On Dyrkas and Endrykas

[Naiya]

I've been threading as a Drykas PC for a few years now, and yet, every time I come together with other PCs that live in or near Endrykas, we have wildly different ideas about how these people live and communicate.

So I wanted to talk about a few things here, and see what other ideas there are and what ones might be worth writing in more detail about.

1. Navigating the City
The lore says:

City Layout

At the very core of Endrykas is the Stalk Meet, which is a result off all the Clan Pavilions sharing one large campfire and letting the rest of the city form around it like branches on a tree

It also mentions the grouping of pavilions with similar or complimentary crafts herd together.

Does this warrant further explanation? My feeling would be that it could be hashed out at least some, giving a general sense of where to find things aside from 'Emerald clan is hunters and stuff' which I feel is the general sense of things as they currently stand.

Do pavilions with better materials, more wives, broader/narrower focus, get spots closer to the central fire?

If the city forms as branches of a tree, and each clan is a branch, how are those organized?

2. Flora and Fauna
As it stands, residents are directed to the Riverfall directory on the topic, which seems reasonable in the spring when Endrykas is nearest to Riverfall. In other seasons (and other regions), there would be different plants and animals. Perhaps a compilation of the animals and plants by season would be appropriate? Certainly some explanation on the Drykas hunting dogs, hunting cats, and Zibri, should find its way into existence.

What are the common breeds of dogs? Are there more than one, or is there a specific breed that makes up the hunting dogs? What do they look like? How are they changed by their stay underground during the Valterrian? Do they glow like striders?

Similarly are the hunting cats changed any? Are they certain breeds?

Then there are Zibri, which have no description beyond woolly cattle, so my intent beyond anything else is to write those up into something more tangible. The shape that takes though, seems to be entirely up for discussion. The current comparison being something between highland cattle and bison.

I think those are the two larger topics I plan to take on, but I would like to know what other things might benefit from being discussed. I posed these questions here as a spring board, but I'm completely open to other ideas. Someone mentioned the evolving use of Pavi and its signing.

Anyway, please let me know if you have any thoughts on this!

[Ayszel]

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Hi Naiya,
It is nice to see Endrykas getting some attention again. Obviously what you have listed above is too broad for one project, but I understand you're just shooting out ideas and seeing what is most pertinent.

Certainly a little more detail into how Endrykas is laid out would be great, but I don't think it need be much more than another paragraph. Most cities have locations without showing how they are related and it works fine but an expansion on the general layout would certainly help. If they are all around a central fire then I would imagine each camp would also center around a small fire and taper out from there in a circular fashion.

Presumably those that have large herds would be nearer the edges where there is more space while those with smaller herds can fit closer to the center with the tradesfolk. This would also make sense in regards to guarding the camp as it seems to me (though I have not been a Drykas for years, so I haven't read the lore as thoroughly ;p) those that have large herds also appear to have a focus on hunting and guarding. So that would be my take on it, I'm sure everyone that is playing a Drykas has their own and writing something brief like that up would be helpful. However, I don't think an extensive write up of exactly where everything is necessary. (Although having something like Riverfalls map may be great one day in the future, I don't think it's pertinent).

However, in regards to Flora and Fauna, there are a couple things to note here. Right now they take their flora from Kenash and Riverfall (depending on the season) and while I think a seasonal list would be extraordinarily helpful the ST of Endrykas (and players) would need to keep it updated as new Fauna would not only come from within their own development but from the development of those two cities, which makes it a little trickier. However, I very much agree that a table of the fauna and flora in each season would be extraordinarily helpful. It isn't creating anything from scratch though, its just compiling information, so it doesn't need to be done through the development forum I believe, just submitted to the city (since all the animals are already approved).

Writing up the hunting dog and cats and Zibri I think is the most pertinent task, especially the Zibri as they are mentioned as a core commodity of the Drykas. I have read many Endrykas threads and every Drykas PC I have read about has mentioned the Zibri at some point, so I think developing them further would help every Drykas PC.

I think it would be nice, as a side note, if they were inspired by the Highland Cattle, Bison, and the Takin (I know the latter is a sheep species, but they are quite large and superficially resemble cattle) so that the animal isn't too much like any one animal in the real world.

Edit: I really like this project so if you are interested in doing the hunting cats and/or dogs I would love to work on the Zibri (or the other way around). If you want a partner/fellow developer so that all of these gets a chance in the limelight.

[Khida]

1. Navigating the City ... Does this warrant further explanation? My feeling would be that it could be hashed out at least some, giving a general sense of where to find things aside from 'Emerald clan is hunters and stuff' which I feel is the general sense of things as they currently stand. I don't think this is a problem with the lore so much -- there's enough in the Drykas/Endrykas lore that I find 'new' things, or at least details that have escaped me, every time that I go back and read it. The problem here is that the Endrykas forum is not very detailed in this respect (e.g. no codex elaborating on this and other fronts) and the locations that exist actually don't necessarily fit well. For example, we have no 'herds' or 'districts' in the linkmap or other information posts, and the HQ pavilion locations don't reference anything that the Clan Ankal pavilions are said to do in the lore (e.g. provide information from the Web to non-Webber Drykas, otherwise guide the Clan). This is something that would presumably be addressed in the rebuild that is due. Do pavilions with better materials, more wives, broader/narrower focus, get spots closer to the central fire? I don't get that sense from the lore. It seems like position will have more to do with profession and the needs of the 'herd' (in the community sense) that a pavilion associates with. Those that forage/hunt and maintain large herds (of livestock) are likely to be further out, as Ayzel mentioned, while those who do more craft work and trade are likely to be closer in where they can do more business with more people. Again, that's something that a codex or player's guide should cover. If the city forms as branches of a tree, and each clan is a branch, how are those organized? I also don't get the sense that each clan is a branch. Per the existing lore, pavilions in the city do not segregate by Clan, they group by complementary profession. Thus you may get Emerald hunters and leatherworkers next to Diamond armorers, Emerald foragers next to Opal herbalists, and so on. The pavilions plant themselves where their Ankals see fit. There probably is an element of status, but most of it is likely ascribable to professional needs. What are the common breeds of dogs? Are there more than one, or is there a specific breed that makes up the hunting dogs? What do they look like? There is a specific breed for the hunting dogs, just as there's a specific breed for the cats. Goss has alluded to them before, but they haven't been written up; she posted an image here. This is something that could be developed. I don't think they would glow like the Striders -- they were probably re-domesticated after the Valterrian, as happened with the zibri. The Striders are a special case; I don't think any other surface creature would have been given the investment necessary to sustain it for centuries in a subterranean environment, and doubly so for a carnivore. While dogs are relatively omnivorous, they still need a lot of protein, and subterranean ecosystems just don't generally support that much animal life. Most all of what could be had would be needed to support the people. Pisces is working on the hunting cats, see here. I am also happy to chip in on any development. For flora and fauna in general, probably what would be of most use is consolidating an overall Cyphrus index page, not necessarily an Endrykas-specific reference... especially if it's mostly going to point at other cities' development.

[Merevaika]

I don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but the lore page on dogs has various breeds, some of which specialise in hunting. Perhaps one of these is the most commonly used? http://www.mizahar.com/lore/Dogs

[Gossamer]

Most of these answers are in the lore in one place or another. Endrykas suffers horribly from what I call Lhavit Syndrome. Thats where it has had a series of well meaning DSs and ASs that have had "big plans" but in the end did nothing or didnt give a shit. Its on my list as the next big revamp on Miz. This will happen after my mom passes this year. So its timeline is based on the timeline of her cancer. I'll need this project to deal with that whole situation.

There are of note.... city maps, layouts, gov flow charts etc all out there on Endrykas. No one has ever really organized it in one place so far.

I will not be doing a huge Drykas rewrite. I don't think its needed. Nor are there going to be any huge flora and fauna lists. I hate them with good reason.

[Naiya]

Goss, I would love to be helpful in this if I can, I thought making up some things here might make things easier in the long run, and would lend work my way towards eventually applying to be an AS. That said I don't want to fumble around and be more hindrance than help, so if I get to that point (or am already there) let me know so I can duck and cover. Since these particular ideas seem not where we want to go as far as Endrykas, perhaps the intent of this thread should go towards a discussion of the Sea of Grass region and the ecology. Talking about the type of grassland and how the grasses change nearing the different regions based on the run? And since the Hunting Cats are being worked out, perhaps then Ayszel and myself can figure out a Kangal Dog/Antolian Sheppard expansions, and a Zibri expansion. (Assuming that isn't what Goss has just said is already out there.) With that in mind, I think I'll also have a place to compile references to Endrykas, the sea of grass, and other relevant locations, probably a scrapbook thread.

[Dravite]

This has been a helpful little discussion with some great links. Glad I stumbled upon it. Tanna and I were having an interesting chat today about coming up with a sport that Drykas people enjoy, something that might explain how they stay fit and would also work with their group lifestyle?

Might be fun to think about so thought I would post the idea here.

[Tanna]

Calling me out... But, yes, I'd like to toss ideas around regarding the everyday Drykas life and the community aspect. As for the aforementioned sport, I was thinking of something along the lines of shinty, hurling, lacrosse (of the aboriginal Canadian/Native American persuasion) or even marn grook and woggabaliri. Something done between Pavillions or even Clans during big meet ups. -shrugs- Ideas ideas c: I know this isn't that important, just something small that could possibly be incorporated around certain festivals and such that builds on various skills while also being a fun way to compete, socialise and - if we want to go there - honour the Gods (perhaps Zulrav-specific?).

[Naiya]

There are certainly competitive activities for the Drykas, with hunts, and races, but I agree that perhaps a sport would provide children areas for growth in their skills. A mounted one, perhaps. Or maybe similar to Highland Games while that isn't really a sport, I think it provides a communal skill building and fitness activity. It would also create interesting dynamics towards marriage if it grew to hold importance among the people.

With that said, we would have to think of things more reasonable for the Drykas people, cutting down trees for sport doesn't seem likely for them, but throwing javelins, even stones, might be feasible. Would that be along the lines of what you were thinking?

Or were you more strongly leaning towards a sport like Marn Grook? I could even imagine the Drykas having both, although I would imagine anything to do with a ball would be played while mounted. Perhaps like a mix of shinty and marn grook?

Ayszel, I have been looking at which might be more interesting to me, and I am leaning towards Zibri, but I would happily do the hunting dogs as well, would you want to help still? We can both accumulate information, and I'll point back to my scrapbook where I'm gathering pages and links and information.

[Merevaika]

Just putting this out there, but I would be happy to help you with anything you need, if you need the help of course. I could also work on a different aspect if you'd like. Of course you might not need any help at all!