In classic equrectangular projection
![[->]](./images/smilies/icon_arrow2.png "arrow"){kind=icon}
Spoiler:
Spoiler:
Isi
Re: Isi
You might want to look at Earth; pretty much every land mass is connected in some way.Avjunza wrote:Every landmass just HAS to be connected by island chains, huh? You do realise that geologically it makes no sense. If that's what you want though, sweet as.
I will admit that the map gives me a feel of an archipelagio rather than a full planet though.
Sin ar Pàrras agus nì sinne mar a thogras sinn. Choisinn sinn e agus ’s urrainn dhuinn ga loisgeadh.
Re: Isi
Hi there, just some of my own comments on your map:
For me when I look at a map, I look at the whole thing and try and ask myself “How was this world formed, what might it look like 10,000,000 years before, and what will it look like in the next 5,000,000”
First, I’ll say, I am assuming this is a planet, and thus to be wrapped around a globe and follows some standard set of planet rules. If not, then feel free to counter any of these points. I am perfectly alright with flat worlds; I just usually default to spheres as what people want them to be.
From what I can gather from looking at the way these continents are laid out (excluding the top one as I thought that might be a polar cap). I’ve made a little over lay of what I feel the zones/plate tectonics of this world might be.
As you can see, it seems like everything originates from the upper left and pushes down towards the right. This could happen if there was a particularly active super volcano. That’s not the problem. The problem comes when you try and think of this as a globe shaped world. Eventually the outermost plate would crash into the new one, creating some funkier, less uniform plate structure.
Unless this is a 2d world, then that won’t come up. Again these are just my thoughts and opinions.
For me when I look at a map, I look at the whole thing and try and ask myself “How was this world formed, what might it look like 10,000,000 years before, and what will it look like in the next 5,000,000”
First, I’ll say, I am assuming this is a planet, and thus to be wrapped around a globe and follows some standard set of planet rules. If not, then feel free to counter any of these points. I am perfectly alright with flat worlds; I just usually default to spheres as what people want them to be.
From what I can gather from looking at the way these continents are laid out (excluding the top one as I thought that might be a polar cap). I’ve made a little over lay of what I feel the zones/plate tectonics of this world might be.
As you can see, it seems like everything originates from the upper left and pushes down towards the right. This could happen if there was a particularly active super volcano. That’s not the problem. The problem comes when you try and think of this as a globe shaped world. Eventually the outermost plate would crash into the new one, creating some funkier, less uniform plate structure.
Unless this is a 2d world, then that won’t come up. Again these are just my thoughts and opinions.
Re: Isi
| M. Park wrote: Hi there, just some of my own comments on your map: For me when I look at a map, I look at the whole thing and try and ask myself “How was this world formed, what might it look like 10,000,000 years before, and what will it look like in the next 5,000,000” First, I’ll say, I am assuming this is a planet, and thus to be wrapped around a globe and follows some standard set of planet rules. If not, then feel free to counter any of these points. I am perfectly alright with flat worlds; I just usually default to spheres as what people want them to be. From what I can gather from looking at the way these continents are laid out (excluding the top one as I thought that might be a polar cap). I’ve made a little over lay of what I feel the zones/plate tectonics of this world might be. As you can see, it seems like everything originates from the upper left and pushes down towards the right. This could happen if there was a particularly active super volcano. That’s not the problem. The problem comes when you try and think of this as a globe shaped world. Eventually the outermost plate would crash into the new one, creating some funkier, less uniform plate structure. Unless this is a 2d world, then that won’t come up. Again these are just my thoughts and opinions. |
A quick sketch of tectonic plates
Spoiler:
![[;)]](./images/smilies/icon_wink2.png ";)"){kind=icon}
Re: Isi
If you're Isene...
You believe that different religions have a right to exist, so long as they do not sacrifice living beings.
You expect that some people will have some very odd beliefs and practices... ...like celebrating the summer floods.
You probably don't believe in a god of any organized religion,but you probably believe in your own god.You are most religious when a tropical cyclone is nearing Iséni.
You work 5-6 days a week,but you can have a 1-month vacation in the summer.
You will very likely travel outside of Iséni.You like to go to Tehar when you are on vacation.Tehar has nice mediterranean climate.There are frequent civil wars in Tehar,tho.Western Mór,Lapisa and Wa'ta are expensive,but they are paradises.
If you have to travel, you take your meals at an inn, at a common table; you eat what the innkeeper provides, though there's a choice of drinks.
There are expensive çemirin,where you can eat everything,but no food there is Isenian so you have little confidence to them.
The comforts of home all require hard work. To cool the house(you thank that inventor Nefì for inventing the wind machine),to warm the house(in midwinter),to drain water from the house(after a tropical cyclone)...
Meals involve buying the animal(smaller animals are sold alive so you have to kill them),fetching water, cooking,washing up.
You don't consider cats,dogs,hamsters or guinea pigs to be food-they are pets.Insects are a snack.
You love the water; if at all possible, you bathe every day, in a river or creek if necessary.
To get around the Iséni you could use boats,carriages,wagons,taíós(a small monocycle with something like oars to keep you stable) or your own feet.
The president rules the country,but the Parliament can influence him.
You think this is the best form of government:parliamentary monarchies are too expensive(the royal family costs Iséni very much),and absolute monarchies don't listen to the will of the people.
The government worries about everything,but the agency you're most likely to encounter is the Anti-Civil War,which you can see after each flood.
Most of the people you know are brown or tan-skinned, with black or dark brown hair. Foreigners sometimes look very different, but that's only to be expected-they're foreign. Some people in the city are of foreign descent and have lighter or darker skin or different color hair, but if they grew up here, they are Isenians.
You think the world is flawed and you are going to change that.
If you have a dispute with someone that can't be resolved by talking directly with them,you wait for the next tropical cyclone and then you help them.
Some people don't speak Isêne-there's just nothing you can do with them.
If they speak it badly,it is nice because they want to learn your language.
You've heard Tehran/Zeyleacan(on the vacation) and Dudaça.
You've probably had a primary and secondary school, where you learned things that you probably won't need-except writing,geography,some history and basic mathemathics,
If you are a trader,you learned it in a secondary school,starting at age 13.
Some people have a lot more school, and there are educated people,pôteno,who studied at a university until they were almost 24.
If you live in the countryside,you don't buy any food, except for bread and some small and expensive things: spices, fish(if not on the coast),salt,tea.
If you live in a village, you may buy your meat,milk,cheese, and wine from a farmer, but you raise your own chicken and grow your own vegetables.
If you live in town, you may buy these things too,but you grow some spices and vegetables in your yard or on the balcony.
Dates are written like this: 10 yòó 7014. As everyone knows, years are counted from the discovery of the writing.
Your country hasn't been involved in a major war for 20 years. That was the war against Çadaza,which invaded us.
Young people will play around and fall in love, but it is not good to marry before 23.Marriage is a great,noisy festival which always takes place in the dusk because a person angered by the noise can shoot you with the pistol-it is not against the law.
Some people do marry for money, and that can work out if they find someone appropriate,which is rare.
Some men sleep with other men;not a bad thing if they keep it private.
Girls fall in love with other girls, but there's nothing wrong with that-it's better than getting involved with boys before they get married, after all.
How to address someone is simple.If you don't know them,however, it's safe to call or address them by their first and last name.
It's no big deal for a woman to show her breasts-they have to nurse, after all, and how else would they go bathing?
If you ever happen to stay in an inn, you certainly wouldn't expect to use the innkeeper's bathroom(you can use the toilet which is a separate room.
If you stay at the hotel,you have a bathroom and you can warm the water on the stove which is in the bathroom.
You pay for things with coins or paper bills.
If you go to work for someone,you just do what they say if it won't damage your health significantly or if you can't do it.
You like music.In most cases,if you want to hear music,you have to make it yourself or ask the neighbor.
Poems are lovely as well...a short poem yourself, but you have no idea how they make them rhyme like that(Isénine rhyme is complex.It requires first two and last two syllables of the verse to rhyme with same those syllables of the next verse.
If you get sick, you call a doctor. Sickness is part of life, and it's likely that one is going to take care of you for good one of these days. You would consider someone in their seventies to be quite old.
You know about the most notable ancient Isénine kings and your current president.
You are probably a farmer. If you're not, you're probably a small-scale craftsman.
Few roads are not wide enough for one vehicle to pass another. If two vehicles approach each other on the road, the larger one generally stays where it is, leaving the smaller one to find a way around it.
Tehrans are funny,particularly when in civil war.They speak a language which sounds like a guitar thrown down a rocky hill.
There are evil,medieval nomads of the mountains who speak a gargling language.
The towns have (police) who helps keep order.
If a woman is a bit plump, that's good-it means she's healthy.
The biggest meal of the day is at early afternoon.
There are jokes told about all sorts of people, but the best ones are about the Tehrans.If someone imitates their language,you roll on the floor laughing.
If you've had occasion to compare notes with a foreigner, you've been surprised to hear that wages are higher and prices higher outside Iséni.
One of the most dangerous things to ask a person is what family they come from.
The biggest holidays are in spring:Nîfin and Ceïtanèh.
You know the names of the most countries of Çarzei(a continent whose part is Isenia,but you can't be expected to know their rulers.
If you find yourself in exceptional trouble,you'd escape Iséni and move to the eastern Çarzeian coast.
There are special, rather schools for people like doctors and lawyers.
Text based on this.
The technological advancement of Isenia is roughly as our 1900s.
You believe that different religions have a right to exist, so long as they do not sacrifice living beings.
You expect that some people will have some very odd beliefs and practices... ...like celebrating the summer floods.
You probably don't believe in a god of any organized religion,but you probably believe in your own god.You are most religious when a tropical cyclone is nearing Iséni.
You work 5-6 days a week,but you can have a 1-month vacation in the summer.
You will very likely travel outside of Iséni.You like to go to Tehar when you are on vacation.Tehar has nice mediterranean climate.There are frequent civil wars in Tehar,tho.Western Mór,Lapisa and Wa'ta are expensive,but they are paradises.
If you have to travel, you take your meals at an inn, at a common table; you eat what the innkeeper provides, though there's a choice of drinks.
There are expensive çemirin,where you can eat everything,but no food there is Isenian so you have little confidence to them.
The comforts of home all require hard work. To cool the house(you thank that inventor Nefì for inventing the wind machine),to warm the house(in midwinter),to drain water from the house(after a tropical cyclone)...
Meals involve buying the animal(smaller animals are sold alive so you have to kill them),fetching water, cooking,washing up.
You don't consider cats,dogs,hamsters or guinea pigs to be food-they are pets.Insects are a snack.
You love the water; if at all possible, you bathe every day, in a river or creek if necessary.
To get around the Iséni you could use boats,carriages,wagons,taíós(a small monocycle with something like oars to keep you stable) or your own feet.
The president rules the country,but the Parliament can influence him.
You think this is the best form of government:parliamentary monarchies are too expensive(the royal family costs Iséni very much),and absolute monarchies don't listen to the will of the people.
The government worries about everything,but the agency you're most likely to encounter is the Anti-Civil War,which you can see after each flood.
Most of the people you know are brown or tan-skinned, with black or dark brown hair. Foreigners sometimes look very different, but that's only to be expected-they're foreign. Some people in the city are of foreign descent and have lighter or darker skin or different color hair, but if they grew up here, they are Isenians.
You think the world is flawed and you are going to change that.
If you have a dispute with someone that can't be resolved by talking directly with them,you wait for the next tropical cyclone and then you help them.
Some people don't speak Isêne-there's just nothing you can do with them.
If they speak it badly,it is nice because they want to learn your language.
You've heard Tehran/Zeyleacan(on the vacation) and Dudaça.
You've probably had a primary and secondary school, where you learned things that you probably won't need-except writing,geography,some history and basic mathemathics,
If you are a trader,you learned it in a secondary school,starting at age 13.
Some people have a lot more school, and there are educated people,pôteno,who studied at a university until they were almost 24.
If you live in the countryside,you don't buy any food, except for bread and some small and expensive things: spices, fish(if not on the coast),salt,tea.
If you live in a village, you may buy your meat,milk,cheese, and wine from a farmer, but you raise your own chicken and grow your own vegetables.
If you live in town, you may buy these things too,but you grow some spices and vegetables in your yard or on the balcony.
Dates are written like this: 10 yòó 7014. As everyone knows, years are counted from the discovery of the writing.
Your country hasn't been involved in a major war for 20 years. That was the war against Çadaza,which invaded us.
Young people will play around and fall in love, but it is not good to marry before 23.Marriage is a great,noisy festival which always takes place in the dusk because a person angered by the noise can shoot you with the pistol-it is not against the law.
Some people do marry for money, and that can work out if they find someone appropriate,which is rare.
Some men sleep with other men;not a bad thing if they keep it private.
Girls fall in love with other girls, but there's nothing wrong with that-it's better than getting involved with boys before they get married, after all.
How to address someone is simple.If you don't know them,however, it's safe to call or address them by their first and last name.
It's no big deal for a woman to show her breasts-they have to nurse, after all, and how else would they go bathing?
If you ever happen to stay in an inn, you certainly wouldn't expect to use the innkeeper's bathroom(you can use the toilet which is a separate room.
If you stay at the hotel,you have a bathroom and you can warm the water on the stove which is in the bathroom.
You pay for things with coins or paper bills.
If you go to work for someone,you just do what they say if it won't damage your health significantly or if you can't do it.
You like music.In most cases,if you want to hear music,you have to make it yourself or ask the neighbor.
Poems are lovely as well...a short poem yourself, but you have no idea how they make them rhyme like that(Isénine rhyme is complex.It requires first two and last two syllables of the verse to rhyme with same those syllables of the next verse.
If you get sick, you call a doctor. Sickness is part of life, and it's likely that one is going to take care of you for good one of these days. You would consider someone in their seventies to be quite old.
You know about the most notable ancient Isénine kings and your current president.
You are probably a farmer. If you're not, you're probably a small-scale craftsman.
Few roads are not wide enough for one vehicle to pass another. If two vehicles approach each other on the road, the larger one generally stays where it is, leaving the smaller one to find a way around it.
Tehrans are funny,particularly when in civil war.They speak a language which sounds like a guitar thrown down a rocky hill.
There are evil,medieval nomads of the mountains who speak a gargling language.
The towns have (police) who helps keep order.
If a woman is a bit plump, that's good-it means she's healthy.
The biggest meal of the day is at early afternoon.
There are jokes told about all sorts of people, but the best ones are about the Tehrans.If someone imitates their language,you roll on the floor laughing.
If you've had occasion to compare notes with a foreigner, you've been surprised to hear that wages are higher and prices higher outside Iséni.
One of the most dangerous things to ask a person is what family they come from.
The biggest holidays are in spring:Nîfin and Ceïtanèh.
You know the names of the most countries of Çarzei(a continent whose part is Isenia,but you can't be expected to know their rulers.
If you find yourself in exceptional trouble,you'd escape Iséni and move to the eastern Çarzeian coast.
There are special, rather schools for people like doctors and lawyers.
Text based on this.
The technological advancement of Isenia is roughly as our 1900s.
Re: Isi
Magic of Isi
The magic of Isi is based on the fact that anything can disappear.The disappearances occur very rarely if not triggered by humans.
Magicians try to control disappearances:get rid of the enemy and such things.
They rarely succeed:frequently the person which magician tried to get rid of disappears when the magician befriends that person.
Because of that,most magicians get mentally ill.
Any comments?
The magic of Isi is based on the fact that anything can disappear.The disappearances occur very rarely if not triggered by humans.
Magicians try to control disappearances:get rid of the enemy and such things.
They rarely succeed:frequently the person which magician tried to get rid of disappears when the magician befriends that person.
Because of that,most magicians get mentally ill.
Any comments?
Re: Isi
Nessimon wrote:Fun, but why would anyone want to become a magician? |
A moderate amount of ambitious people want to completely control disappearances.
![[tick]](./images/smilies/tickic.png "Tick"){kind=small}
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eldin raigmore
- korean
- Posts: 6358
- Joined: 14 Aug 2010 19:38
- Location: SouthEast Michigan
Re: Isi
Very good! I like it.Akzálī wrote:If you're Isene...
....
The technological advancement of Isenia is roughly as our 1900s.
Have you considered answering this questionnaire?
My minicity is http://gonabebig1day.myminicity.com/xml
![[:(]](./images/smilies/icon_sad2.png ":("){kind=icon}
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eldin raigmore
- korean
- Posts: 6358
- Joined: 14 Aug 2010 19:38
- Location: SouthEast Michigan
Re: Isi
Akzálī wrote:Thanks,eldin.
The link doesn't work for me.
eldin raigmore wrote:Padraic Brown of Yahoo!'s egroup "ConCulture" has come up with the following questionnaire.
Padraic Brown wrote:I think it's a worthwhile project to combine the two
questionnaires, as they both ask some really good questions
that world builders and conculturers should be aware of.
Therefor, I've taken the liberty of combining them: I've
weeded out some redundant or overly detailed questions;
made some of the very focussed questions more general and
have added a few new ones. I've also removed all of the
"how do they feel about" questions -- I thought it was a
bit too cluttery, and anyway, such an opinion based
question can always be tacked on to any of the questions
already there.
Let me know what you think! I'll put it up on Conculture
once I've gotten all the minor spelling errors and such
sorted out. If I've forgotten something obvious, please let
me know!The Zaharam-Chapelle-Parunas Ethnographical Questionnaire wrote:===============================================
The Zaharam-Chapelle-Parunas Ethnographical Questionnaire
Introduction:
For several years, the standard questionnaire used by
anthropologists studying various cultures in the Eastlands
has been that of Dr. Ellandwine Zaharam of the Univ. of
Auntimoany. While it has proven itself in the field, many
philosophers have thought that it could be satisfactorily
amplified by creating several new categories not addressed
in the original and expanding some of the old categories
with new questions. A committee of eight faculty and
students worked to add questions to the questionnaire, the
result of which is the following Zaharam-Chapelle-Parunas
Ethnographical Questionnaire.
At nearly double the size of the original (and considerably
larger than similar tools), concerns have been raised about
the possible unwieldiness of the tool. In order to maintain
the general utility of the questionnaire, several related
main categories have been compressed, while new ones that
were not addressed in the older questionnaires have been
created. Individual related questions have often been
compressed into a single multipart question; it is felt
that this practice in no way affects the practicability of
the tool. Also, several very good but extremely focussed
or detail oriented questions have been left out. While it
is keenly felt that persons living in a community can offer
great insights into the various topic explored in the
questionnaire, it is felt that questions along the line of
"how do people feel about this" are best left out, as any
of the questions herein explored may be reasonably followed
up by this sort of perceptive interrogation.
The format of the new questionnaire is the same as the
older verion, namely, a number of broad categories in which
several related questions about a country or region or
tribal structure may be explored. The main departure from
the older format is in the elimination of the question
numbers. It is felt that poorly worded or redundant
questions could be more easily excised and new questions
could be inserted if the numbers were eliminated. It has
been made abundantly clear that no such questionnaire could
ever be seen as compleat, however, the committee have
striven to produce a workable and comprehensive tool rather
than an absolutely compleat one. It is hoped that, as the
needs arise, new main or subordinated categories can easily
be inserted into the structure of the present questionnaire
without disrupting the flow of questions or the layout of
the questionnaire. The order of main categories is roughly
from the broader concepts of Nature to the more specific
aspects of the culture under consideration. It was felt
that the questions should be left somewhat broad rather
than focussed, as it is always possible to follow up an
interview with questions seeking further detail. If highly
detailed questions are asked from the outset, the interview
can easily get bogged down in minutiae, for we would risk
missing the forest for the trees.
The chief categories of the Questionnaire are:
I. Questions of Place;
IJ. Questions of Time;
IIJ. Questions of Race and Ethnicity;
IIIJ. Questions of Family;
V. Questions of Customs and Social Life;
VI. Questions of Manners;
VIJ. Questions of Faith;
VIIJ. Questions of Labour;
IX. Questions of Art;
X. Questions of Marriage;
XI. Questions of Health;
XIJ. Questions of Sex;
XIIJ. Questions of Education;
XIIIJ. Questions of Technology;
XV. Questions of Transportation and Communications;
XVI. Questions of Economics;
XVIJ. Questions of Death and Burial;
XVIIJ. Questions of Government;
XIX. Questions of Warfare.
It is much to be hoped that this Questionnaire will be
found of great use to any philosopher or student interested
in gaining insight into the cultures and societies that
peoples may divide themselves into.
Faculty:
Tom a Chapelle
Haristafaras Parunas
Taryusas
Students:
Shafranas
Numitor
A. Wortlece
C. Lankyshanks
M. Wortawede
Questionnaire:
I. Questions of Place
* Describe the geography of where your society calls home.
* Describe the climate your society deals with. How severe are their seasons?
* What kinds of natural disasters has this society gotten used to?
* What importance (spiritual or cultural) do people ascribe to the geography?
* How do people feel about local landscapes being altered or used for a purpose other than what is traditional?
* What are the most commonly-grown foods?
* What are the most commonly-eaten meats?
* What foods are considered exotic or expensive?
* What forms of alcohol are common? Rare?
* Is there usually enough food and water for the population?
* What is this place's most abundant resource?
* What is its most valuable resource?
* What resource is it most lacking?
* How do people travel from one place to another?
* Are the borders secure? In what way?
* How many people live here?
* Where in this place to they congregate?
* What part of this place do they avoid? Why?
* What are the most common domesticated animals here? And what are they domesticated for?
* What are the most common wild animals? How are wild animals treated?
* Which animals are likely to be pets? Which ones won't be?
* What are the most common domesticated plants here? And what are they used for?
* What are the most common wild plants here? What are they used for?
IJ. Questions of Time
* How far back does this societys written history go?
* How far back do its people believe it goes?
* How was this society founded? Who founded it and under what circumstances?
* What were the chief powers in the time when this society was founded?
* If it originated far away from here, how did it get here?
* What is the worst disaster they believe they've faced?
* What are the major events in this culture's past?
* What was the best thing that ever happened to them?
* What in their past makes them feel ashamed?
* What in their past makes them proud?
* What are they afraid of happening again?
* What are they hoping will happen? Do they think it likely?
* How strongly are people attached or connected to their heritage?
* What do they assume the future will hold?
* How has this society changed? Do its current members realize this?
* What are the most popular stories about the past?
* Who in the past is the greatest hero? The worst villain?
* Do people think the present better or worse than the past?
* Do people believe the future will be better or worse than the present or past?
IIJ. Questions of Race and Ethnicity
* What are the chief races in the region?
* What are the chief ethnic groups of each race in the region? How are they distributed in place?
* How do they differ by language, appearance or ancestry?
* What jobs do the chief ethnicities primarily occupy? Are any groups denied work because of racial or ethnic heritage?
* What are typical attitudes of the native (or majority) ethnos to immigrants and other ethnicities?
* How has any variety of ethnicity in the region changed the societys culture?
IIIJ. Questions of Family
* How many spouses may a man or woman have?
* Who decides on a marriage?
* Can a marriage end in divorce? How?
* Who usually takes custody of children if a marriage ends for some reason?
* How are families named?
* What happens to orphans?
* How are boy and girl children treated differently?
* What, if anything, is considered a good marriage gift?
* What inanimate or sexless things are considered male or female?
* Does this society connect the ideas of marriage with love?
* How big are families, typically?
* What constitutes a household? How many people live in one household? How many generations?
* Are girls or boys preferred and why?
* How common is domestic violence? Is it understood to be a problem, or a normal aspect of family life?
* If it is seen as problematic, what is being done about it?
V. Questions of Customs and Social Life
* What colors are associated with power? With virtue? With death?
* If two men get into a fight, how is this supposed to be resolved?
* If two women get into a fight, how should that be resolved?
* How do people demonstrate grief?
* Who inheirits property? Titles? Position?
* What are the most popular games? How important are they?
* When and how does someone go from child to adult?
* How much free time do people usually get?
* What do they spend this time doing?
* Is society segregated an any way?
* What social classes or divisions exist in this society?
* If so, can people move from one class to another? Are there any benefits to being of one class over another?
* Is there any discrimination against minority groups (racial, ethnic, religious) in this society?
* How independant or codependant are individuals?
* What are the typical roles of women and men? What are the expectations of children?
* Does the government play a large part in peoples lives?
* Does religion play a large part in peoples lives?
Food
* Describe how daily food is obtained?
* What type of foods are most popular?
* What are typical dishes and specialties of the region?
* What type of food is the locality or region famous for?
* What cutlery, if any, do people use for cooking and eating?
* How is the table arranged?
* How do people sit when eating? Is there any arrangement by age or dignity of diners?
* How many and when are the main mealtimes?
* Are there restaurants, popinas, street vendors or other places where food may be bought in public?
* Is there significant risk of food poisoning? How many cases lead to death? Is there understood to be a link between food and poisoning or illness?
* How much does a typical meal cost, if bought and not grown at home?
Clothing and Fashion
* What kind of clothes do people wear? How does this vary by ethnicity, age, profession, etc?
* How do the genders dress: what differences are there between mens and womens clothing and accessories?
* How is clothing made, in small shops or larger factories?
* How much does typical clothing cost?
* How important is fashion to people? How does this vary by individual?
* What kinds of jewelry do people where? And when?
Entertainment
* Does the culture have outlets for dramatic arts (theater, puppetry, kinematography)?
* What other major forms of entertainment are there?
* Is the populace literate and numerate?
* Do people read for pleasure? If so, what do they read?
* How much do books, magazines, broadsheets and the like cost?
* Is there a public library system? Who uses it?
* Who are popular authors and poets?
* Who are some of the more famous characters from literature?
* How has this changed over time?
VJ. Questions of Manners
* Who speaks first at a formal gathering?
* What kinds of gifts are considered in extremely bad taste?
* How do younger adults address their elders?
* When is it rude to laugh at something funny?
* What kinds of questions cannot be asked in public? In private? At all?
* What parts of the body are routinely covered?
* How private are bodily functions like bathing or defecating?
VIJ. Questions of Faith
* Are the local people religious or nonreligious?
* What are the major religious groups in the region?
* What are some of their core beliefs and practices?
* Is religion a cause of dissatisfaction, dissention or hostility in the region?
* Is there a formal clergy? How are they organised?
* What do people believe happens to them after death? How, if at all, can they influence this?
* What happens to those who disagree with the majority on questions of religion?
* Are there any particular places considered special or holy? What are they like?
* What are the most popular rituals or festivals?
* What do people have to offer to their Deity or deities?
* What do people want from their Deity or deities? How do they try and get it?
* How do their religious practices differ from their neighbours?
* What is the most commonly broken religious rule?
* What is the least-violated religious rule?
* What factions exist within the dominant religious institutions? How do they compete?
* Are there monastic groups? What do they do and how are they organized? How do you join one?
* How are those who follow different faiths treated?
* What relationship do religious and political leaders have?
* What superstitions are common? What kinds of supernatural events or beings do people fear?
Magick
* How is magic integrated into society?
* Who can work magic? Is anyone disallowed from working magic?
* How are works of magic accomplished?
* What kind of preparation or study is required before undertaking a magical work?
VIIJ. Questions of Labour
* Describe any kind of division of labour, such as into physical versus mental versus spiritual.
* Is there any especial prestige attached to some category of labour or a particular job?
* What jobs are considered mucky or are particularly depreicated?
* What professions or activities are considered masculine?
* What professions or activities are viewed as feminine?
* What are usual working hours? Are there days of rest or holidays?
* How does this differ between different jobs?
* What jobs have few workers and why?
* What are typical wages for various jobs?
* How does work affect lifestyle and health?
* What sort of jobs are preferred by which people? Are some jobs denied to certain groups?
* What are the ethical oaths or codes that govern various jobs? Is there a difference in ethics between manual and mental or spiritual work?
IX. Questions of Art
* What are the favorite artforms?
* What are the least-favorite?
* How respected are artists?
* Do artists require official or unofficial protection or patronage?
* What kinds of trouble are artists in particular likely to find themselves in?
* How might a very successful artist live?
* What forms of theatre does your society have?
* How naturalistic or stylized is your society's art?
* What shapes are most common in your society's arts, like embroidery or architecture?
* Which artforms get the most and least respect?
* What form does censorship take?
* Who may not be an artist?
* What qualities equal "beauty" in this society?
* What makes a man or woman especially beautiful?
* How do people react to tattoos? Piercings? Facial hair? Cosmetics?
Entertainment
* Do people enjoy looking at art? Does this vary among communities?
* Do people enjoy doing art? Does this vary?
* Is there any calligraphy? Who does it?
* Does your culture have a distinct (or not so) musical style? What is it like?
* How do people listen to music (in a theater, at home, on the street, mechanical)?
* Does music influence people's behaviour?
* Does this culture have a typical dance form? What is it like?
* Who goes to see such entertainments?
X. Questions of Marriage
* How is a marriage defined? How is a marriage contracted?
* What is the term of a marriage contract?
* What gifts are considered appropriate or inappropriate for a wedding?
* How are marriages celebrated?
* What is considered too great a difference in age for a couple?
* Do relationships allow multiple partners?
* In what ways is a marriage considered broken?
* How can a marriage be terminated?
XI. Questions of Health
* What is the average life expectancy? How does this differ between different regions, races or ethnicities?
* What access do people have to clean drinking water (at home or in public)?
* What access do people have to proper sanitation (at home or in public)?
* Do houses or public buildings have plumbing? Cold and warm water?
* Describe any public or private bathing or latrine facilities.
* How is healthcare delivered in this society; what are its foundations?
* Are there hospitals or sanataria where many forms of health care are concentrated; or are practicioners more diffuse within the community?
* Do people have access to any form of medical aid for emergencies or for less urgent problems?
* What kinds of ailments or injuries are treatable in the locality using available supplies and expertise?
* What does typical healthcare cost?
* How do this societys doctors try to treat wounds and sickness?
* Which medical assumtions of this society are wrong?
* Do people seek care on an as-needed or emergency basis; or is health care seen as a preventative endeavour.
* How often do people see their doctor, dentist or other healthcare providers?
* Is a distinction made between physical and nonphysical ailments?
* What happens to those suffering from extreme mental illness? Spiritual illness? Other?
* How do people react to physical deformity (both congenital and acquired)?
XIJ. Questions of Sex
* How does your society define incest? Rape? How do people react to these?
* What secret vice is believed to be widely practiced?
* What secret vice actually is practiced?
* What sexual habits are widely believed common among foriegners?
* How do people react to homosexuality? Is it frowned on? Encouraged?
* Are premarital sexual relations allowed? Extramarital?
* How is adultery defined? What (if any) is the punishment? Who decides?
* Is prostitution legal? How are prostitutes viewed? Is this accurate?
* What is the biggest sexual taboo?
* What does this society mean by the word "virgin" and how important it it?
* Is sex confined to marriage? Or, is it supposed to be?
* What constitutes aberrant sexual behavior?
* Are there any cultural or religious strictures, norms or tabus that specifically address sexual conduct?
* Are there secular laws that control or restict sexual behaviour?
* At what age is it considered normal to engage in sex? Are there tabus against sex with children?
* Should sex be a one-to-one experience? Or are groups allowed?
XIIJ. Questions of Education
* Describe the education of the societys people: formal schooling, apprenticeship, etc.
* If education is mainly by apprenticeship, how is this accomplished?
* Is education compulsory / offered to everyone? What is the cost of education?
* Between which ages does education happen?
* How are year groups and academic years arranged?
* How are curricula arranged? What courses are typically offered?
* What degrees or diplomas are offered by schools?
* What do schools / colleges / universities look like?
* What are the classrooms like? What is a typical class size
* Who is in charge of education in the country, and in each individual school?
* Does this society have its own language? Its own writing system?
* How common is literacy? How is literacy viewed?
* What form and value are books?
* Who teaches others? How do they teach?
* Who decides who learns to read or write?
* Who teaches professions, like carpenter or scribe?
* Are foreigners ever brought in to teach new skills? Who does that?
XIV. Questions of Technology
* Are philosophy and science unified, or do they exist as separate and independent disciplines?
* What devices and technologies are availible for people?
* Are such devices taken for granted? If not, how many are appreciated?
* How do people envision a difficult or impossible task that could be made easier by using some kind of device or futuristic technology?
* How is knowledge distributed? Is it kept unknown to the common people, or is availible for all?
Architecture
* What major architectural styles are present? What do they look like?
* How does this vary over time and between places in the region?
* What major elements are present? How are they pieced together?
* What are houses like inside and out?
* What are palaces and castles like?
* How tall is the tallest building? How big is the biggest building?
* What materials are used in typical construction? Do any materials have to be imported?
* How are buildings constructed? Are there machines or is work done by hand?
* What are some famous landmarks in the region? Why are they famous? Are they famous internationally?
XV. Questions of Transportation and Communications
* How do people get from place to place? Does this vary at all in different places?
* Do people make long journeys? If so, what are they like?
* Is there a public transport system? Who uses it? How much does it cost?
* What are the roads like? How do they vary from place to place?
* Do individuals or families own and use their own vehicles?
* How safe is transport?
* How clean is transport?
* What major fuels are used?
* Apart from face to face, how do people communicate with each other?
* Is there a postal service? How fast is it? How much does it cost to use? What restrictions are there on packet delivery? Does the post operate internationally? How likely is it that an article sent in the post will reach
its intended destination?
* What technical or mechanical means of communications exist?
* If you do have an IM service, what else other than talking does it allow?
XVI. Questions of Economics
* What is the local economy based on?
* How is commerce engaged in?
* If levied, how are taxes collected? What are such revenues used for? How does taxation affect the people?
* What do people expect from their government in return for the taxes paid?
Money
* What is the local currency like? How is it subdivided? What is is based on *metal, labour, fiat)?
* How does it compare to other neighbouring currencies?
* How has the value of the currency changed or fluctuated recently?
* How are coins and notes produced? How common are forgeries?
* How is wealth distributed?
* Is there a public banking system?
* Who uses it? What benefits does it bring? At what cost?
* Is there a large gap between the wealth of the rich and poor? What expectations do each group have from the other?
* What constitutes "poverty" in this society?
XVIJ. Questions of Death and Burial
* What is their understanding of death and dying?
* What does this society do with their corpses?
* Do they cremate their dead? Or, how are dead bodies disposed of?
* Is the family responsible for the body?
* What part do the priests play?
* Are there cemeteries at all?
* Or, does everyone have a crypt in back with all the relatives in it?
* Do people visit the dead? If so, how often and why?
Suicide
* What do people in this culture think about suicide?
* Is it the greatest sin one can commit? Or is it a sin at all?
* Is it the great and last comfort of a tormented soul?
* Is it worse than murder?
XVIIJ. Questions of Government
* What is the form of government? How is it structured?
* What are some of the most fundamental policies of the government?
* What is the political status of minority communities?
* How is government chosen?
* What is the countrys general foreign policy?
* Who decides whether someone has broken a law? How?
* What kinds of punishments are meted out? By whom? Why?
* How are new laws created or old ones changed?
* Is there some form of clemency or pardon? What is involved?
* Who has the right to give orders, and why?
* What titles do various officials have?
* How are the rules different for officials as opposed to the common person?
* How do government officials dress?
* Is the law written down? Who interprets it?
* Once accused, what recourse does someone have?
* Is torture allowed? What kinds?
* How are people executed?
* Who cannot rise to positions of leadership?
* Is bribery allowed? Under what circumstances?
* What makes someone a bad ruler in this society? What can be done about it?
* What are the most common or dangerous forms of criminal?
City Watch & Sheriffs
* Is there a civilian police force, or is law enforcement the province of the military?
* Is the police force a nationalised one, or are there multiple regional forces?
* How militant or vigilante are they? Are they usually or ever armed?
* What is the extent of their authority? Can they shoot you? Can they use magic? Can they torture or otherwise force a confession? Can they use telepathy?
* Are there individuals or groups who are above the law?
* Is there a secret police?
* What is the role of police informants, if any?
XVIIIJ. Questions of Warfare
* Does the country have an armed force? What types? What size?
* How do the armed forces compare with others in the region or world?
* Who declares war?
* Who has the power to declare conditions of peace?
* How are treaties negotiated?
* What happens to prisoners taken in battle?
* What weapons are favoured by the various armed forces?
* What form of warfare does this society use?
* How do battles in the airs or waters or underworlds differ from surface warfare?
* Who are the Elite warriors? What distinguishes them?
* How does someone get command of troops?
* Where do the loyalties of military units lie?
* Are there professional soldiers? Do they make up the bulk of the military?
* What is campaign or camp life like?
* What ethical or moral codes do warriors adhere to?
* How are battle injuries treated?
* How long do wars typically last?
* Has this society ever attacked another? What was the nature of that war? What would make this society go to war?
* Has there ever been a civil war or a revolution?
* What do soldiers do when there's no war?
* Are there any current tensions / wars / embargoes etc with any other nations?
* Who are the countrys enemies? Whos winning the war?
* What defences are available to cities?
===============================================
My minicity is http://gonabebig1day.myminicity.com/xml
Re: Isi
Tzhrng Archipelago is located in far northern oceans of Isi.Despite being farther north than 75 N,life on it is rich,although consisting of only two species.Those two species are completely alien to any human of Isi because that archipelago was separated from the mainland for last 1,4 billions of years.
The climate of the Archipelago is similar to that of South Georgia.
---add a map---
Qxhr are intelligent huge flying animals.They have an extremely light and thin exoskeleton.
Their diet mostly consists of fish.
Qxhr are bioluminescent.
The second species of Unnamed Archipelago is Tsrxng(a Qxhr name).
Tsrxng are trees with bloodred leaves.They can grow 20 meters high.
As Tsrxng are clonal colonies,the number of Tsrxng organisms is equal to number of islands of the Unnamed Archipelago
Tsrxng feed the same way as carnivorous plants do.They capture small fish using their root hairs.
Symbiosis between Nokturnas and Tsrxng
Qxhr are bioluminescent so Tsrxng can continue to photosynthesize during long arctic nights.
Tsrxng provide shelter for Qxhr during the violent storms.
The names of lifeforms of the Unnamed archipelago are from Qslxtqr,the vowelless language of Qxhr.
The climate of the Archipelago is similar to that of South Georgia.
---add a map---
Qxhr are intelligent huge flying animals.They have an extremely light and thin exoskeleton.
Their diet mostly consists of fish.
Qxhr are bioluminescent.
The second species of Unnamed Archipelago is Tsrxng(a Qxhr name).
Tsrxng are trees with bloodred leaves.They can grow 20 meters high.
As Tsrxng are clonal colonies,the number of Tsrxng organisms is equal to number of islands of the Unnamed Archipelago
Tsrxng feed the same way as carnivorous plants do.They capture small fish using their root hairs.
Symbiosis between Nokturnas and Tsrxng
Qxhr are bioluminescent so Tsrxng can continue to photosynthesize during long arctic nights.
Tsrxng provide shelter for Qxhr during the violent storms.
The names of lifeforms of the Unnamed archipelago are from Qslxtqr,the vowelless language of Qxhr.
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eldin raigmore
- korean
- Posts: 6358
- Joined: 14 Aug 2010 19:38
- Location: SouthEast Michigan
Re: Isi
Edit: I had to make some corrections.
The Cambrian began around 570 megayears ago rather than 500+-50 mya.
It was the beginning of fossilized animals with hard parts, not the beginning of all fossils.
The Pre-Cambrian began about 2.5 eons ago.
Life probably arose about 4 eons ago, about half an eon (500 megayears +- 200 megayears) after the Earth was formed.
The Cambrian began around 570 megayears ago rather than 500+-50 mya.
It was the beginning of fossilized animals with hard parts, not the beginning of all fossils.
The Pre-Cambrian began about 2.5 eons ago.
Life probably arose about 4 eons ago, about half an eon (500 megayears +- 200 megayears) after the Earth was formed.
Really?Xaro wrote:The climate of the Archipelago is similar to that of South Georgia.
What does "rich" mean, then?Xaro wrote:.... life on it is rich,although consisting of only two species ....
"Just two species" doesn't sound even possible, much less "rich".
You need your autotrophs (such as plants) to outnumber and outmass your heterotrophs (such as fungi and animals) by around 9 or 10 to 1 at least.
You need your herbivores to outnumber and outmass your carnivores by around 9 or 10 to 1 at least. (Maybe only 2 to 1 if they're all cold-blooded.)
One could reasonably say that a temperate-zone forest was "richer" than a tropical rain-forest, even though it has fewer species, because the species it does have are more numerous and have greater total biomass, and/or because its soil is more fertile.
Maybe your archipelago doesn't have any
That seems like an unrealistically long time. Anything over about 150 megayears (about the age of Earth's current continents) seems too long to me. The oldest fossils ofXaro wrote:.... that archipelago was separated from the mainland for last 1,4 billions of years.
Edit: This was just wrong. The Pre-Cambrian began about 2.5 eons ago; and life probably arose about 4 eons ago, when the Earth was around half an eon (500 megayears) old.
You need to look into plate tectonics and also into how archipelagos are formed.
What's the axial tilt of Isi? Is it almost constant (say, 22.5 degrees +- 100 minutes)? If so, why and/or how does it stay that way (for instance, a relatively massive relatively close moon)?Xaro wrote:Tzhrng Archipelago is located in far northern oceans of Isi. Despite being farther north than 75 N, ....
If the axial tilt is less than 15 degrees, 75N will be south of the Arctic circle.
If the axial tilt is more than 45 degrees, the "Polar/Tropical/Temperate" trichotomy just breaks down entirely.
Most fish are carnivorous, that is, pretty close to piscivorous.Xaro wrote:Qxhr are intelligent huge flying animals.They have an extremely light and thin exoskeleton.
Their diet mostly consists of fish.
Qxhr are bioluminescent.
Still, the oceans' autotrophs never mass less nor number less than their heterotrophs.
Most really big ocean-dwellers eat krill and/or plankton and/or other very small, nearly microscopic (or actually microscopic) organisms.
Why did the Qxhr evolve flight?
Why did the Qxhr evolve intelligence?
Why did the Qxhr evolve bioluminescence?
Plants evolve "carnivorous plant" features in soil deficient in certain elements plants need that animals contain. Why did the Tsrxng evolve carnivory (or whatever the right word is)?The second species of Unnamed Archipelago is Tsrxng(a Qxhr name).
Tsrxng are trees with bloodred leaves.They can grow 20 meters high.
As Tsrxng are clonal colonies,the number of Tsrxng organisms is equal to number of islands of the Unnamed Archipelago
Tsrxng feed the same way as carnivorous plants do.They capture small fish using their root hairs.
And why are their leaves red?
But that's not likely the reason the Qxhr evolved bioluminescence; there needs to be a more immediate benefit to the individual Qxhr. What is it?Symbiosis between Nokturnas and Tsrxng
Qxhr are bioluminescent so Tsrxng can continue to photosynthesize during long arctic nights.
Also; Can the Qxhr's bioluminescence really put out the frequencies the Tsrxng's red leaves can use, at the brightness the Tsrxng need to photosynthesize?
Why wouldn't the Tsrxng just go dormant during the long arctic nights? They might, or might not, cut off their leaves the way deciduous trees do.
Why wouldn't the Qxhr just hibernate during the long arctic nights?
Who are the Nokturnas?
A vowel-less language isn't for humans, so, if a Qxhr and a human need to communicate, how do they do it? Can a human learn to pronounce the Qxhr language, or is it physiologically impossible for a human to do so? Perhaps a "pidgin Qxhr" would grow up that a human could pronounce, with epenthetic vowels that the Qxhr would just ignore? Or could a Qxhr learn to pronounce vowels?The names of lifeforms of the Unnamed archipelago are from Qslxtqr,the vowelless language of Qxhr.
Don't think that all those questions and criticisms mean I don't like it!
I admire the fact that you've gotten far enough for someone to ask such questions.
You probably have, or will come up with, good answers for most of them; some few of the rest may prompt you to make a small change or two.
Last edited by eldin raigmore on 15 May 2012 02:11, edited 1 time in total.
My minicity is http://gonabebig1day.myminicity.com/xml
Re: Isi
eldin raigmore wrote:Really? |
eldin raigmore wrote:What does "rich" mean, then? |
| eldin raigmore wrote: "Just two species" doesn't sound even possible, much less "rich". You need your autotrophs (such as plants) to outnumber and outmass your heterotrophs (such as fungi and animals) by around 9 or 10 to 1 at least. You need your herbivores to outnumber and outmass your carnivores by around 9 or 10 to 1 at least. (Maybe only 2 to 1 if they're all cold-blooded.) One could reasonably say that a temperate-zone forest was "richer" than a tropical rain-forest, even though it has fewer species, because the species it does have are more numerous and have greater total biomass, and/or because its soil is more fertile. Maybe your archipelago doesn't have any |
Actually there are some other species,like various species of fungi,moss and lichens.There is a dozen species of insects.
The archipelago has ground cover of moss,fungi and lichens.They are not very numerous because Tsrxng block the most of sparse sunlight.
eldin raigmore wrote:That seems like an unrealistically long time. Anything over about 150 megayears (about the age of Earth's current continents) seems too long to me. The oldest fossils of lifeforms are about 500+-50 megayears old (half an eon); and I think life on Earth is thought to be at most around 750 megayears (three-quarters of an eon) old. You need to look into plate tectonics and also into how archipelagos are formed. |
![[:$]](./images/smilies/icon_redface2.png ":$"){kind=icon}
The archipelago's biggest island has a glaciated mountain range up to 3400 meters high.Next to the range is a oceanic trench.The rest of archipelago are eroded lowlands which are so much eroded because of winds and rain that they are partially drowned by the sea.
eldin raigmore wrote:What's the axial tilt of Isi? Is it almost constant (say, 22.5 degrees +- 100 minutes)? If so, why and/or how does it stay that way (for instance, a relatively massive relatively close moon)? If the axial tilt is less than 15 degrees, 75N will be south of the Arctic circle. If the axial tilt is more than 45 degrees, the "Polar/Tropical/Temperate" trichotomy just breaks down entirely. |
The axial tilt is constant because a large habitable moon(radius ~4200 km),named Jenaíh by Isenes,orbits Isi at the distance of 2 millions of kilometers.
eldin raigmore wrote:Most fish are carnivorous, that is, pretty close to piscivorous. Still, the oceans' autotrophs never mass less nor number less than their heterotrophs. Most really big ocean-dwellers eat krill and/or plankton and/or other very small, nearly microscopic (or actually microscopic) organisms. Why did the Qxhr evolve flight? Why did the Qxhr evolve intelligence? Why did the Qxhr evolve bioluminescence? |
Qxhr evolved flight ~70 millions of years ago when the Unnamed archipelago was still a lush cool-temperate rainforest.Qxhr were then omnivorous and climbed trees to reach fruit.Soon they lived in tree canopies.They gradually evolved flight to move easier through the canopies.
Qxhr evolved intelligence because they had to cope with increasingly harsh conditions as the Unnamed Archipelago slowly drifts northeastward.
Qxhr evolved bioluminescence to see better each other in the dark arctic night when even the adaptations of eyes to darkness became useless.Qxhr live in groups.
eldin raigmore wrote:Plants evolve "carnivorous plant" features in soil deficient in certain elements plants need that animals contain. Why did the Tsrxng evolve carnivory (or whatever the right word is)? And why are their leaves red? |
Their leaves are red because it was cool to me.There isn't particular benefit of using the red pigment for photosynthesis instead of the chlorophyll.
eldin raigmore wrote:But that's not likely the reason the Qxhr evolved bioluminescence; there needs to be a more immediate benefit to the individual Qxhr. What is it? Also; Can the Qxhr's bioluminescence really put out the frequencies the Tsrxng's red leaves can use, at the brightness the Tsrxng need to photosynthesize? Why wouldn't the Tsrxng just go dormant during the long arctic nights? They might, or might not, cut off their leaves the way deciduous trees do. Why wouldn't the Qxhr just hibernate during the long arctic nights? Who are the Nokturnas? |
It can really put out the usable frequencies when the Qxhr are in tight groups of a dozen of more.
Tsrxng are evergreen(actually the better term will be everred).They don't go dormant because even in the arctic night temperature rarely falls below -20 Celsius.The temperature often gets past 0 Celsius even in the midwinter.Without polar landmasses,Isi is warmer than the Earth for 3 Celsius.
Qxhr don't hibernate because they can't gather enough fat to survive the arctic night hibernating before they become too heavy to fly.BTW,they can hunt fish during the winter because the ocean never freezes completely around the most of the Unnamed Archipelago for there is a strong warm current.
Nokturnas are the old name for Qxhr.
| eldin raigmore wrote: [quote="Xaro"The names of lifeforms of the Unnamed archipelago are from Qslxtqr,the vowelless language of Qxhr.[/quote] A vowel-less language isn't for humans, so, if a Qxhr and a human need to communicate, how do they do it? Can a human learn to pronounce the Qxhr language, or is it physiologically impossible for a human to do so? Perhaps a "pidgin Qxhr" would grow up that a human could pronounce, with epenthetic vowels that the Qxhr would just ignore? Or could a Qxhr learn to pronounce vowels? |
Humans almost never see the Qxhr;the only people who have seen them are the whalers.The whalers are afraid of them and avoid the places of sightings of the Qxhr.The Qxhr are in the popular culture of Isi,too.Writers write popular horror stories about them all round Isi.As for the Unnamed Archipelago,it has never been seen by humans of Isi.It doesn't appear on the world maps.
Qxhr can't pronounce vowels and sonorants except trills and flaps becuse they haven't got nasal cavity and the mouth,especially the tongue,is built differently.
Damn,this is a huge post.
![[O.O]](./images/smilies/icon_eek2.png "O.O"){kind=icon}
-
eldin raigmore
- korean
- Posts: 6358
- Joined: 14 Aug 2010 19:38
- Location: SouthEast Michigan
Re: Isi
OK.Xaro wrote:Actually,more similar to climate of Kerguelen. A cold,windswept land in perpetual drizzle and snow. Trees grow on the archipelago,though because they are cold-adapted.
OK.Xaro wrote:Rich means rich in biomass.
OKXaro wrote:There are only two notable species,Tsrxng and Qhxr. (emphasis mine -- er) I am sorry if I worded that badly.
Actually there are some other species, like various species of fungi, moss and lichens. There is a dozen species of insects.
The archipelago has ground cover of moss, fungi and lichens. They are not very numerous because Tsrxng block the most of sparse sunlight.
OK.Xaro wrote:The archipelago was actually separated from the mainland for last 140 millions of years.I misremembered my notes.
The archipelago's biggest island has a glaciated mountain range up to 3400 meters high. Next to the range is a oceanic trench. The rest of archipelago are eroded lowlands which are so much eroded because of winds and rain that they are partially drowned by the sea.
OK.Xaro wrote:The axial tilt of Isi is 26 degrees so the seasons are a bit more pronounced.
The axial tilt is constant because a large habitable moon(radius ~4200 km),named Jenaíh by Isenes,orbits Isi at the distance of 2 millions of kilometers.
OK.Xaro wrote:Qxhr are not completely ocean dwellers -- they live at the Unnamed Archipelago and venture to the ocean to feed on the fish.
Qxhr evolved flight ~70 millions of years ago when the Unnamed archipelago was still a lush cool-temperate rainforest. Qxhr were then omnivorous and climbed trees to reach fruit. Soon they lived in tree canopies. They gradually evolved flight to move easier through the canopies.
Qxhr evolved intelligence because they had to cope with increasingly harsh conditions as the Unnamed Archipelago slowly drifts northeastward.
Why is it advantageous to the glowing Qxhr to be seen by other Qxhr? If the advantage is only to the seeing Qxhr that's not enough to cause bioluminescence to evolve.Xaro wrote:Qxhr evolved bioluminescence to see better each other in the dark arctic night when even the adaptations of eyes to darkness became useless. Qxhr live in groups.
Also: The surface details of a glowing object can't be seen unless it's illuminated by some light source brighter than it is. So which part(s) of Qxhr glow? And can their other markings be seen in that light?
OK.Xaro wrote:The land of the Unnamed Archipelago is nutrient-poor because the rains,despite the Tsrxng trees,constantly wash the nutrients.
Perfectly fine!Xaro wrote:Their leaves are red because it was cool to me. There isn't particular benefit of using the red pigment for photosynthesis instead of the chlorophyll.
![[B)]](./images/smilies/icon_cool2.png "cool"){kind=icon}
Is their photosynthesis based on rhodopsin instead of chlorophyll?But the advantage needs to go mostly to the bioluminescing Qxhr, at least at first. If it goes only to other Qxhr and the Tsrxng, it's not enough to select for bioluminescence.Xaro wrote:I have explained the benefit of bioluminescence above.
OK.Xaro wrote:It can really put out the usable frequencies when the Qxhr are in tight groups of a dozen of more.
I thought of that too!Xaro wrote:Tsrxng are evergreen (actually the better term will be everred).
![[:D]](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin2.png ":D"){kind=icon}
OK.Xaro wrote:They don't go dormant because even in the arctic night temperature rarely falls below -20 Celsius. The temperature often gets past 0 Celsius even in the midwinter. Without polar landmasses, Isi is warmer than the Earth for 3 Celsius.
Qxhr don't hibernate because they can't gather enough fat to survive the arctic night hibernating before they become too heavy to fly. BTW, they can hunt fish during the winter because the ocean never freezes completely around the most of the Unnamed Archipelago for there is a strong warm current.
Nokturnas are the old name for Qxhr.
OK.Xaro wrote:Qslxtqr has syllabic consonants. Actually,I can pronounce it. Nuxálks could speak Qslxtr without difficulties.
Humans almost never see the Qxhr; the only people who have seen them are the whalers. The whalers are afraid of them and avoid the places of sightings of the Qxhr. The Qxhr are in the popular culture of Isi, too. Writers write popular horror stories about them all round Isi.
So, they're at a pre-Columbus technology level? Or a pre-circumnavigation techology level?Xaro wrote:As for the Unnamed Archipelago, it has never been seen by humans of Isi. It doesn't appear on the world maps.
OK.Xaro wrote:Qxhr can't pronounce vowels and sonorants except trills and flaps becuse they haven't got nasal cavity and the mouth, especially the tongue, is built differently.
My minicity is http://gonabebig1day.myminicity.com/xml