Aladro's Island Almanac (transcribed from memory by Locke) This is a work of fiction, and is for use with Tyselorrd and The Isles, specifically. It is geared to familiarize the player with the world of Tyselorrd. Please note, all ascii representations were created in the squinched 50-line mode, where characters are contained in square boxes rather than in rectangular regions. For proper aspect when viewing, use 50 line mode. Copyright (c) 1995, Herb Gilliland. All rights reserved. -----------------------[ Table of Contents ]------------------------- - Introduction - A Linguistic Look at the Realms - Unitary Systems Zengalli Monetary Units Haanstaed Weight, Length and Volume Olani Time Mudaki A Note on Calendars Zalufini - Weather on the Isles Haesni - Trader's Almanac Index of Goods and Services --------------------------[ Introduction ]-------------------------- From the Author This text is written solely for the purpose of outline and explaining the different aspects of the Tyselorrd game, specifically the parts of the world which are important to playing on The Isles MUD. The ideas contained herein are solely owned by the author, Herb Gilliland. He reserves the right to modify, omit or remove any of this at any time. Aladro's Island Almanac is written in the first person to make it entertaining as well as informative. Aladro's persona is defined in the 'From Aladro' section of this introduction. From Aladro This would be my first written log of events and information ever published by my own hand. For years I've studied the oldest tomes in the lycaeum here in Kess, but I've never taken to writing well, and this has taken me much effort to produce. I grew up in the city, in the service of my lord Coranos Rygor, and his father Ikthius Rygor. I am an old man, having lived for the length of two kings, and I know a bit of lore has passed before mine eyes plenty of times. This compilation contains my notes to the newcomer. I have read of many lands far and wide across our great oceans, and this text is offered unto the traveler; use it well, for it shall familiarize you with the parts of these islands that, for natives, are like second nature to us. ------------------------[ Unitary Systems ]-------------------------- - [Monetary Units] Each kingdom, it seems, has had its own currency. The Rygor line has standardized the money system throughout these islands, much to the appreciation of the merchant class. I have ranked the coins according to the currency value (c's). 10000c Bezain are coins made from precious metal alloys, usually platinum and gold, though sometimes gold and silver (commonly known as electrum). Each bezain is one-half halfspan across and as thick as a thumbnail. A bezain is worth one ten thousand units of currency. 1000c Platinum coins are hand-pressed coins with a diameter equal to a dwarf's smallest finger, or about one third handspan (see below). Each platinum piece is worth one thousand units of currency. 100c Gold pieces, rich man's tokens, are smaller than platinum coins, but thicker, to even out their weight with platinum pieces. They are stamped with the visage of the current king, in this case, Coranos Rygor. A gold piece is worth one hundred units of currency. 10c Silver coins rank as ten currency units. They are the same size and thickness as gold coins. 1c Copper pieces, the most common coins, are standard sized coins that rank the same size and thickness as gold and silver coins. Each copper is equal to one currency unit. - [Weight, Length and Volume] The standard units of measurement across the Isles and on the mainland of Tyselorrd are as follows. Weight: (english equivalent) halfstone 1/2 pound stone 1 pound dustone 2 pounds Metals: halfbar 1/2 bar bar 1 handspan by 1 halfspan by 2 qetspans durbar 2 bars worth Lengths: qetspan 1 inch halfspan 3 inches handspan 6 inches duspan 12 inches Volume (solid): halfskal 3 cubic inches handskal 6 cubic inches duskal 12 cubic inches halfbral 1/2 brals (50 duskals) bral 100 duskals dubral 2 brals (200 duskals) Volume (liquid): halfswil 1 cup handswil 1 pint duswil 1 quart halfcask 1/2 cask (2 duswils) undcask 4 duswils ducask 2 casks (8 duswils) - [Time] Time on the isles is seperated into years, months, weeks, days, hours and, for those with clockwork timepieces, minutes and seconds. The days are as follows: Great Hawk (Lexo), Falcon (Franto), Owl (Halag), Black Crow (Ruz), Phoenix (Kalamak), Golden Eagle (Aedo), Grey Gull (Franwag). The months are as follows: Season of the Ice Cougar (Iak) Season of the White Fox (Vod) Season of the Robin (Lin) Season of the Crystalfish (Nemi) Crop Wind (Grez) Season of the Squirrel (Po) Dry Winds (Rani) Dragon's Breath (Falak) Harvest Moon (Kae) Season of the Changing Oak (Ret) New Frost (Jal) Ice Weaver (Yun) According to the Rygor calendar, the year is 452 (as of the date of this writing) from the day of the foundation of our lord's realm, the year 1. Each day is divided into twenty-four hours. There are seven days in a week, thirty days per month. There is a total of twelve months in a year, from winter to winter. ---- A Note on Calendars This text is from Dremmen's History of Calendars. "Calendars, throughout the chronology of Tyselorrd, have been sited as based on the kingdom you are in. As one year varies from the next, a standard calendar was adopted long ago from the Vlattensintri calendar, which marks all days and months the same, regardless of what year the particular king declares it to be. The days of the Vlattensintri calendar are as follows: Lexo, Franto, Halag, Ruz, Kalamak, Aedo, Franwag. The months of the Vlattensintri calendar are as follows: Iak, Vod, Lin, Nemi, Grez, Po, Rani, Falak, Kae, Ret, Jal and Yun." ----------------------[ Weather on the Isles ]------------------------ Scientifically, the Southern Isles of Jharl lie to the south of the mainland, and are generally displaced from the tropical and temperate climes that one sees on the mainland. This southern region is relatively colder, though not harshly so, and sports an extended winter season. Due to the ocean proximity, the isles are often buffeted by powerful blizzards that come suddenly. During the milder months, heavy thunderstorms are a common sight. On the other hand, there are occasional dry seasons during the winter, summer and autumn. Droughts can occur, forcing the rationing of water and other supplies. Twice in recent history great gails have erupted from the deep ocean to descend upon the isles, particularly the smaller, more vulnerable ones. These hurricanes are devastating to local populations. --------------------------[ Trader's Almanac ]-------------------------- I have slowly compiled this section from merchant reports over the last few years. I have kept merchant ledgers from various establishments whom let me have access to their records. Caravan Group Services Trade escorts Exotic, common imports Exporting of local goods Consortium, The Services Exotic imports Exporting of local goods Dwarven Merchants Guild Services Mining trade Exporting of refined and raw metals Importing of gems Zozzo Services Importing of exotic goods Exporting of art and local crafts Importing of rare items Usually buy stock and supplies Zylots, The Services Import artwork and luxury items, rare weapons and jewels Deal in some contraband Export local luxuries, rare items, gems Goods Cape Red (The Port of) Goods Exotic imports are high. Local exports include fish, rare spices and herbs. Fine luxury items abound within the city walls. Largest agricultural importer. Blood Lake Mines Goods Refined metals. Raw ore. Some mushrooms and fungus. Exports are primarily oil, metal and gems. Kess Goods Fine weapons, foods and preserved items. Main imports include preservatives and spices. Exports include herbs, rare components. Imports gems. Keveg Goods Exports mainly wheat, corn, rye, barley and other foods. Main luxury imports are Keveg wines. Vesper Goods Largest agricultural exporter. Imports fish, some meats, luxury items (some), weapons, ores, metals, wines and exotic ales. -------------------[ A Linguistic Look at the Realms ]-------------------- - [Zengalli] The Zengalli, historically, was the most prevailent humanic tribe that conquered much of northern Tyselorrd during the tribal succession wars of the earlier millenia. It is a common spoken language among all humans now, as well as a similar form of tradespeak and localspeak that is associated with each region. - [Haanstaed] Haanstaed is the language of those dwarves involved with the fortress at Kreighaad, on Soedar. Haanstaed is a gutteral speak, befitting of the dwarven race. All other forms of dwarven languages are derived from an ancient version of Haanstaed that was localized on Tyselorrd, and not on Soedar itself. - [Olani] The language Olani is that of the thilonenne of the southlands on Rygor Isle. It is a newer language, passed down between the forest dwelling villages of thilonenne. - [Mudaki] Mudaki is the main thilonenne language of the thilonenne. Its name, bearing great similitude to the isle Mudak, is derived from a common word of old, dead languages used once by thilonenne. - [Zalufini] The Zalufini is the language of trioskenne. Its speech is light and delicate. A graceful language, Zalufini continues to be considered a lyrical language. Its roots are based lightly on Mudaki, though much of the accent and pronunciations are drastically changed. - [Haesni] The enigmatic grunting language of the drev. No roots, this is the first onset of the primitive language of this race.