Ghyll:DermPachyges - Revision history

Morbus Iff: Phantoming some missing pachyderms.

2005-09-09T14:00:45Z

Phantoming some missing pachyderms.

Jcowan: Misspelling removed.

2005-05-17T21:10:20Z

Misspelling removed.

Jcowan: Pluralizing all categories and refactoring some.

2005-01-30T17:47:29Z

Pluralizing all categories and refactoring some.

Jcowan: Jcowan boldly bolds the first appearance of every article name in the corresponding article.

2005-01-29T04:00:03Z

Jcowan boldly bolds the first appearance of every article name in the corresponding article.

Jcowan: Copy editing

2005-01-13T13:06:04Z

Copy editing

Morbus Iff: Linking the forgotten darseed.

2004-10-21T17:41:24Z

Linking the forgotten darseed.

Morbus Iff at 19:27, 10 October 2004

2004-10-10T19:27:41Z

Morbus Iff: Copyediting and the standard blitzkrieg of evil.

2004-10-07T03:05:27Z

Copyediting and the standard blitzkrieg of evil.

Jcowan: improved HTML

2004-10-06T21:59:42Z

improved HTML

Sbp: Please don't forget to sign your entries!

2004-10-02T04:15:45Z

Please don't forget to sign your entries!

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''DermPachyges''' is the pachyderm courier service which run on the least hospitable roads of Ghyll, carrying important messages, flowers, and [[darseed]] shipments from one part of the country to another. Although they will occasionally travel the [[Cataract Road]] and other major roads, they tend to stick to more direct routes, steering in straight lines by the stars.
+__TOC__
 ==The history of the service==
@@ Line 5: / Line 7: @@
 The DermPachyges Courier Service has been in operation for at least 100 years, in one form or another.
-Long before the DermPachyges corporation was officially formed, there had been pachyderm courier services along the routes between major cities. In fact, it is believed that most major roads, with the exception of the [[Cataract Road]], were initially created by the passage of these big beasts.
+Long before the DermPachyges corporation was officially formed, there had been [[pachyderm]] courier services along the routes between major cities. In fact, it is believed that most major roads, with the exception of the [[Cataract Road]], were initially created by the passage of these big beasts.
-Prior to the formation of DermPachyges in -78 {{EC}}, most pachyderm couriers were privately owned, and travelled with a few armed mercenaries for protection. It was believed that these were necessary to keep bandits away from the cargo. Fortunately, the bandits were smarter than that.
+Prior to the formation of DermPachyges in -78 {{EC}}, most [[pachyderm]] couriers were privately owned, and travelled with a few armed mercenaries for protection. It was believed that these were necessary to keep bandits away from the cargo. Fortunately, the bandits were smarter than that.
-However, as cities grew and a less knowledgeable bandit population moved out into the surrounding country, it was discovered that this protection was not really necessary. The first few recorded incidents of bandits attacking the pachyderm couriers tended to have happy endings. Unless, of course, you happen to be the bandit in question. Here is a typical account recorded in ''PrettyDermPhunny'', the informal newsletter of the couriers:
+However, as cities grew and a less knowledgeable bandit population moved out into the surrounding country, it was discovered that this protection was not really necessary. The first few recorded incidents of bandits attacking the [[pachyderm]] couriers tended to have happy endings. Unless, of course, you happen to be the bandit in question. Here is a typical account recorded in ''PrettyDermPhunny'', the informal newsletter of the couriers:
 <blockquote>The bandit approached us from the right side of the trail.  We didn't have any armed guards, due to the budget and the layoffs, so I was pretty scared. I had Bobo slow down, because the guy had a bow, and I figured he'd shoot me if I tried to make a break for it.</blockquote>
@@ Line 29: / Line 31: @@
 ==The nature of the beasts==
-Pachyderms are not to be trifled with: let's make that perfectly clear right up front. That silly children's story about the five blind men who tried to figure out what a pachyderm was like by feeling it ... well, let's just say that in real life the story would have ended up with four of them up in trees and the fifth one a damp spot on the road.
+[[Pachyderm]]s are not to be trifled with: let's make that perfectly clear right up front. That silly children's story about the five blind men who tried to figure out what a pachyderm was like by feeling it ... well, let's just say that in real life the story would have ended up with four of them up in trees and the fifth one a damp spot on the road.
-Pachyderms, also called Elifonts or Olephents in the more rural areas, are very large grey beasts, with a long prehensile nose and round flat feet perfectly adapted to squishing offending persons.  As the name indicates, they have thick (but soft and wrinkled) skins.
+[[Pachyderm]]s, also called Elifonts or Olephents in the more rural areas, are very large grey beasts, with a long prehensile nose and round flat feet perfectly adapted to squishing offending persons.  As the name indicates, they have thick (but soft and wrinkled) skins.
-The beasts are extremely intelligent, and respond very unfavorably to anyone carrying anything that might be construed as a weapon. They make friends very hesitantly, and usually will allow only a single individual to ride on their back. Thus, the courier-drovers are typically paired with a particular pachyderm for their entire career, and become very attached to them. Usually, they are paired with their beast at birth, and the two grow up together.
+The beasts are extremely intelligent, and respond very unfavorably to anyone carrying anything that might be construed as a weapon. They make friends very hesitantly, and usually will allow only a single individual to ride on their back. Thus, the courier-drovers are typically paired with a particular [[pachyderm]] for their entire career, and become very attached to them. Usually, they are paired with their beast at birth, and the two grow up together.
 Since it is certain that these drovers were completely aware of the nature of their partners, it is unlikely that there was ever any real thought, at least on the part of the drovers, that guards were needed. Thus, it is likely that these guards were merely travelling companions gradually elevated to employees, and given a job to justify their employment.
-Pachyderms are extremely strong and, in conjunction with their very thick hide and large feet, this makes them suited to blazing new trails. Just point them in the right direction, and instant road. During slow seasons, pachyderms are often rented out to construction companies for assistance in making new paths.
+[[Pachyderm]]s are extremely strong and, in conjunction with their very thick hide and large feet, this makes them suited to blazing new trails. Just point them in the right direction, and instant road. During slow seasons, pachyderms are often rented out to construction companies for assistance in making new paths.
 ==Aelfants and the DermPachyges==
-As has been noted a number of other places, the nature of, and perhap even the existence of, the [[Aelfants]], is questioned by some scholars. However, the pachyderm drovers know better than anybody else that this is no myth. More than one drover has lost his friend and companion to the wiles of the [[Aelfants]], who are reported to come in the night and woo the steeds away with promises of forbidden pleasures.
+As has been noted a number of other places, the nature of, and perhap even the existence of, the [[Aelfants]], is questioned by some scholars. However, the [[pachyderm]] drovers know better than anybody else that this is no myth. More than one drover has lost his friend and companion to the wiles of the [[Aelfants]], who are reported to come in the night and woo the steeds away with promises of forbidden pleasures.
-In the -20's, the DermPachyges management undertook a campaign to eradicate the [[Aelfants]]. There were two main obstacles to this. First, the stockholders refused to fund the destruction of beasts they didn't believe in. And second, any expedition taken to hunt the [[Aelfants]] was met by the resistance of the beasts carrying the hunters: the pachyderms themselves protected the [[Aelfants]], and the campaign simply could not proceed.
+In the -20's, the DermPachyges management undertook a campaign to eradicate the [[Aelfants]]. There were two main obstacles to this. First, the stockholders refused to fund the destruction of beasts they didn't believe in. And second, any expedition taken to hunt the [[Aelfants]] was met by the resistance of the beasts carrying the hunters: the [[pachyderm]]s themselves protected the [[Aelfants]], and the campaign simply could not proceed.
 ==Routes, schedules, and rates==
-All major cities and many towns are connected to their nearest neighbors by a pachyderm road. You should check with your local pachyderm office for departure times, but usually there will be a departure in the early morning, when the stars are still visible, and one in the evening, just as the stars are coming out.
+All major cities and many towns are connected to their nearest neighbors by a [[pachyderm]] road. You should check with your local pachyderm office for departure times, but usually there will be a departure in the early morning, when the stars are still visible, and one in the evening, just as the stars are coming out.
 Packages can be sent to any other destination, and charges are generally levied based on how many "hops" it takes to reach the remote city or town, as well as on the weight of the item to be sent. Additional fees may be charged for livestock or other goods that require special treatment.

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 ==The nature of the beasts==
-Pachyderms are not to be trifled with: let's make that perfectly clear right up front. That silly childrens' story about the five blind men who tried to figure out what a pachyderm was like by feeling it ... well, let's just say that in real life the story would have ended up with four of them up in trees and the fifth one a damp spot on the road.
+Pachyderms are not to be trifled with: let's make that perfectly clear right up front. That silly children's story about the five blind men who tried to figure out what a pachyderm was like by feeling it ... well, let's just say that in real life the story would have ended up with four of them up in trees and the fifth one a damp spot on the road.
 Pachyderms, also called Elifonts or Olephents in the more rural areas, are very large grey beasts, with a long prehensile nose and round flat feet perfectly adapted to squishing offending persons.  As the name indicates, they have thick (but soft and wrinkled) skins.

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:47, 30 January 2005
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	--[[User:DrBacchus\|DrBacchus]] 21:32, 25 Sep 2004 (EDT)		--[[User:DrBacchus\|DrBacchus]] 21:32, 25 Sep 2004 (EDT)

−	[[Category:~~Organization~~]]	+	[[Category:Organizations]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:00, 29 January 2005
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−	~~The~~ DermPachyges ~~are~~ the pachyderm courier service which run on the least hospitable roads of Ghyll, carrying important messages, flowers, and [[darseed]] shipments from one part of the country to another. Although they will occasionally travel the [[Cataract Road]] and other major roads, they tend to stick to more direct routes, steering in straight lines by the stars.	+	'''DermPachyges''' is the pachyderm courier service which run on the least hospitable roads of Ghyll, carrying important messages, flowers, and [[darseed]] shipments from one part of the country to another. Although they will occasionally travel the [[Cataract Road]] and other major roads, they tend to stick to more direct routes, steering in straight lines by the stars.

	==The history of the service==		==The history of the service==

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 Prior to the formation of DermPachyges in -78 {{EC}}, most pachyderm couriers were privately owned, and travelled with a few armed mercenaries for protection. It was believed that these were necessary to keep bandits away from the cargo. Fortunately, the bandits were smarter than that.
-However, as cities grew and a less knowledgeable bandit population moved out into the surrounding country, it was discovered that this protection was not really necessary. The first few recorded incidents of bandits attaching the pachyderm couriers tended to have happy endings. Unless, of course, you happen to be the bandit in question. Here is a typical account recorded in ''PrettyDermPhunny'', the informal newsletter of the couriers:
+However, as cities grew and a less knowledgeable bandit population moved out into the surrounding country, it was discovered that this protection was not really necessary. The first few recorded incidents of bandits attacking the pachyderm couriers tended to have happy endings. Unless, of course, you happen to be the bandit in question. Here is a typical account recorded in ''PrettyDermPhunny'', the informal newsletter of the couriers:
 <blockquote>The bandit approached us from the right side of the trail.  We didn't have any armed guards, due to the budget and the layoffs, so I was pretty scared. I had Bobo slow down, because the guy had a bow, and I figured he'd shoot me if I tried to make a break for it.</blockquote>

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:41, 21 October 2004
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	The DermPachyges are the pachyderm courier service which run on the least hospitable roads of Ghyll, carrying important messages, flowers, and darseed shipments from one part of the country to another. Although they will occasionally travel the [[Cataract Road]] and other major roads, they tend to stick to more direct routes, steering in straight lines by the stars.	+	The DermPachyges are the pachyderm courier service which run on the least hospitable roads of Ghyll, carrying important messages, flowers, and [[darseed]] shipments from one part of the country to another. Although they will occasionally travel the [[Cataract Road]] and other major roads, they tend to stick to more direct routes, steering in straight lines by the stars.

	==The history of the service==		==The history of the service==

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 During the construction of the [[Cataract Road]] (-74 through -62 {{EC}}), [[Frandos Wakami|Wakami]] actively opposed the construction, feeling that it would cut into his business. There are even some who claim that, when he was unable to stop the construction, he influenced the route of the road so that it would be less of a challenge to his business.
-These days, DermPachyges is the undisputed leader in freight and postage, as well as being responsible for the maintenance of most of the important roads, with the exception of the [[Cataract Road]]. Thr only serious competitor to their supremacy is the company [[TransAvian]]... however, they tend to be limited to packages weighing less than a coconut.
+These days, DermPachyges is the undisputed leader in freight and postage, as well as being responsible for the maintenance of most of the important roads, with the exception of the [[Cataract Road]]. Their only serious competitor to their supremacy is the company [[TransAvian]]... however, they tend to be limited to packages weighing less than a coconut.
 ==The nature of the beasts==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The DermPachyges are the pachyderm courier service which run on the least hospitable roads of Ghyll, carrying important messages, flowers, and darseed shipments from one part of the country to another. Although they will occasionally travel the Cataract Road and other major roads, they tend to stick to more direct routes, steering in straight lines by the stars.
+The DermPachyges are the pachyderm courier service which run on the least hospitable roads of Ghyll, carrying important messages, flowers, and darseed shipments from one part of the country to another. Although they will occasionally travel the [[Cataract Road]] and other major roads, they tend to stick to more direct routes, steering in straight lines by the stars.
 ==The history of the service==
@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 The DermPachyges Courier Service has been in operation for at least 100 years, in one form or another.
-Long before the DermPachyges corporation was officially formed, there have been Pachyderm courier services along the routes between major cities. In fact, it is believed that most major roads, with the exception of the [[Cataract Road]], were initiall created by the passage of these big beasts.
+Long before the DermPachyges corporation was officially formed, there had been pachyderm courier services along the routes between major cities. In fact, it is believed that most major roads, with the exception of the [[Cataract Road]], were initially created by the passage of these big beasts.
-Prior to the formation of DermPachyges, in -78 [[EC]], most pachyderm couriers were privately owned, and travelled with a few armed mercenaries for protection. It was believed that these were necessary to keep bandits away from the cargo. Fortunately, the bandits were smarter than that.
+Prior to the formation of DermPachyges in -78 {{EC}}, most pachyderm couriers were privately owned, and travelled with a few armed mercenaries for protection. It was believed that these were necessary to keep bandits away from the cargo. Fortunately, the bandits were smarter than that.
-However, as cities grew, and a less knowledgeable bandit population moves out from the cities into the surrounding country, it was discovered that this protection was not really necessary. The first few recorded incidents of bandits attaching the pachyderm couriers tend to have happy endings. Unless, of course, you happen to be the bandit in question.
+However, as cities grew and a less knowledgeable bandit population moved out into the surrounding country, it was discovered that this protection was not really necessary. The first few recorded incidents of bandits attaching the pachyderm couriers tended to have happy endings. Unless, of course, you happen to be the bandit in question. Here is a typical account recorded in ''PrettyDermPhunny'', the informal newsletter of the couriers:
-<blockquote>
+<blockquote>The bandit approached us from the right side of the trail.  We didn't have any armed guards, due to the budget and the layoffs, so I was pretty scared. I had Bobo slow down, because the guy had a bow, and I figured he'd shoot me if I tried to make a break for it.</blockquote>
 <blockquote>So Bobo stopped, and the guy approached, and started making demands.  Suddenly, Bobo reached out with her trunk, and before I knew it, she had the thug wrapped up tight as can be, and had brought him close for a good look. He looked terrified, and all of his earlier bravado had evaporated. He was gibbering something that sounded like promises to be a good boy and give up his wayward ways.</blockquote>
@@ Line 21: / Line 19: @@
 After a few dozen similar incidents, all couriers stopped taking guards with them, much to the distress of the guards' union, who went on strike for about three weeks, until they realized that nobody cared.
-In -78 {{EC}}, the loosely-affiliated union of couriers banded together to form a cooperative. In the founding year, they had a contest to pick a name for the cooperative, and eventually came up with DermPachyges. Other suggested names included PackYerDerms, Couriers On Really Big And Scary Beasties, and Pachyges.
+In -78 {{EC}}, the loosely-affiliated union of couriers banded together to form a cooperative. In the founding year, they had a contest to pick a name for their new organization, and eventually came up with DermPachyges. Other suggestions included PackYerDerms, Couriers On Really Big And Scary Beasties, and Pachyges.
-Although formed as a cooperative, it quickly became a corporation under the ruthless leadership of [[Frandos Wakami|Frandos "Elephant Ears" Wakami]]. Although initially elected as sort of overseer and accountant, he quickly appointed himself Supreme Benevolent Dictator For Life, and served as CEO for the next 25 years.
+Although formed as a cooperative, DermPachyges quickly became a corporation under the ruthless leadership of [[Frandos Wakami|Frandos "Elephant Ears" Wakami]]. Although initially elected as sort of overseer and accountant, he quickly appointed himself Supreme Benevolent Dictator For Life, and served as CEO for the next 25 years.
-During the construction of the [[Cataract Road]] (-74 through -62 [[EC]]) Wakami actively opposed the construction, feeling that it would cut into his business. There are even some who claim that, when he was unable to stop the construction, he influenced the route of the road so that it would be less of a challenge to his business.
+During the construction of the [[Cataract Road]] (-74 through -62 {{EC}}), [[Frandos Wakami|Wakami]] actively opposed the construction, feeling that it would cut into his business. There are even some who claim that, when he was unable to stop the construction, he influenced the route of the road so that it would be less of a challenge to his business.
-These days, DermPachyges is the undisputed leader in freight and postage, as well as being responsible for the maintenance of most of the important roads, with the exception of the Cataract Road. The only serious competitor to their supremacy is the company [[TransAvian]]. However, they tend to be limited to packages weighing less than a coconut.
+These days, DermPachyges is the undisputed leader in freight and postage, as well as being responsible for the maintenance of most of the important roads, with the exception of the [[Cataract Road]]. Thr only serious competitor to their supremacy is the company [[TransAvian]]... however, they tend to be limited to packages weighing less than a coconut.
 ==The nature of the beasts==
-The Pachyderms are not to be trifled with. Let's make that perfectly clear right up front. That silly childrens' story about the five blind men who tried to figure out what a pachyderm was like by feeling it ... well, let's just say that in real life the story would have ended up with four of them up in trees and the fifth one a damp spot on the road.
+Pachyderms are not to be trifled with: let's make that perfectly clear right up front. That silly childrens' story about the five blind men who tried to figure out what a pachyderm was like by feeling it ... well, let's just say that in real life the story would have ended up with four of them up in trees and the fifth one a damp spot on the road.
 Pachyderms, also called Elifonts or Olephents in the more rural areas, are very large grey beasts, with a long prehensile nose and round flat feet perfectly adapted to squishing offending persons.  As the name indicates, they have thick (but soft and wrinkled) skins.
-The beasts are extremely intelligent, and respond very unfavorably to anone carrying anything that might be construed as a weapon. They make friends very hesitantly, and usually will allow only a single individual to ride on their back.
+The beasts are extremely intelligent, and respond very unfavorably to anyone carrying anything that might be construed as a weapon. They make friends very hesitantly, and usually will allow only a single individual to ride on their back. Thus, the courier-drovers are typically paired with a particular pachyderm for their entire career, and become very attached to them. Usually, they are paired with their beast at birth, and the two grow up together.
-Thus, the courier-drovers are usually paired with a particular pachyderm for their entire career, and become very attached to them. Usually, they are paired with their beast at birth, and the two grow up together.
+Since it is certain that these drovers were completely aware of the nature of their partners, it is unlikely that there was ever any real thought, at least on the part of the drovers, that guards were needed. Thus, it is likely that these guards were merely travelling companions gradually elevated to employees, and given a job to justify their employment.
-Since it is certain that these drovers were completely aware of the nature of their partners, it is unlikely that there was ever any real thought, at least on the part of the drovers, that guards were needed. Thus, it is thought likely that these guards were merely travelling companions who were gradually elevated to employees, and who were given a job to justify their employment.
+Pachyderms are extremely strong and, in conjunction with their very thick hide and large feet, this makes them suited to blazing new trails. Just point them in the right direction, and instant road. During slow seasons, pachyderms are often rented out to construction companies for assistance in making new paths.
 ==Aelfants and the DermPachyges==
-As has been noted a number of other places, the nature of, and perhap even the existence of, the Aelfants, is questioned by some scholars. However, the pachyderm drovers know better than anybody else, that this is no myth. More than one drover has lost his friend and companion to the wiles of the Aelfants. They are reported to come in the night and woo the steeds away with promises of forbidden pleasures.
+As has been noted a number of other places, the nature of, and perhap even the existence of, the [[Aelfants]], is questioned by some scholars. However, the pachyderm drovers know better than anybody else that this is no myth. More than one drover has lost his friend and companion to the wiles of the [[Aelfants]], who are reported to come in the night and woo the steeds away with promises of forbidden pleasures.
-In the -20's, the DermPachyges management undertook a campaign to eradicate the Aelfants. There were two main obstacles to this. First, the stockholders refused to fund the destruction of beasts they didn't believe in. And second, any expedition taken into the wilderness to hunt the aelfants was met by the resistence of the beasts that were supposed to be carrying the hunt into the wilds. The pachyderms themselves protected the Aelfants, and the campaign simply could not proceed.
+In the -20's, the DermPachyges management undertook a campaign to eradicate the [[Aelfants]]. There were two main obstacles to this. First, the stockholders refused to fund the destruction of beasts they didn't believe in. And second, any expedition taken to hunt the [[Aelfants]] was met by the resistance of the beasts carrying the hunters: the pachyderms themselves protected the [[Aelfants]], and the campaign simply could not proceed.
 ==Routes, schedules, and rates==
-All major cities and many towns are connected to their nearest neighbors by a pachyderm road. You should check with your local pachyderm office for local departure times, but usually there will be a departure in the early morning, when the stars are still visible, and one in the evening, just as the stars are coming out.
+All major cities and many towns are connected to their nearest neighbors by a pachyderm road. You should check with your local pachyderm office for departure times, but usually there will be a departure in the early morning, when the stars are still visible, and one in the evening, just as the stars are coming out.
-Packages can be sent to any other destination, and charges are generally levied based on how many "hops" it takes to reach the remote city or town, and on the weight of the item to be sent. Additional fees may be charged for livestock or other goods that require special treatment.
+'''Citations''' [[Cataract Road]], [[Frandos Wakami]], [[TransAvian]].
 --[[User:DrBacchus|DrBacchus]] 21:32, 25 Sep 2004 (EDT)
 [[Category:Organization]]

@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 Packages can be sent to any other destination, and charges are generally levied based on how many "hops" it takes to reach the remote city or town, and on the weight of the item to be sent. Additional fees may be charged for livestock or other goods that require special treatment.
-'''Citations''' [[TransAvian]], [[Cataract Road]], [[Frandos Wakami]]
+'''Citations''' [[TransAvian]], [[Cataract Road]], [[Frandos Wakami]]<br />
 [[Category:Organization]]