Hello Althanasians!

Yes, I'm going to thread one of those awkward hello from a newbie - tentative wave while wary of tomato-based trash throwing - introductory posts with little purpose other than to get to know some of you and vice versa. New kid on the block here. I've been reading threads for a few weeks now, lurking in the shadows and decided it was time to step up and have a go myself. Hopefully you peeps have room for one more.

I may be new here however truth be told I've visited my fair share of play by post roleplaying sites. They're an old favourite of mine since I began writing way back in 2002. The style of Althanas reminds me of where it all started - the game and the writing combined - filling me with nostalgia, though there are some notable improvements here (such as your rubric and workshop). I've played many characters over the years, also dabbled in moderating and dungeon-mastering threads for groups of players to some success.

My character sheet is coming together after shaking off the rust of writer's block, a few weeks in the making, a few final touches and polish left to do. I've a few obscure questions that you may be able to help me with. Would there be any nations that have their own calender, unique names of months, special dates, that sort of thing or do we default to the months we all know and love? Also, currency, it's exceedingly important to Yvonne. Are there different kinds or is it all shiny, twinkley gold pieces? Any platinum, silver, copper? Perhaps your elves trade in exotic beetle shells? No? *sad face*

Anyhow, thank you for dropping in and ogling at me for a while, perhaps even leaving a few kind words and well wishes. It was pleasant simply saying hello.

Welcome! I hope you decide to stick around and do some writing :)

Looking forward to seeing a new face, hello and welcome! For some of your questions - I think a lot of stuff is left 'unsaid' and is usually up to the current writer's discretion. Currency is usually left as standard 'gold' - races might have a special unique currency if you want but it isn't hard and fast. You didn't ask about it, but there is a common language, but most of the non-human races feasibly have their own tongue.

I look forward to seeing you write here!

Welcome to Althanas!

I always wrote characters using coins, but... never thought about that. I would have to go with Erik's advice.

Welcome. I'm the resident banhammer and general antagonist. As for currency, we've kept the trackable stuff as plain old GP. As for in-thread, I've written my own personal touch on currencies. Each nation using something different or exotic. Raiaeran coin is imbued gold that never wears worth more than trade gold. Fallien trades in rare glass. Deathain would be more of a barter system of oddities or commodities.

But, that's my own personal headcanon. Many people stick to flattened yellow metal.

Feel free to add your own personal touch. If it catches enough sway, we can always adopt it to official canon.

Hey! And welcome. I'm a moderator so if you have any questions feel free to throw them my way. I can usually be found lurking in the discord channel.

The common tongue is called Tradespeak here and we have gold and Raiaeran Gold that is worth about ten of a normal, depending on who you ask. The rest is simple silver and coppers is what people tend to use.

Looking forward to writing with you!

Welcome to Althanas!

Hihi! Welcome to Althanas!

This community's been around quite a bit, but we're nice people when you really get to know them. You might be able to catch us around on Chat at random periods in the day, depending on the time zones. If there are things you would like to know or contribute, ask away! We always welcome new insights that will help the community grow!

Thank you very much everyone for the gracious welcome.

It's reassuring to know some things are left unsaid and we have creative license. I've written for worlds that were very strict in their standards so this Althanas-freedom will take some getting used to, haha.

Tradespeak I managed to glean from reading 'Meteoric Spiderbutt' if I remember rightly. Hard to forget with a name like that. *smiles*

I've a few picky Alerar-related questions if anyone is willing to bite. 'How advanced is Alerar?' is too vague a question... I know all about their gunpowder weapons, their magitech airships - steampunk technology. Those are a big deal. I'm more interested in the little things, the day-to-day objects.

I take it the flint and tinderbox fell out of use there a while ago, so what was it replaced with? Phosphorous matches? Arcano-lighters? Handheld flamethrowers?

How about a wood-chopping hatchet? That seems way too barbaric for them but a chainsaw seems too advanced. Where is the line?

I guess steampunk is one of my weak points. I've less experience with it compared to high fantasy, medieval fantasy, modern and sci-fi. I suppose that's what has drawn me to it this time - it's something familiar but new.

I think tinderboxes are a general accepted taken. Anything that you can create with your mind I think is okay. Guns are up to the levels of revolvers more or less, the traditional old ones that pirates have. Airships are usually described as being like zepplins. It depends who you talk to probably about technology. Recently there have been threads with content about genetic experimenting - e.g. making people stronger with serums and so on. If you add magic to the mix then you can make more things. The main thing I do is consider what the cultures have already, and why they might make things when they have magic etc.

Oh and steam trains are a thing. Between the cities.

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Originally Posted by Philomel

Oh and steam trains are a thing. Between the cities.

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[strike]Theeeeeeeeeeeeey're two! They're four! They're six! They're eight! Shunting trucks and hauling freight! Red and gree-[/strike]okay, trying to help answer Yvonne's questions:

Maybe looking at technology from the RL industrial revolution can help? I never thought of "average life" technology in Alerar before, but I can easily imagine that early telephones, electricity, or at least typewriters are a thing. How about bicycles? Since "steampunk" and steam "energy" is basically a form of hydroelectricity, saying that electricity has been invented isn't that far fetched. I'd say that looking at the lore, maybe only wealthy folk and criminals could afford such technology? Then again, even slaves in Alerar can get an education, so...

In terms of alchemy, serums, etc., Alerar's alchemy is strongly scientific, so using magic in it is usually unlikely. However, the good old Alchemist's Guild may have more shifty workers (and if not the Alchemist's Guild, the dreaded "Fourth" Guild...) Finding a way to combine real world science with magic could prove sweet! :D

Then again, I could be wrong on all of this. But this is my two cents. xD

Ah yes sorry ignore me. Magic in Alerar is rare and looked down upon a bit. Not as much as Salvar but ... It's not common. But there may be some tech and magic things that go together, influenced by Alerar for instance.

I looked at the wiki and found these quotes:

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Orderly arrangements of columns, pilasters and lintels, as well as the use of semicircular arches, hemispherical domes, niches and aedicula ... Prominent features of modern Alerian architecture combine the aforementioned style with brass, clockworks, and several other technological features that support their lifestyle.

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So clockwork is a thing. Clockwork style equipment, weapons, and such could be a thing as well. Music boxes also entered my mind.

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Artists are now exploring a brand new frontier, photography in its infancy.

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Based off of this, very clearly, early cameras exist. For example, the RL Daguerreotype methods of photography. It's plausible that early movie cameras, or at least projectors, aren't that far from existence.

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Engineers' Guild - The newest but fastest-growing guild, the Engineers construct the great machines and modern factories in Alerar. If it runs with steam and gears, the Engineers probably built it. Slang term: "White Hood."

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This gives us a lot to work with. So "great machines" and "modern factories" means that sweat shops existed, alongside sowing machines, those things that made threads that were hazardous that kids had to work with and get traumatic injuries from...

Alerar really needs some Workers Unions...

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Alchemists' Guild - Responsible for crafting everything from simple salves to the sorcerous power sources of the airships, the Alchemists Guild is the only one that still practices magic, albeit in a way much more bound to the material world. Everything from potions to rune-forged steel comes from the Alchemists. They maintain vast elaborate laboratories with all the beakers and tubes one might expect. Many even venture into more traditional scientific research, such as rudimentary physics and geology. A common slang for an Alchemist is "Blue Hood", referencing their standard uniforms.

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The part about Runes is really interesting. Not only is "down to earth" lowkey magic and science practiced, but the art of using runes (a thing more closely associated with magic) is used to.

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The Boilerworks is the name given to any one of six massive facilities located along the river that cuts through Ettermire. The Boilerworks draws water from the river, stoking it into massive steam engines which drive nearly all the sources of mechanical power in Ettermire. The steam engines link to a network of chains and gears that run under the streets of the city, which provides municipal mechanical power by means of a drive train that transfers the mechanical power from under the streets to in the home, which can provide power for anything from dough-kneading to a smith's bellows.

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Electricity exists confirmed. Does this mean fridges and laundry machines exist?

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Beneath the city lies a vast network of tunnels and sewers. This endless maze is said to contain secret passageways to every part of the city and as such.

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Sewer systems exist too.

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The Armory is where the dwarves and dark elves sell their wares to those who make the long journey to Kachuck -- and who earn their trust. Excellent armor and weaponry of all sorts can be purchased here, but only if the dwarves decide they like you.

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Dwarves also make advanced everything's.

*Hops in to belatedly wave hello to the newperson and flashes a thumbs-up for readin Spiderbutt!*

Sewer systems existed before Victorian times, or came in during them so they'd likely be in most cultures.

For electricity it generally took a good few decades for it to become viable for use. I wouldn't think full fridges yet, but think I've houses. Think very simple electronic lights. They still need a lot of generation. Batteries wouldn't exist yet. Cars likely wouldn't.

In terms of factories I think industrial revolution. So you've got the massive cotton mills. Huge food factories. Some of it would be automated by machine but needs huge manpower. There might be early conveyer belts, but they would be driven by clockwork. One book I read once actually had clockwork animals so that might be something to consider.

Wow, you two went out of your way on this, especially Flamebird. Every time I'd glance back at the thread she had dug even deeper into the wiki, below and beyond! Careful not to dig too deep Flamebird, you never know what you'll unearth. Maybe a baelrog of shadow and flame lives under the wiki, haha.

Serious face, thank you kindly for your efforts. This material was very helpful in clearing up some of the details I kept pondering and that was slowing down my writing process. Back on track thanks to you peeps.

I believe the notion that the wealthy and the underworld alone would have access to the latest technological advances. The second class citizens and the poor would make do with the scraps they could scrape together.

I'm terrible, I laughed way too much at the mention of kids in sweatshops and in need of a worker's union. They'll be waiting until the 1800s to come along before the first one is founded, haha.

Magic, as long as it is very low risk and controlled is accepted. I'd expect wild mages to be hunted down and imprisoned, or executed, as they have next to no control over their talent.

Dwarves are among the greatest blacksmiths and craftsmen, builders and engineers in the known world, but they are firmly under the bootheel of the dark elves, and I'd imagine its dark elves that own the businesses and collect the bulk of the profits. Meaning the dark elves control the money, they buy the tech, and they control how it is dispersed among their underlings. There are exceptions of course, rich and powerful dwarves, but its an uphill slog for them.

The mention of cotton mills was very helpful to nail down Yvonne's apparel, thank ye. I'm on the home stretch of my history (which I should have posted in the next day or so) and I have no further questions. You peeps were genuinely awesome. *curtsy*