Theme Hour on the Caldera City 12/17/07

From FiranMUX

[Public] Steph grins. This should be fun. *rubs hands together*
[Public] Aldrin makes sure he walks infront of the horses in the parade!
[Public] Fiero has joined this channel.
[Public] Steph thinks we should pick a Caldera City theme song for the night. "Love lifts us up where we belong..."
[Public] Ginny has joined this channel.
[Public] Steph says, "Other suggestions?"
[Public] Jessica says, "This town is coming up a ghost town"
[Public] Jon says, "We Built This City (With Rocks From Giants)"
[Public] Steph grins! I like it. Shall we begin?
[Public] Adan has joined this channel.
[Public] Steph says, "Caldera City is the former home of the Giants, and as such is built to the grand scale of their much more significant heights. This probably meant that all of the doorknobs had to be relocated to a more accessible height, etc, and that most of the existing chairs and such could also double as minor fortifications."
[Public] Malatan says, "Hahah."
[Public] Marsalos says, "Haha"
[Public] Steph says, "It's located in the far northeastern part of the Firan lands, outside of any clan borders, and due to its special significance as the refuge where Queen Sabine led the people to during the Exodus it is populated by people from most of the various clans. As a result, it's unique as the only city in the Republic ruled independent of any clan leader with the possible exception of Divided Scirlut."
[Public] Kagi says, "Peace Frog/Blue Sunday from the Doors Album, Weird Scenes from Inside the Gold Mine..."
[Public] Steph says, "Rather linked to this is Caldera City's fame as a home to political refugees, fugitives, and exiles. During the Great War, Caldera City played host to a Lanesh uprising. This is rather understandably played down by the city's tourist officials."
[Public] Steph says, "Caldera City is also famous for the Giant Eagles, one of the few creatures known to scare the metaphoric poo out of griffons."
[Public] Steph says, "Firan Unification was achieved during the Caldera City Accords, which makes the city of enormous political and historical significance."
[Public] Steph says, "With that overview, what questions do you have about the Caldera City, and/or its residents, or political significance?"
[Public] George Carlin as Ronti says, "An Iberik still is its mayor, right?"
[Public] Nisa has joined this channel.
[Public] Marsalos hears a lot about talk of caves around Caldera, but not much detail. What's generally-known about those, if anything?
[Public] Steph says, "Lord Diomedes Iberik is currently the mayor of the Caldera City. He has a wife and several children, and of course, Lady Nalia is now living with the Caldera City Iberiks. So the Iberik family is actually practically a clan royal family out there--something that might explain why they get themselves into trouble back here at home."
[Public] Steph says, "The Caldera City is carved out of the top of a dormant volcano that had its cone blown off gazillions of years ago. Beneath that mountain, there are a series of caves and tunnels--some manmade, but most hollowed out lava trails and tunnels from ancient geographic activity. (more...)"
[Public] Yacen has joined this channel.
[Public] Steph says, "I believe that the Caldera City was originally discovered by Garen and Zarid (amongst others) when Zarid swam under a mountain waterfall and discovered that there was a tunnel that led up into an abandoned city."
[Public] Kagi says, "Who abandoned it?"
[Public] Steph says, "To get there, however, they had to pass through many many areas of pitch blackness, where they encountered blind glowing fish, and treacherous areas where they had to hold their breath, go under low laying rock formations and come out the other side. It was very treacherous."
[Public] ATTENTION: ANIMAUX SAUVAGES Amber notes one of the reasons she suggested this topic to Steph was there are a lot of PCs -- both pregens and IVs -- from Caldera City, but few players know much about it.
[Public] Steph says, "It is believed that the city was abandoned by the Giants hundreds of years ago, and it is known that the city is considered to be sacred to the goddess Uf."
[Public] Aldrin says, "Has there ever been a giant character played on Firan?"
[Public] Kagi says, "How prevalent is totem worship in Caldera? I know when I gen'd my Ticanee character, it was pretty much my only choice."
[Public] George Carlin as Ronti says, "Is it true that, thematically, most exiles head to Caldera City when banished?"
[Public] Ladonna has joined this channel.
[Public] Adan wouldn't confuse the two terms, Ronti. One is banished from a clan, exiled from the Republic as a whole.
[Public] Steph answers Aldrin: There have been Giants played on Firan, but as NPCs in larger plots. The Giants have helped the Firans, especially during the Great War, but have a general distrust of the Firans and are very private people. They are also monotheistic Uffians.
[Public] Ladonna says, "I was told that Giants, to the NPCs, do not exist?"
[Public] Aldrin says, "Cool. Thanks. Giants build Anarinuell's walls didn't they?"
[Public] Aldrin says, "Built."
[Public] Steph answers Kagi: Totem worship is probably more prevalent in the Caldera City than any other part of the Republic simply because of the high percentage of Ticanee who live there. During the Exodus, the Ticanee were amongst the first to be willing to hide in the Caldera City, and many of them stayed there afterwards, unwilling to come to Anarinuell and live behind stone walls. Mountain walls seemed more natural to them.
[Public] Marsalos has a mundane question. "Why is it called THE Caldera City?"
[Public] Kagi says, "So in terms of Ticanee population, which would be the order? Anarniuell, Caldera, Vahloria?"
[Public] Steph says, "Ronti: It is true that many exiles have gone to the Caldera City and because it's so far away the Clan Council has been content to allow it. Unfortunately it also makes the city a hot bed of rebellion and discontent, and that is why it enjoys a bad reputation amongst the leaders of the Firan people."
[Public] Steph says, "Ladonna: I don't understand your question."
[Public] Steph says, "Aldrin: Yes, the Giants helped the Firans build Anarinuell's walls by dragging huge slabs from the quarries and setting them upright. This was something they did for Elianos and at Sabine's urging, and they considered it a debt paid..."
[Public] Ladonna says, "The NPCs don't believe that the giants exist at all -- that's what I was told byyyyyy someone. I forget who. Is this right? Do the NPCs not believe that there are these giants?"
[Public] Steph says, "Marsalos: It's called the Caldera City because it's the only one? ;)"
[Public] Steph says, "Kagi: In terms of relative Ticanee population, we have a spreadsheet that contains that information but I don't have that information at the tip of my tongue. I would guess Caldera, Anarinuell, Vahloria, but don't quote me on that."
[Public] Steph says, "Ladonna: I'm sure much of the Firan population doesn't believe in the Giants at all. At this point, most of the generation that saw them is dead. It must all seem like myth to them. And there's been no real commerce or interaction with the Giants of note, so that's probably true."
[Public] Ladonna says, "Most excellent. Thanks."
[Public] ATTENTION: ANIMAUX SAUVAGES Amber gets overbowled by Steph's efficiency. :)
[Public] Steph says, "Amber has things to add though!"
[Public] XX Adam would add that it's named The Caldera City because Elianos had a hand in naming it, and he had a habit of naming places 'New Town' and 'Wilderness Fort.' He is very practical.
[Public] Kagi asks Amber, "Is the Ticanee theme hour archived somewhere?"
[Public] ATTENTION: ANIMAUX SAUVAGES Amber says, "Jessica has my Theme Hour logs. She is putting them up for me. :)"
[Public] Jessica says, "I have it"
[Public] Adan says, "Weren't there giants somewhat recently, Steph? We sent women off to be with them?"
[Public] Steph says, "Adan: Depends on your definition of recent."
[Public] Neoma has joined this channel.
[Public] George Carlin as Ronti says, "That was about 12-14 IC years ago, i think"
[Public] Adan says, "I just remember a TP in my time here."
[Public] Adan nods to Ronti. Sounds right.
[Public] Marsalos says, "The story of that is in the GL"
[Public] Steph says, "The Clan Council did engage in some negotiation for mates with the Giants. About a Firan generation ago. So, within memory, but probably not common enough knowledge that the NPCs would give it a lot of credence."
[Public] Steph says, "What's the GL?"
[Public] Balinda says, "nods. Faedrus, Karana, Rafi and a couple of others met them."
[Public] Marsalos says, "Sorry, Great Library"
[Public] George Carlin as Ronti waits to see what Amber says before asking more questions.
[Public] Steph says, "Aha. Yes, very good. Marsalos, you wanna put that information from the Great Library up on the wiki page for the giants?"
[Public] Marsalos says, "Sure!"
[Public] Kagi says, "Is there a version of the Great Library in Caldera City? With perhaps more records from preAU than would exist here in the city?"
[Public] Steph says, "Kagi: Yes, there is a version of the Great Library in the Caldera City and though the officials there claim that they only have copies of what is in Anarinuell, scholars dispute this highly and claim that there are scads of ancient records that the Caldera City keeps in secret vaults there."
[Public] ATTENTION: ANIMAUX SAUVAGES Amber says, "There are all sorts of strange whispers about Caldera."
[Public] XX Adam whispers, "They eat their dead." (Not really.)
[Public] Adan says, "I hear that Elvis is alive and living in Caldera City. Any truth to that?"
[Public] ATTENTION: ANIMAUX SAUVAGES Amber grins at Adan.
[Public] George Carlin as Ronti says, "So I take it the Caldera City underground is the former lava tubes of the volcano?"
[Public] Steph says, "The Caldera City is not underground. It's actually up in the blown out part of the mountain. However, there are rumors that there is a vast under-tunnel network..."
[Public] George Carlin as Ronti nods.
[Public] Zalman laughs at Adan and says as jokingly "maybe Jimmy Hoffa's there too.":)
[Public] ATTENTION: ANIMAUX SAUVAGES Amber says, "Possibly inhabited by strange creatures and people. But that's just rumour."
[Public] Steph is pretty sure that in the Firan world, it would not be amiss to find the Firan version of Jimmy Hoffa dead in some Caldera City cave.
[Public] Nisa has left this channel.
[Public] Kagi says, "Do the clans..feed Caldera? Or are there farms on the surrounding volcano taking advantage of the soil?"
[Public] XX Adam says, "The underground rivers and caves that lead through the mountains to The Caldera City are pretty well know because of the Exodus. Those are eroded limestone caves between bedrock and granite layers, mostly."
[Public] Steph says, "Kagi: The Caldera City imports a lot, and does a lot of trading with Vahloria. However, there are also steppe farms in the Caldera City. Additionally, fish in the lake, and in the rivers."
[Public] Adan says, "What about Caldera's City connection with Lanesh? I seem to think it has a lot of rumored history with the Regime. (Obviously, you can't say anything definitive, but)."
[Public] Steph grins at Adan. That's an IC thing. You'll have to find out that way. However, one reason it is associated with the Lanesh in the minds of the people is that the great Lanesh uprising during the Great War happened in the Caldera City (more...)
[Public] Steph says, "When the Clan Council (or what was left of it) was attempting to negotiate Unification, they were in residence in the Caldera City. Sabine and Elianos were living in the palace cut into the side of the mountain, where there was seemingly only one way out--the front gate. They were ambushed by Lanesh laying in wait. Elianos was forced to duel his own brother, Trannos, to survive. Sabine helped turn the battle by throwing her dagger and hitting someone between the eyes with it, but not before she was kidnapped by Lannos and dragged to the master bedroom where, upon the balcony, he and Mosa cheerfully stabbed Firgalas to death before the crowd. Then, spattered with Firgalas' blood, he returned to rape Sabine. Before he could, she poisoned him with her ring... (more...)"
[Public] Aldrin says, "Sabine rules."
[Public] Ladonna says, "Pff! Mosa 4Evr."
[Public] Steph says, "Luckily for our heroes, Garen and the other heroes managed to get past the gate into the palace ... and managed to lead the Firan forces to victory over the Lanesh usurpers at which point Bannos claims to have broken Lannos' back and killed him. And at which point Elianos cut off Lannos' head and claimed to have killed him. The truth was that it was Sabine, but the menfolk didn't want to cede that to her."
[Public] Steph says, "So, that's the long answer as to why the people associate Caldera City with the Regime."
[Public] Steph says, "And also how close you came to having an Empress and Emperor of the Lanesh Empire."
[Public] Fiero says, "and that incident was what inspired the Antonian apostasy?"
[Public] Fiero says, "Or at least aspects of it?"
[Public] XX Adam says, "You'd have to ask Antonius. ;)"
[Public] Kagi says, "So it would be natural to say that Firans who aren't from Caldera mistrust those who are from there, because they might be of the Lanesh influence? Is that why there's so little present power in the Iberiks?"
[Public] Steph says, "Kagi: Quite possibly."
[Public] Steph says, "You guys are asking great questions."
[Public] Kelarik says, "Caldera is the only other 'Republic' city aside from Anarinuell, right? Or is it somewhat like Anarinuell in that it lies in clan property in some fashion (Anarinuell is a GD city, after all, even if it houses the main leaders of all clans)?"
[Public] The Lethal Weapon Achillus says, "Caldera, and half of Scirlut."
[Public] Steph says, "Yeah, Scirlut is a recent innovation of Taleo's where it's walled off like Berlin and manned by the Republic."
[Public] Kelarik keeps forgetting that half of S(c/k)irlut.
[Public] Ladonna says, "How's that going?"
[Public] The Lethal Weapon Achillus says, "Probably much like Berlin was. :-P"
[Public] Aldrin says, "Oh I'm sure it's working better than the original. ;)"
[Public] XX Adam says, "The Caldera City is not within any clan's boundaries. It's an independent Republic city."
[Public] George Carlin as Ronti says, "How did Diodem become Mayor?"
[Public] Ladonna hopes we sure do hear more about it. ;)
[Public] The Lethal Weapon Achillus will always be curious. :-P
[Public] Neoma couldn't get out of Caldera fast enough! :)
[Public] XX Adam says, "Ten minute warning!"
[Public] Kagi says, "Is part of the reason why Caldera's never become it's own clan because there's so many people there that owe allegiance to so many other clans, or mostly because everyone's trying to leg up on the other that no one can rise to challenge the Iberiks and their loyalty to the Republic?"
[Public] Jessica is logging and will post this, Amber.
[Public] Steph says, "Diomedes Iberik was a war hero that impressed Elianos and Sabine and the rest of the Council during the Great War and was rewarded for his loyalty and expert management skills with leadership of the Caldera City. He was a very young man at the time, only fourteen. But he was impressive."
[Public] XX Adam says, "Kagi: I think that it's a matter of no one being ABLE to claim it. I'm sure people would try if they thought it would stick."
[Public] Steph says, "Kagi: The Caldera City remains in the memory of the Firans, the place that they hid as one people. Nobody could claim it and it's filled with so many different clan refugees it would be very hard to try. But don't be surprised if Sadin declares a Donkey Clan out there with his wife Leyla."
[Public] Ladonna says, "Damn him."
[Public] Admiral Kasi says, "(A Fluffy Donkey Clan.)"
[Public] Aldrin says, "Fluffy Donkey Clan."
[Public] Kelarik just snorts.
[Public] Malatan says, "Oh God."
[Public] Admiral Kasi: 1, Aldrin: 0
[Public] Adan says, "Brilliant! My chance to be a Clan Leader once and for all!"
[Public] Adan says, "Wait. I already had that shot..."
[Public] Yacen dies.
[Public] XX Adam says, "Adan, head Ass."
[Public] Kagi says, "Or if Eliana shows up. But it'll be a significant event when Diomedes passes away then..?"
[Public] Adan says, "'And together, we shall make the Mighty Fluffy Donkey Roar! Neeeeigh!'"
[Public] Tia has joined this channel.
[Public] Steph says, "Kagi: It will be a huge event. Diomedes Iberik was in the city recently, by the way, and testified before the Clan Council."
[Public] Tia says, "Adan. No."
[Public] Xamori says, "Why don't we hear more from them? Especially considering the people banished there, Caracallo springs to mind."
[Public] Kelarik issues Adan his Fluffy Donkey Clan Pink Military Skirt and Tunic.
[Public] Steph grins at Xamori and then looks at Amber. "She wants to hear more from the Caldera City..."
[Public] Fiero says, "No she doesn't."
[Public] Fiero puts Xamori in the wardrobe.
[Public] Xamori says, "I would IC news would come via Pony Express or something."
[Public] Kelarik says, "Donkey Express."
[Public] ATTENTION: ANIMAUX SAUVAGES Amber says, "Caldera City says "Peep!""
[Public] Xamori says, "Err...I would THINK."
[Public] Xamori says, "Or the mayor yelling at us to stop sending crazies."
[Public] Kelarik covers his ears. If you begin making doe eyes, Amber...
[Public] The Lethal Weapon Achillus glares at Amber, "Why do you bring back the blocked memories?"
[Public] Kagi says, "Not trying to peek into the future, but if we don't have a Ranivor by the time that happens, is it likely that Caldera will remain a Republic city? Or does most of the city maintain their clan identities? And is the city broken up into clan neighborhoods, to keep that identity?"
[Public] Steph says, "Remember that the Caldera City is far away and there are no phones, and though they have Giant Eagles, they are a bit isolated. But we do hear from them... much more than the Clan Council would like I'm guessing!"
[Public] ATTENTION: ANIMAUX SAUVAGES Amber beams innocently.
[Public] ATTENTION: ANIMAUX SAUVAGES Amber says, "News from the various cities would be fun, but we'll have to see if we have time to do so."
[Public] Steph says, "Kagi: Actually that's a great question, and it is true that the city has divided itself into ethnic areas, even though everyone mixes. It's much like Anarinuell in that respect!"
[Public] Balinda says, "how are visitors from here received there? Any animosity from the exiles, banishees, etc?"
[Public] Kagi could start paging Achillus with logs of that particular character, one pose a minute for probably 50 hours?
[Public] The Lethal Weapon Achillus says, "Chances are, most of them are hard to find."
[Public] Aldrin says, "What's the deal with the Giant Eagles? Are they under Uf's protection or something? Otherwise I cannot imagine why they arn't being trained like griffons."
[Public] Steph says, "Balinda: If you ask people who have been there, the reception is usually hostile!"
[Public] Adan says, "It's like Soviet Russia, Aldrin. Great eagle trains /you/."
[Public] The Lethal Weapon Achillus eyes Kagi, "I've seen that and worse. Don't tempt me." ;)
[Public] Kagi says, "Do the monotheists have a stronghold there? And do they practice the warrior code as well?"
[Public] Steph says, "Aldrin: Giant Eagles aren't dumb like griffons. They pick people to ride or to bond to, they won't be tamed or trained. And they're as big as a very large house, so it's hard to control them."
[Public] Steph says, "Kagi: The monotheists are not a huge presence there, no."
[Public] ATTENTION: ANIMAUX SAUVAGES Amber says, "Giant Eagles have personalities like house cats."
[Public] ATTENTION: ANIMAUX SAUVAGES Amber says, "Very large house cats. That cna swallow your house."
[Public] Steph has this picture of Mercury swallowing my house...
[Public] The Lethal Weapon Achillus can see it.
[Public] Malatan says, "Chiana already tries to eat my computer."
[Public] Steph says, "Ok, that's the end of Theme Hour Tonight!"
[Public] Steph says, "I'm going to log this and put it up on the wiki."
[Public] Adan says, "Thanks, Steph and Amber!"
[Public] Ladonna says, "Jessica logged it."
[Public] Steph says, "Thank you all for coming, and I'm going to ask Amber to toss a few CP to our participants."
[Public] The Lethal Weapon Achillus says, "Thanks, Steph, Adam, & Amber! I wish I'd been around for more than the last 20 minutes of it. :P"
[Public] Kagi learned more about Caldera during this hour than ever before. "Coolies."
[Public] Kelarik says, "Thanks for doing it!"
[Public] Aldrin will have to ask Mama for a giant eagle.
[Public] Adan has left this channel.