zompist bboard

For some reason I find myself eager to find out more about the Eynleyni peoples. They're kind of a dark undeveloped spot on the map, but what little we hear always sounds cool, and tantalizing.

The Biology page says that "the Dhekhnami and Monkhayu have an ashen cast." It's sort of hard to visualize, but I feel like they must be very depressing-looking people. And does this apply to all Monkhayic peoples? The Kebreni?

But as though to make up for their cadaverous appearance, "the Eynleyni painted their faces and limbs in lurid designs to strike fear in their enemies," according to the Skourene Historical Atlas. I was wondering whether this was common practice for all their wars? I like the idea.

And somewhere it says they had a traditional system of tally marks.

So, to get to the point, I was just wondering if you had anymore tidbits on their culture, Zomp.

Oooohh boy I am eagerly awaiting the Almeopedia.

boy #12 wrote:For some reason I find myself eager to find out more about the Eynleyni peoples. They're kind of a dark undeveloped spot on the map, but what little we hear always sounds cool, and tantalizing.

Thanks; I try to tantalize. I try to use details that suggest that there's a rich background there even if you don't get to see it. And sometimes the implied rich background just isn't there. Yet...

The Biology page says that "the Dhekhnami and Monkhayu have an ashen cast." It's sort of hard to visualize, but I feel like they must be very depressing-looking people. And does this apply to all Monkhayic peoples? The Kebreni?

Yes, it includes the Kebreni. I should really create some illustrations for this.

But as though to make up for their cadaverous appearance, "the Eynleyni painted their faces and limbs in lurid designs to strike fear in their enemies," according to the Skourene Historical Atlas. I was wondering whether this was common practice for all their wars? I like the idea.

It was, though (somewhat disappointingly, I suppose) the modern Dhekhnami no longer do this.

And somewhere it says they had a traditional system of tally marks.

Yes, this is a detail recounted in In the land of Babblers. I'll let Beretos describe it:

Beretos wrote:The Munkhâshi, like the Babblers, do not know the art of writing. However, at the riverfront, we saw a man inspecting boxes as they were unloaded from a boat, and placing painted beads in a tablet of clay. Afterward he sprinkled the tablet with sand, applied another layer of clay to the top, and pressed it down. He then peeled off the top layer and handed it to the boat’s captain, who placed it in a box and carried it away with him. This is obviously a form of bookkeeping, with a neat solution to the problem of ensuring that records match, and alterations be visible.

zompist wrote:Yes, this is a detail recounted in In the land of Babblers. I'll let Beretos describe it:

Beretos wrote:The Munkhâshi, like the Babblers, do not know the art of writing. However, at the riverfront, we saw a man inspecting boxes as they were unloaded from a boat, and placing painted beads in a tablet of clay. Afterward he sprinkled the tablet with sand, applied another layer of clay to the top, and pressed it down. He then peeled off the top layer and handed it to the boat’s captain, who placed it in a box and carried it away with him. This is obviously a form of bookkeeping, with a neat solution to the problem of ensuring that records match, and alterations be visible.

When are you going to e-publish "Babblers"?
You did some market-research in the survey...
Best regards,

Hans-Werner