the round. --[[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]] 12:44, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

::Yes, well, that presupposes that we have time to prewrite entries and then edit them. That wouldn't be the case with me. Of course, I committed to a single round and then dropping in as I have time, so, I can certainly skip the speed round. NBD. --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 16:41, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

I'd probably skip it as well, as I'm doing now: whenever it seems I can do one, I do. OTOH, the whole [[Rod of Quiends]] entry was a one-day inspiration. --[[User:Clsn|clsn]] 17:55, 10 Feb 2005 (EST)

I think giving the longer time will result in better entries than forcing those letters into one day timelines. And aren't we all here for the good of Ghyll? --[[User:Lisa B. Underhalh|Lisa B. Underhalh]] 18:17, 21 Apr 2005 (EDT)

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

YEA: [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]], [[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]], [[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]], [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]],
 YEA: [[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzuo]], [[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]], [[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]], [[User:Clsn|clsn]]
 NAY:

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

More information at http://kevan.org/kaleido?faq, and some 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.)

YEA: [[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]]
 NAY: [[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzuo]]

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 Fizzuo]] 10:28, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

:It is, by its nature, optional. You can continue to play as you already are without taking any of the challenges. But this also offers an incentive to do certain things in the game or to fill certain needs of the Encyclopedia. And I know *I* was looking for a way to do more than the one-letter-per-turn play (just because I am an overachiever). --[[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]] 12:44, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

===HOUSE: 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.

YEA: [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]], [[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]]
 NAY:

As long as we aren't ''forced'' to take one, I'm good with this. --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 16:42, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

: I like the idea of encouraging occasional "fresh" ideas even when there are some "old" ones waiting, but why restrict it to A's? I know, I know, we can't make it totally unrestricted or we'll never get phantoms defined, but why is it only A that gets to be creative? I think I'd rather something like "Each player is allowed k new non-phantom entries (when there are phantoms of that letter) per round," for some small k (say, k=1). Or almost equivalently (but more flexible), "You can define a new non-phantom (when there are phantoms of that letter) if it's been at least 26 letters since the last time you did it." (or maybe something larger than 26, or whatever). --[[User:Clsn|clsn]] 17:55, 10 Feb 2005 (EST)

:: Too much record-keeping. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 15:13, 15 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". What follows are possible themes for Round 2. Alternatively, we can continue to play with no themes. These themes were written very quickly and loosely; any winner will be redefined "in-game" by the 'pedants.

===THEME: None Whatsoever===

YEA: [[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]], [[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]], [[User:Theophenes|Theophenes]], [[User:Lisa B. Underhalh|Lisa B. Underhalh]]
 NAY:

I think it would be wise to allow scholarly independence to reign. Quite frankly, two of these tasks are too specific to require a majority of our attention. the Hive-lord one is a essentially so random that scholarly preference would probably overtake it anyhow.[[User:Theophenes|Theophenes]] 04:26, 21 Apr 2005 (EDT)

===THEME: Hive-Lord Surprise===

Three (or more, total) [[Hive-Lord]] Questions would be created/asked during the letter A turn of Round 2, and each entry thereafter would attempt to relate, answer, or deepen the search for the Answer to one (or some, or all) of those Questions. The entry need not contain blatant or plainly obvious linkages. At the end of the Round, our "End of Year" reports would put forth what each individual scholar thought was the Answer to each Question (and should enlighten everyone with explanations of any non-blatant entries per the previous sentence.)

YEA:
 NAY:

===THEME: Doggerel Infection===

[[Doggerel plague]] victims have been searching desperately for ways of spreading their illness (writing, botanical infection, etc.). Have they figured something out? Has the infection somehow gotten in the water? Did a public and respected speaker get infected, only to become a Prize Spreader? Did they take over the recently moved Iganefta Recorder publishing facilities (now in [[Folktown]]) due to lax security? How do you stop them? Ignorance won't work anymore as they've become experts at whispering nothings into your ear while you sleep. How d'ya stop 'em?

YEA:
 NAY:

===THEME: EctoMechanauts Rights Now!===

Are alchemical intelligences truly intelligent, with feelings and concerns? Do they bleed or dream of electronic sheep? Do [[EctoMechanauts]] go rogue or be reprogrammed? Do they have charisma, to inspire likeminded (un?)souls? And what of [[EUPHORIA]]? Have they become so incensed over the treatment of their mechanical friends to move to violence? Increased recruitment drives? Deafening riots? Can corporate piracy of manufacturing trade secrets spell the end of an aged family business?

YEA:
 NAY:

==My Entry's Done. Now What?==

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)

As I mentioned above, this was a suggestion that is closely tied to the "challenges". Even if it allows me to make two entries in a turn (by collecting 30 points say) or allows me to do something ''outside'' the normal game play then that is an incentive enough for me. --[[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]] 12:44, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

Ghyll:Round 2 discussion

2005-04-22T14:07:33Z

Lankin: /* Do you plan on playing regularly in Round 2? */

__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.

==Do you plan on playing regularly in Round 2?==
Ultimately, we're looking for 5 to 10 regulars.

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) 
I'm new but I definitly 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 round. But I'd like to express interest. New user. --[[User:Lisa B. Underhalh|Lisa B. Underhalh]] 18:10, 21 Apr 2005 (EDT)
: Well, since a 'round' consists of 26 'turns' I don't think you'll have any problems, really. :-D --[[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]] 20:45, 21 Apr 2005 (EDT)
::I meant, of course, every turn rather than every round. Thank you for the astute correction, sir. --[[User:Lisa B. Underhalh|Lisa B. Underhalh]] 21:45, 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)

==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.

YEA: [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]], [[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]], [[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzuo]], [[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]], [[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]], [[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]]
 NAY:

===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.

YEA: [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]], [[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]], [[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzuo]], [[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]], [[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]]
 NAY:

==Rule Changes==

* '''WHOOPS''' are from the original Lexicon: an RPG and were (accidentally) missed.
* '''HOUSE''' rules are specific to Ghyll only, and tweak the rules to our conditions.

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

I've (Morbus) deleted the previous discussion here, and have reconsidered this rule. Whilst I still think this would be ''useful'' in enforcing "themed" rounds ('this round will only talk about things from the [[cactus forests]]'), I feel that the raw intent behind this WHOOPS (and the next) were based on the game ending at letter Z (where there'd be no "going back" to write remaining phantoms). Since we've already HOUSE'd "this game will run forever", rules that increase constriction and a "definite finish" are detrimental.

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

I've (Morbus) deleted the previous discussion here, and have reconsidered this rule. No one wants to run around and be a "EDIT YOUR ENTRY!" whore, especially when we've all got short amounts of time already. The raw intent behind this WHOOPS (and the previous) were based on the game ending at letter Z (where there'd be no "going back" to write remaining phantoms). Since we've already HOUSE'd "this game will run forever", rules that increase constriction and a "definite finish" are detrimental. Anyways, we can always do emergency "two entries per letter" as we did for this round's S and T.

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

YEA: [[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]], [[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]]
 NAY: [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]], [[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]], [[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzuo]], [[User:Clsn|clsn]], [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]], [[User:Lisa B. Underhalh|Lisa B. Underhalh]]

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

: 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)

:Actually doing a speed turn isn't really tough if you pre-write one or two entries. All of the cross-linking to Index, Phantoms, and other pages can be done later, writing the entries themselves is the tough part. LMNOP just seemed like a "cute" place to do it in the round. --[[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]] 12:44, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

::Yes, well, that presupposes that we have time to prewrite entries and then edit them. That wouldn't be the case with me. Of course, I committed to a single round and then dropping in as I have time, so, I can certainly skip the speed round. NBD. --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 16:41, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

I'd probably skip it as well, as I'm doing now: whenever it seems I can do one, I do. OTOH, the whole [[Rod of Quiends]] entry was a one-day inspiration. --[[User:Clsn|clsn]] 17:55, 10 Feb 2005 (EST)

I think giving the longer time will result in better entries than forcing those letters into one day timelines. And aren't we all here for the good of Ghyll? --[[User:Lisa B. Underhalh|Lisa B. Underhalh]] 18:17, 21 Apr 2005 (EDT)

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

YEA: [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]], [[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]], [[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]], [[User:Sbp|Sean B. Palmer]],
 YEA: [[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzuo]], [[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]], [[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]], [[User:Clsn|clsn]]
 NAY:

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

More information at http://kevan.org/kaleido?faq, and some 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.)

YEA: [[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]]
 NAY: [[User:D8uv|Melik Fizzuo]]

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 Fizzuo]] 10:28, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

:It is, by its nature, optional. You can continue to play as you already are without taking any of the challenges. But this also offers an incentive to do certain things in the game or to fill certain needs of the Encyclopedia. And I know *I* was looking for a way to do more than the one-letter-per-turn play (just because I am an overachiever). --[[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]] 12:44, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

===HOUSE: 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.

YEA: [[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]], [[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]]
 NAY:

As long as we aren't ''forced'' to take one, I'm good with this. --[[User:PhineasCrank|Doctor Phineas Crank]] 16:42, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

: I like the idea of encouraging occasional "fresh" ideas even when there are some "old" ones waiting, but why restrict it to A's? I know, I know, we can't make it totally unrestricted or we'll never get phantoms defined, but why is it only A that gets to be creative? I think I'd rather something like "Each player is allowed k new non-phantom entries (when there are phantoms of that letter) per round," for some small k (say, k=1). Or almost equivalently (but more flexible), "You can define a new non-phantom (when there are phantoms of that letter) if it's been at least 26 letters since the last time you did it." (or maybe something larger than 26, or whatever). --[[User:Clsn|clsn]] 17:55, 10 Feb 2005 (EST)

:: Too much record-keeping. --[[User:Morbus Iff|Morbus Iff]] 15:13, 15 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". What follows are possible themes for Round 2. Alternatively, we can continue to play with no themes. These themes were written very quickly and loosely; any winner will be redefined "in-game" by the 'pedants.

===THEME: None Whatsoever===

YEA: [[User:Jcowan|John Cowan]], [[User:Undrhil|Trousle Undrhil]], [[User:Theophenes|Theophenes]], [[User:Lisa B. Underhalh|Lisa B. Underhalh]]
 NAY:

I think it would be wise to allow scholarly independence to reign. Quite frankly, two of these tasks are too specific to require a majority of our attention. the Hive-lord one is a essentially so random that scholarly preference would probably overtake it anyhow.[[User:Theophenes|Theophenes]] 04:26, 21 Apr 2005 (EDT)

===THEME: Hive-Lord Surprise===

Three (or more, total) [[Hive-Lord]] Questions would be created/asked during the letter A turn of Round 2, and each entry thereafter would attempt to relate, answer, or deepen the search for the Answer to one (or some, or all) of those Questions. The entry need not contain blatant or plainly obvious linkages. At the end of the Round, our "End of Year" reports would put forth what each individual scholar thought was the Answer to each Question (and should enlighten everyone with explanations of any non-blatant entries per the previous sentence.)

YEA:
 NAY:

===THEME: Doggerel Infection===

[[Doggerel plague]] victims have been searching desperately for ways of spreading their illness (writing, botanical infection, etc.). Have they figured something out? Has the infection somehow gotten in the water? Did a public and respected speaker get infected, only to become a Prize Spreader? Did they take over the recently moved Iganefta Recorder publishing facilities (now in [[Folktown]]) due to lax security? How do you stop them? Ignorance won't work anymore as they've become experts at whispering nothings into your ear while you sleep. How d'ya stop 'em?

YEA:
 NAY:

===THEME: EctoMechanauts Rights Now!===

Are alchemical intelligences truly intelligent, with feelings and concerns? Do they bleed or dream of electronic sheep? Do [[EctoMechanauts]] go rogue or be reprogrammed? Do they have charisma, to inspire likeminded (un?)souls? And what of [[EUPHORIA]]? Have they become so incensed over the treatment of their mechanical friends to move to violence? Increased recruitment drives? Deafening riots? Can corporate piracy of manufacturing trade secrets spell the end of an aged family business?

YEA:
 NAY:

==My Entry's Done. Now What?==

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)

As I mentioned above, this was a suggestion that is closely tied to the "challenges". Even if it allows me to make two entries in a turn (by collecting 30 points say) or allows me to do something ''outside'' the normal game play then that is an incentive enough for me. --[[User:DrAckroyd|Dr. H. L. Ackroyd]] 12:44, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

Ghyll:Zodiacal twins

2005-04-22T13:38:59Z

Lankin:

The strange phenomenon known as Zodiacal twins is largely unknown, due in most part in the difficulty that lies in properly identifying these elusive individuals. Zodiacal twins, unlike regular twins, are born from different parents and look nothing like the other at all. What is so remarkable is that the child of Parenht-group A looks like the spitting image of Parent Group B, and vice versa. This has long been thought to be a result of babies being exchanged at birth by mischievous [[Double Headed Glass-Eaters]]. This has always been rather unlikely, as the glass-eaters are a relatively rare species, which would have serious problems with ever carring away an infant without swallowing it.

This belief came to an end when the [[Unquisition]] received an extensive report on the phenomenon from [[Irictus Ross]], who claimed to have studied it extensively. To this date debate rages over wther or not Irictus was the one to actually write the report, or if he merely stole the hard work of other researchers to further his own fame. In any case, the childish superstition of babysnatching was then officially discredited, and finally the phenomenon was explained in a way that lived up to the scholarly standards of today.

Irictus claimed that Zodiacal twins are conceived at precisely the same time, but at vastly different places. Somehow, the simultainety in the mating rituals confuses the planetary influences that would normally bathe the event in their influence. It is unknown wether or not there are other factors which play a part in the process, though [[Occultologists]] who have studied the phenomenon claim that an intake of more than a bucket of [[Fefferberry]] by the male during the week preceding the mating ritual is the main catalyst to the reaction.

Zodiacal twins are peculiar, not just because of their uncanny resemblance to the other's parent, but also because they always die in exotic and unlikely events, and even though they may live on opposite sides of Ghyll and never meet, each twin will die in the same freakish way, be it spontaneous compustion or being eaten alive by [[Burnflies]]. Many Occultologists claim that this is proof that the lives of Zodiacal twins influence each other in subtle yet undeniable ways, and that more similarities are probably occuring without anybody ever noticing.

Indeed, [[Ibaan Malmiz]] has claimed that this synchronicity could possibly be exploited for useful purposes. Some Occultologists have therefore begun seeking out Zodiacal twins to experiment upon, and they hope that this will eventually produce an apparatus that one can use to communicate over large distances by inflicting a series of gruesome tortures upon the one twin, which could then be detected on the other twin.

Some people have expressed some disbelief in this idea, since Zodiacal twins are too rare to ever make the future apparatus available to any significant degree. This has lead some to experiment in breeding Zodiacal twins by forcibly feeding Fefferberries to males just before mating, yet the results are still rather negative. Many hope that further research from the Occultologists will help in this endeavour.

'''Citations''': [[Double Headed Glass-Eaters]], [[Occultologists]], [[Irictus Ross]].

--[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 09:38, 22 Apr 2005 (EDT)

[[Category:Phenomena]]

User:Lankin

2005-04-22T12:50:06Z

Lankin:

== Lankin, Ghyll Scholar ==
It should be noted that nothing would have happened had his parents merely known that lead paint is not suitable food for pregnant women. Lankin began to show some excessive habits at an early age, and his exile from the University of Ildekabar might or might not have had anything to do with his optional view on things like sanity and personal space.

Since then he has travelled the world of Ghyll, building up vast stores of knowledge, in addition to a rather strange reputation. He still tries to get his so-called facts accepted by his peers, who for some reason don't always agree with him. An infuriating fact he'll just have to cope with, hopefully without eating the carpet this time.

==Lankin, Person==
''Lankin is a student taking creative writing at the moment, who depserately tries to brak into the fabulous world of authorship. He thought that this project was ingenious, and would be a nice place to practive that elusive talent we call writing.''

User:Lankin

2005-04-21T20:50:15Z

Lankin: Info on this user

== Lankin of Ildekabar ==

It should be noted that nothing would have happened had his parents merely known that lead paint is not suitable food for pregnant women. Lankin began to show some exessive habits at an early age, and his exile from the university of Ildekabar might or might not have had anything to do with his optional wiew on things like sanity and personal space.

Since then he has travelled the world of Ghyll, building up vast stores of knowledge, in addition to a rather strange reputation. He still tries to get his so-called facts accepted by his peers, who for some reason don't always agree with him. An infuriating fact he'll just have to cope with, hopefully without eating the carpet this time.

--[[User:Lankin|Lankin the Mad Mage]] 16:50, 21 Apr 2005 (EDT)