Ghyll:Hopdurg - Revision history

Morbus Iff: Dunno how this stuff got by me.

2005-08-01T13:43:21Z

Dunno how this stuff got by me.

Morbus Iff: Copyediting. Ssssh.

2005-07-18T19:33:36Z

Copyediting. Ssssh.

Jcowan: Misspelling

2005-07-15T01:41:47Z

Misspelling

Nikos of Ant at 20:28, 6 July 2005

2005-07-06T20:28:34Z

Nikos of Ant at 03:17, 6 July 2005

2005-07-06T03:17:29Z

Nikos of Ant at 01:15, 6 July 2005

2005-07-06T01:15:14Z

Nikos of Ant: viola!

2005-07-06T01:08:31Z

viola!

Nikos of Ant: dib'd

2005-07-05T04:41:21Z

dib'd

New page

dibs --[[User:Nikos of Ant|Nikos of Ant]] 00:41, 5 Jul 2005 (EDT)

The Looliers were an advanced tribe of theoalchemists that lived in and around the Vale of Serdoch. They lived near the less-advanced, smaller tribe of Exingians and shared a neighborly, if not amicable, relationship with them. Somewhere between –400 EC and –323 EC things changed, however, and the entire tribe of Looliers were destroyed at the Battle of Barnum Stones.

Although the study of Looliers has been considered a poor subject and generally discouraged, recent Hive-Lord questions have led several well-meaning seekers to dig for answers. Their investigations have started, naturally, with Bordingbras his hatt! and led through the ramblings of the “Loony Loolier”, Ibaan Malmiz. This, coupled with research from the Bureau of Forgotten Knowledge, has painted a fairly clear picture of the Looliers as others saw them.

There are many mentions in Exingian literature of the Looliers. They are described in the earliest pieces as boorish and somewhat smelly. In middle pieces – those prior to the Battle of Barnum Stones – they are described as snobbish, arrogant and lewd. After the Battle, however, the character of the Looliers changes in Exingian portrayal. Suddenly, the snobbish, lewd, smelly Looliers are noble, superior, and overwhelmingly organized and orderly. This is obviously a transparent attempt to elevate Exingian culture over the Loolier culture by virtue of its obvious success.

If Exingian culture is any indication, they immediately adopted many of the mannerisms of the Looliers after the Battle. There are recorded instances of baby-throwing contests held on the anniversary of the battle (and the resultant public outcry). The sudden advancement of Theoalchemy and the elevation of '''Kiluma''' is also a factor. One also notes the introduction of the derogatory term loo meaning someplace or something undesirable. The implication being that something loolier was even more undesirable.

Pursuing the question of his Hive-Lord, Ser Malmiz discovered heretofore unknown facts about the Looliers and their pratices. Being an inquisitive sort, he pursued the study of the only known Loolier writing and rediscovered the Clamorxian Decoding Method. Using this arcane series of textual transformations, he was able to discern that the Looliers were the inheritors of knowledge deeded to them by an ancient race of Ghyllians that had lived in The City of Spheres, Sayaziha.

In Ser Malmiz’ account, the ancients were misunderstood and were destined to always be. Ultimately, they went willingly to the slaughter just like beasts at the hands of the Looliers. This story is echoed in the epic Bordingbras his hatt! and in the demise of the Looliers themselves.

While many would try to link the two (c.f. Juzh Iruk: Bordingbras his hatt!), it has been proven that the Looliers were a separate tribe from the mysterious Alezanians. Despite many attempts to vilify the Looliers with the ‘evil’ reputation of the Alezanians, the archeological evidence points to distinct and separate cultural development of the two tribes.

While the Raking has destroyed almost all of the cultural remains, a few items held in personal collections or stolen by other cultures remain. Among these are a '''glugfeffil''' and a '''verapsnik''' which suggest a previously unsuspected devotion to the '''God-king Hopdurg'''. While '''Hopdurgians''' would argue that '''the worship of Kiluma and Hopdurg''' are incompatible, alternative explanations have not been forthcoming. It is this connection to the Hopdurgians that leads to the suspected involvement of a third party in the destruction of the Looliers at Barnum Stones.

The Loolier tribe had achieved advancements in Theoalchemy. Centuries prior to the widespread use of Andelphracian Lights, they had developed something similar. They were also rumored to have found a way to create precious metals out of light. It may have been this very development that led to their downfall.

Evidence of their light technology can be extracted from their writings. In fact, a crude version of Awal shrinkage can be derived using instructions encoded in Bordingbras his hatt!. Other theoalchemical processes are either incomplete or divided through a series of poems that have been, sadly, lost to us.

The closest reconstructed process came from Prof. Jarvis Tinkle of the Bureau of Forgotten Knowledge who was experimenting with translating engraved dialogs between a Loolier captive and his Exingian questioner in which the questioner asks how to create gold from light. The Loolier answers cryptically:

"Diffle frances lyte theye see, plöne harange thy golde shall be."
Using the Clamorxian Decoding Method, Tinkle derived a formula that when applied caused gold to disappear in the presence of light. Since this was useless knowledge it was abandoned from further research.

According to occultologists, Looly, the Divinity of Dark Fire component of Vulcrue, is connected somehow with the Looliers. This may be yet another example of the defects of Ghyllian etymology, or perhaps the first stirrings of euhemerism. Only time will tell.

The Looliers present a fascinating study of recursive destiny, in which advanced cultures give way to less advanced cultured because of misunderstandings. If the fate of the Exingians is any indication, the recursion continues even to the present day.

While it would be fascinating to try to discover the truth of the Looliers (or even the ancients’) knowledge in full, it may be that such recursive loss of detail is for the best. The lesson we can learn from the Looliers is that nothing can bring the wrath of chaos onto one quicker than success.

As a footnote to the demise of the Looliers, '''it is this scholar’s considered opinion that the motives of the cult of the God-king Hopdurg should not be closely examined in the demise of the Looliers. This is an unpopular opinion and cannot be supported except in the light of circumstantial and limited evidence; although it is a logical argument'''. So, to whom it may concern, I have recanted as much as my conscience will allow. Please stop threatening the life of my pets.

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 '''Citations''': [[Ibah Mahli]], [[Looliers]], [[Oblibestircus]]
 ----
 As to the details of the remaining beliefs of the Hopdurgs, look for more in the First Revision which may come as early as Edition #3 of this fine publication. As to other controversies, please look to the article on the [[Looliers]]. Thank you. --[[User:Nikos of Ant|Nikos of Ant]] 21:08, 5 Jul 2005 (EDT)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-<blockquote>"Hopdurg is the King – what else can be said of a god who plays music to the undead, dances up storms, and sings the wind through the willows?  If I could swing my hips the way he can, I’d be making a living in the dance halls of Zhin!  Huzzah!"
+:"Hopdurg is the King – what else can be said of a god who plays music to the undead, dances up storms, and sings the wind through the willows?  If I could swing my hips the way he can, I’d be making a living in the dance halls of Zhin!  Huzzah!" --[[Ibah Mahli]], author of ''Grinham Noire: Collected Tails''
-<blockquote>"God-King Hopdurg?  If he isn’t dead, what good is he to me?"  --[[Oblibestirus]]</blockquote>
+:"God-King Hopdurg?  If he isn’t dead, what good is he to me?" --[[Oblibestirus]]
-Known as '''The God-King''', Hopdurg is an ancient deity of Ghyll, a god of geomantic order, of pitch-perfect prose, and of gyromatic rhythm.  Those who worship this '''Lord of the Dance''' are called Hopdurgians, Hopdurgs and even Swingnuts (in select byways).  Most adherents of the Dokethinian persuasion (''see below'') live in the hamlets of the Midevesque and in the fishing villages of [[Lake Crimin]] while followers of the Oestrinian sect (''see below'') live largely in the [[Dulalian Empire]], though there also seems to always be an undercurrent of pseudo-belief within the average preparatory school.
+One other aspect of Hopdurgic belief is that all Ghyllians can retrace their ancestors to the Matriarch Palanquin (an Olkuull word meaning "She Whose Eggsack Nurtures All Children") and likewise can trace their yet-born descendants to the Patriarch Falpatuin (meaning "He Who Owns All That His Mothers Have Touched").
-The God-King Hopdurg is celebrated in song and dance and the art form known as Florentin Vegetal (aka cucumber flowers).  The glugfeffil, the verapsnik, the hivratch, and the weywal are all associated with the God-King and banananut butter is the traditional food offered upon his altars.  Worship usually consists of various dance rituals accompanied by twanging musical instruments and a potluck of butters, breads and fruit.  These rituals are quite popular among adolescents and many a non-believing parent has been heard to grumble that Hopdurg is no better than [[Vulcrue]]. Please note that though some adolescents have indeed "gone with the dancin' god" simply due to the music and sway and the temple-sponsored dating parties, the activities of these youth should not be confused with the more primitive and downright nasty shenanigans of the [[Great Awakening]].  Indeed, whereas the Great Awakening is all about anti-authoritarian chaos, the worship of Hopdurg is based in energized order.
+Taken at face value, an obvious derivation of this belief is that one day there won’t be any Ghyllians but for one – a state of affairs that the Hopdurgians fully accept. Though the believers soundly reject any connection between their "end of civilization" and the scholarly study of Recursive Destiny, there does seem to be many a corollary.
-One other aspect of Hopdurgic belief is that all Ghyllians can retrace their ancestors to the Matriarch Palanquin (an okuul word meaning "She Whose Eggsack Nurtures All Children") and likewise can trace their yet-born descendants to the Patriarch Falpatuin (meaning "He Who Owns All That His Mothers Have Touched").
+This belief in an ultimate descendant, however, has raised eyebrows amongst those that ponder divine ascendancies. This eyebrow-raising was also seen within the religion itself when some three hundred years ago a schism developed midst the adherents and the one faith split into two segments. The Oestrinites believe that Falpatuin shall earn his place as the ultimate descendant, either through battle, intrigue, or attrition. The Dokethinians believe that Falpatuin shall inherit this position by birth. Please think about this, dear readers. Finished thinking? When asked how a multitude of Ghyllians could give birth to a single individual, the Dokethinian reply is usually, "Ask Hopdurg." When asked ''when'' Falpatuin shall be born the common answer is, "it’s not polite to ask."
 A curious side note on Hopdurgic belief and practice is that the adherents tend to breed like byrnbunnies and many specialize in coffin design, go figure.
 '''Citations''': [[Ibah Mahli]], [[Looliers]], [[Oblibestircus]]
-As to the details of the remaining beliefs of the Hopdurgs, look for more in the First Revision which may come as early as Edition #3 of this fine publication.  As to other controversies, please look to the article on the [[Looliers]].  Thank you.  --[[User:Nikos of Ant|Nikos of Ant]] 21:08, 5 Jul 2005 (EDT)
+As to the details of the remaining beliefs of the Hopdurgs, look for more in the First Revision which may come as early as Edition #3 of this fine publication. As to other controversies, please look to the article on the [[Looliers]]. Thank you. --[[User:Nikos of Ant|Nikos of Ant]] 21:08, 5 Jul 2005 (EDT)

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 Known as '''The God-King''', Hopdurg is an ancient deity of Ghyll, a god of geomantic order, of pitch-perfect prose, and of gyromatic rhythm.  Those who worship this '''Lord of the Dance''' are called Hopdurgians, Hopdurgs and even Swingnuts (in select byways).  Most adherents of the Dokethinian persuasion (''see below'') live in the hamlets of the Midevesque and in the fishing villages of [[Lake Crimin]] while followers of the Oestrinian sect (''see below'') live largely in the [[Dulalian Empire]], though there also seems to always be an undercurrent of pseudo-belief within the average preparatory school.
-The God-King Hopdurg is celebrated in song and dance and the art form known as Florentin Vegetal (aka cucumber flowers).  The glugfeffil, the verapsnik, the hivratch, and the weywal are all associated with the God-King and banananut butter is the traditional food offered upon his altars.  Worship usually consists of various dance rituals accompanied by twanging musical instruments and a potluck of butters, breads and fruit.  These rituals are quite popular among adolescents and many a non-believing parent has been heard to grumble that Hopdurg is no better than [[Vulcrue]]. Please note that though some adolescents have indeed "gone with the dancin' god" simply due to the music and sway and the temple-sponsored dating parties, the activities of these youth should not be confused with the more primitive and downright nasty shananigins of the [[Great Awakening]].  Indeed, whereas the Great Awakening is all about anti-authoritarian chaos, the worship of Hopdurg is based in energized order.
+The God-King Hopdurg is celebrated in song and dance and the art form known as Florentin Vegetal (aka cucumber flowers).  The glugfeffil, the verapsnik, the hivratch, and the weywal are all associated with the God-King and banananut butter is the traditional food offered upon his altars.  Worship usually consists of various dance rituals accompanied by twanging musical instruments and a potluck of butters, breads and fruit.  These rituals are quite popular among adolescents and many a non-believing parent has been heard to grumble that Hopdurg is no better than [[Vulcrue]]. Please note that though some adolescents have indeed "gone with the dancin' god" simply due to the music and sway and the temple-sponsored dating parties, the activities of these youth should not be confused with the more primitive and downright nasty shenanigans of the [[Great Awakening]].  Indeed, whereas the Great Awakening is all about anti-authoritarian chaos, the worship of Hopdurg is based in energized order.
 One other aspect of Hopdurgic belief is that all Ghyllians can retrace their ancestors to the Matriarch Palanquin (an okuul word meaning "She Whose Eggsack Nurtures All Children") and likewise can trace their yet-born descendants to the Patriarch Falpatuin (meaning "He Who Owns All That His Mothers Have Touched").

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:28, 6 July 2005
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−	Known as '''The God-King''', Hopdurg is an ancient deity of Ghyll, a god of geomantic order, of pitch-perfect prose, and of gyromatic rhythm. Those who worship this '''Lord of the Dance''' are called Hopdurgians, Hopdurgs and even Swingnuts (in select byways). Most adherents of the Dokethinian persuasion live in the hamlets of the Midevesque and in the fishing villages of [[Lake Crimin]] while followers of the Oestrinian sect live largely in the [[Dulalian Empire]], though there also seems to always be an undercurrent of pseudo-belief within the average preparatory school.	+	Known as '''The God-King''', Hopdurg is an ancient deity of Ghyll, a god of geomantic order, of pitch-perfect prose, and of gyromatic rhythm. Those who worship this '''Lord of the Dance''' are called Hopdurgians, Hopdurgs and even Swingnuts (in select byways). Most adherents of the Dokethinian persuasion (''see below'') live in the hamlets of the Midevesque and in the fishing villages of [[Lake Crimin]] while followers of the Oestrinian sect (''see below'') live largely in the [[Dulalian Empire]], though there also seems to always be an undercurrent of pseudo-belief within the average preparatory school.

	The God-King Hopdurg is celebrated in song and dance and the art form known as Florentin Vegetal (aka cucumber flowers). The glugfeffil, the verapsnik, the hivratch, and the weywal are all associated with the God-King and banananut butter is the traditional food offered upon his altars. Worship usually consists of various dance rituals accompanied by twanging musical instruments and a potluck of butters, breads and fruit. These rituals are quite popular among adolescents and many a non-believing parent has been heard to grumble that Hopdurg is no better than [[Vulcrue]]. Please note that though some adolescents have indeed "gone with the dancin' god" simply due to the music and sway and the temple-sponsored dating parties, the activities of these youth should not be confused with the more primitive and downright nasty shananigins of the [[Great Awakening]]. Indeed, whereas the Great Awakening is all about anti-authoritarian chaos, the worship of Hopdurg is based in energized order.		The God-King Hopdurg is celebrated in song and dance and the art form known as Florentin Vegetal (aka cucumber flowers). The glugfeffil, the verapsnik, the hivratch, and the weywal are all associated with the God-King and banananut butter is the traditional food offered upon his altars. Worship usually consists of various dance rituals accompanied by twanging musical instruments and a potluck of butters, breads and fruit. These rituals are quite popular among adolescents and many a non-believing parent has been heard to grumble that Hopdurg is no better than [[Vulcrue]]. Please note that though some adolescents have indeed "gone with the dancin' god" simply due to the music and sway and the temple-sponsored dating parties, the activities of these youth should not be confused with the more primitive and downright nasty shananigins of the [[Great Awakening]]. Indeed, whereas the Great Awakening is all about anti-authoritarian chaos, the worship of Hopdurg is based in energized order.

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 Known as '''The God-King''', Hopdurg is an ancient deity of Ghyll, a god of geomantic order, of pitch-perfect prose, and of gyromatic rhythm.  Those who worship this '''Lord of the Dance''' are called Hopdurgians, Hopdurgs and even Swingnuts (in select byways).  Most adherents of the Dokethinian persuasion live in the hamlets of the Midevesque and in the fishing villages of [[Lake Crimin]] while followers of the Oestrinian sect live largely in the [[Dulalian Empire]], though there also seems to always be an undercurrent of pseudo-belief within the average preparatory school.
-The God-King Hopdurg is celebrated in song and dance and the art form known as Florentin Vegetal (aka cucumber flowers).  The glugfeffil, the verapsnik, the hivratch, and the weywal are all associated with the God-King and banananut butter is the traditional food offered upon his altars.  Worship usually consists of various dance rituals accompanied by twanging musical instruments and a potluck of butters, breads and fruit.  These rituals are quite popular among adolescents and many a non-believing parent has been heard to grumble that Hopdurg is no better than [[Vulcrue]].
+The God-King Hopdurg is celebrated in song and dance and the art form known as Florentin Vegetal (aka cucumber flowers).  The glugfeffil, the verapsnik, the hivratch, and the weywal are all associated with the God-King and banananut butter is the traditional food offered upon his altars.  Worship usually consists of various dance rituals accompanied by twanging musical instruments and a potluck of butters, breads and fruit.  These rituals are quite popular among adolescents and many a non-believing parent has been heard to grumble that Hopdurg is no better than [[Vulcrue]]. Please note that though some adolescents have indeed "gone with the dancin' god" simply due to the music and sway and the temple-sponsored dating parties, the activities of these youth should not be confused with the more primitive and downright nasty shananigins of the [[Great Awakening]].  Indeed, whereas the Great Awakening is all about anti-authoritarian chaos, the worship of Hopdurg is based in energized order.
 One other aspect of Hopdurgic belief is that all Ghyllians can retrace their ancestors to the Matriarch Palanquin (an okuul word meaning "She Whose Eggsack Nurtures All Children") and likewise can trace their yet-born descendants to the Patriarch Falpatuin (meaning "He Who Owns All That His Mothers Have Touched").

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 Taken at face value an obvious derivation of this belief is that one day there won’t be any Ghyllians but for one – a state of affairs that the Hopdurgians fully accept. Though the believers soundly reject any connection between their "end of civilization" and the scholarly study of Recursive Destiny, there does seem to be many a corollary.
-This belief in an ultimate descendant, however, has raised eyebrows amongst those that ponder divine ascendancies.  This eyebrow-raising was also seen within the religion when some three hundred years ago a schism developed midst the adherents and the one faith split into two segments.  The '''Oestrinites''' believe that Falpatuin shall earn his place as the ultimate descendant, either through battle, intrigue, or attrition.  The '''Dokethinians''' believe that Falpatuin shall inherit this position by birth.  Please think about this, dear readers.  Finished thinking?  When asked how a multitude of Ghyllians could give birth to a single individual, the Dokethinian reply is usually, "Ask Hopdurg."
+This belief in an ultimate descendant, however, has raised eyebrows amongst those that ponder divine ascendancies.  This eyebrow-raising was also seen within the religion itself when some three hundred years ago a schism developed midst the adherents and the one faith split into two segments.  The '''Oestrinites''' believe that Falpatuin shall earn his place as the ultimate descendant, either through battle, intrigue, or attrition.  The '''Dokethinians''' believe that Falpatuin shall inherit this position by birth.  Please think about this, dear readers.  Finished thinking?  When asked how a multitude of Ghyllians could give birth to a single individual, the Dokethinian reply is usually, "Ask Hopdurg."
 When asked ''when'' Falpatuin shall be born the common answer is, "it’s not polite to ask."