| Every place has a list of questions they see frequently. We at Golden Sands are no different. We get many of the same questions over and over. So here are those questions and the accompanying answers. |
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- Can I make a new Character?
We welcome new characters, they add to the size and appeal of the group. At the same time however, we would be oh so pleased if you would consider giving one of our 'adoptable' characters a permenant home.
- Can I play more than one character?
Simply the answer is yes. However there is a maximum of three per player. There should be an equal balance of males to females so there may well be times when only characters of a certain gender are allowed. This is so that we do not become too heavy in one gender as frequently seems to happen in ElfQuest holts.
There are however FreePlay characters who can be used in anyone's storyline as long as they aren't trying to be in two places at once. There is an additional option of Restricted Play characters which are playable by two or more people.
- Can my characters be related?
Blood related, yes? Your characters can be parent/child, siblings, cousins, aunt/uncle/neice/newphew. Additionally your characters can be soul siblings. What they can not be are lovemates, lifemates, or recognized mates. We do this in the hopes of increasing interaction between members of the holt. That is one of the main reasons for restricting the number of characters a person may play.
A player of a restricted play character can not lifemate or recognize any of their full time characters. Generally they should not lovemate either, but the occasional roll in the furs is not out of the question for this or any two characters.
- Can my character be a twin?
No. Currently there are no twins existant in the tribe and none are passed down in the stories that are told. So while they know that animals can sometimes have two or more, and occasionally a dolphin may have two at a birthing, they have no information that would say they might be capable of such a thing.
This should not ever come up in a storyline.
- Can my character be an orphan?
Technically yes, but only in that the 'natural' parents of your character may both be dead, or lost at sea or whatever. Natural parents meaning the two who recognized and created you. However you would know their names even if you don't remember them yourself. You would also hear stories about them from tribemembers who knew them, possibly including family and soul-siblings, or old lovemates.
- What happens to orphans?
In this holt no child is really an orphan. Their birth parents may not be around for one reason or another, but in this tribe a child is a special gift. Without biological parents to look after a child the task would fall on an aunt, uncle, older sibling, older cousin, or some other relation. In the absence of an adult relation to assume the duty, the child would be taken in by some other elf in the tribe and cared for. Many times it is a lovemated, or lifemated pair who take in a parentless child, either ones who have lost their own in the past, or who have yet to have one of their own. However it is not unheard of for even single elves to take up the responsiblity for raising a child.
- Why can't I grow up without any adults? In the wild?
Continuing from the above question, any child known to have existed would be searched for unless or until the death was verified. Additionally given the vulnerability of children and the sheer number of dangers present it is completely unrealistic to expect any child to survive on their own or refuse to be found. Children want someone to hold them, comfort them, keep them safe. They want to be carefree and leave the worries about food shelter, and safety to those who are their caregivers.
Needless to say no child in the tribe has ever gone without at least one main caregiver, though children are often times looked after by more than just the parents. There are those within the tribe who give care to all the children.
- How many children can an Elf can have?
Three. This is the absolute maximum number of children that anyone may be the biological parent of. Some may foster children who have lost parents, or children whose parents are uninterested in raising their own children. This means that even if you recognize three different times to three different people the total number of children you may have is three. If you have three children, you may not be the biological parent of any new children. This means, however, that the maximum number of siblings a given elf can have ranges between 2, and 4. We can display this with YOU being the child of Mother1 (m1) and Father1 (f1)
m1 + f1 x 3 recog = 3 children. == You have 2 Siblings (both parents recog 3x)
m1 + f1 x 2 recog = 2 children
+ m1 + f2 x 1 recog = 1 child
+ m2 + f1 x 1 recog = 1 child == You have 3 Siblings (both parents recog 3x)
m1 + f1 x 1 recog = 1 child
+ m1 + f2 x 1 recog = 1 child
+ m1 + f3 x 1 recog = 1 child
+ m2 + f1 x 1 recog = 1 child
+ m3 + f1 x 1 recog = 1 child == You have 4 Siblings (both parents recog 3x)
- What is special about elves in this tribe?
Well there are several things. To begin with many of the tribe have some degree of webbing between fingers and toes. This aids in swimming, for they spend a good deal of time in the water. The next thing is scalloped ears, along the back the ears are a bit like clamshells. Additional adaptations have happened as well, such as the ability to see under water as long as there is some light, some can see in even less light than others. One more adaptation is the ability to hold their breath under water for long periods. In children this is less, somewhere around 20 minutes, but adults can hold their breath underwater for up to 45 minutes on average, generally ranging between 30 minutes and an hour. While they do not, by nature, have gills some elves have chosen to have these shaped in along the sides of their necks, or along their collarbones. This allows them to breath underwater as well as the air when they are on the surface. The gills close tightly when above water, but underwater they open to allow the elf to breath.
- What is a 'Dolphin Speaker'?
The Dolphin Speaker is someone who communicates with the dolphins of the pod associated with the holt. While the SeaElves don't bond with these dolphins in the way a Wolfrider or Catrider would bond with their Wolf or Cat they are connected by a friendship of sorts. Frequently the Dolphin will choose someone to 'connect' to. There are however some in the Tribe past, and present who possess Animal bonding, and as an animal it is possible to bond with Dolphins.
This bond being with an extremely intelligent creature is very complex. Dolphins don't have an understanding of many of the things that elves do and so it can be difficult at times to communicate with them. The Dolphin Speaker would be the one most capable of communicating with the Dolphins at the point when the previous Speaker stepped down, or died. Contact Moderators to discuss this position.
- How long has it been since humans were last seen?
Humans have never been seen. The islands are relatively isolated and geologically active so humans tend to stay far away from the region. This is one of the reasons that the elves initially settled in this region. This is not to say that we might never know humans, but neither is it ensured that we will.
- Can I play a Human? Discover Humans?
No. Per the last question there are currently no humans around.
No. This would be a plotline run by the list admin and participated in by players. Currently we don't know if we will be considering this as a plotline in the life of the list.
- How long has it been since trolls were last seen?
It has been roughly three thousand turns (years) since the elves were driven from their previous home. Add to that the trolls disappearance almost six hundred turns before that and it has been more than 3600 turns (years) since trolls were last seen. No elf in this tribe is that old, few even make it to 1000 turns of age. Much of the possessions of those who came to this island had to be left behind, or were lost to the waters during the 'wandering'. It was not an actual wandering, but that is what the stories call the time between the destruction and resultant loss of their first home, Cliffcove, and the settling of this new lagoon. The destruction of Cliffcove when the cliff sheered off and into the cove sent out a tidal wave that washed the tribe from the shores of that island such a distance into the wide expanse of the ocean that to this day none has ever found that lost home.
- Can I play a Troll? Discover Trolls?
No. Currently there are no trolls around, and they are not remembered by any living elf.
No. This would be a plotline run by the list admin and participated in by players. At this time we have no plans to run this plotline but we have considered it. Possibly some time in the future this will be explored further.
- Can I play a Preserver? Discover Preservers?
Not at this time.
No. This would be a plotline run by the list admin and participated in by players. This plotline will be run at some point, and we are currently working on where and how they will be found. When Preservers are found we will determine how many will be found and we will then open all or a portion up to being played.
- Can I discover a lost tribemate?
Simply? No. The more complicated answer..
It is widely known that the islands around the one they occupy offer little to no shelter against the storms that ravage the area every turn (year). Most, if not all, would die under such conditions. Additionally most of these islands are visited from time to time by the elves of the holt either for foodstuffs or exploration as they are small and actively volcanic so they tend to grow over a period of time. Most are kept small by the constant quakes that break off parts of the island edges sending them to the sea floor.
This means that the only truely safe place for a tribemate to be 'lost' would be to wash up on this island somehow. And anyone keeping to the shore would likely be found without too much trouble. The elves have had time to explore the island's other beaches, but give wide berth to the area around the volcano.
- Can I discover another tribe?
No. While there is an area on the other side of the island where a tribe used to live, it is very close to the volcano and was hurriedly abandoned long ago. So even would it be found, there are no elves there to find. There are no other elves to be found in the region, and we won't know what happened to the other elves who occupied that area.
- Can I discover an elf not of this tribe?
No. This goes back to the 'another tribe' question, but that doesn't completely explain our reasoning. It seems to us that this isn't the kind of thing we want for this holt and while eventually we may run a plot of this ilk, we are not even considering it at this time.
- Can I have storm sense and water control?
No. It has been determined that you have either storm sense or water control. Roughly half the tribe will have storm sense and the other half will have water control. Though it would be more reasonable for a quarter to have storm sense and the other three quarters to have water control, it should never go the other direction.
- Can I make up a new magic?
No. We have already made up Storm Sense for this list. Magics are by nature very particular things and in ElfQuest they have a certain feel to them. We, the list admin, are attempting to propigate that feel in any and all magics that may be created by us for the list.
- How are special magics handled in this holt?
When a CIS is filled out there is a place for special magics to be added. This does not, however, ensure that you will receive the magic you have requested. If no decision can be reached by the moderators a random roll is cast. Fate will decide if we can't. Once a magic has been awarded it is time for the draw for power. Random numbers are generated by a program and the average of these numbers determines the strength of your power.
In addition random numbers are generated for your standard magics however the formula is a bit different. Anyway, it too results in a random chance of having a higher than average, or lower than average standard magic. We feel that it is a good thing not to have everyone be the same.
- Can I be part animal?
No. The SeaElves are pure blooded. No elf has ever shape shifted into something to mate with anything and no one ever will. The SeaElves will remain pure blooded.
- Can I have a bond animal?
All elves should have, have had, or will have a Dolphin Friend. This is not a bond animal but is more than a pet. This is different than a bond animal as it doesn't require the 'animal bonding' magic. Now to have an actual bond animal one must have animal bonding magic. However this is limited and only 1 in 5 characters will be allowed to possess it.
- Can I be a super magic user?
No. It wouldn't be fair to everyone else for one person to get 3 or 4 special magics or even several magics at peak power when everyone else has to abide by the rules. Now our villian may discover a power, or learn to tap into something that hasn't been explored before in their storyline, but even they won't be undefeatable. Even Winnowill lost in the end.
- Can I be a super villian?
Actually? No. There aren't super villians in ElfQuest and while there are very villianous persons in ElfQuest and we actually have plans for one of the tribemembers to become a villian, you would have to work very closely with the moderators to see this come into being and it wouldn't happen right away.
- Can I have a metal sword/weapon?
No, but the rest of the answer is not solid one way or the other. The best answer I can give is to check with the list admin and see if your particular idea will be acceptable. There are no trolls, and as stated before they are not even remembered. Many of the possessions of those who came to this island had to be left behind, or were lost to the waters during the 'wandering'. It was not an actual wandering, but that is what the stories call the time between the destruction and resultant loss of their first home, Cliffcove, and the settling of this new lagoon. The destruction of Cliffcove when the cliff sheered off and into the cove sent out a tidal wave that washed the tribe from the shores of that island such a distance into the wide expanse of the ocean that to this day none has ever found that lost home.
However, at one time the elves had contact with trolls and could aquire such items. Advanced weaponry is a no no.. Hunter/gatherers use mostly bow & arrow, spear, short spear, dagger, sling shot, simple rope traps, bola, nets and the like. Staffs are also found as well as short and long handled tridents. Of these, tridents are the most likely weapon to have a metal head and would be passed down from parent to child, or teacher to pupil.
- Can Elves write? read?
Writing does not exist in this world. Pictures yes.. but they're usually simple and used to represent significant events. A standard set of symbols also exists as warnings and markers for place or things of danger. This said the answer is No. Elves can not write, nor do they want to. This also means that there is no 'reading', this might be dumb to say because if there's no writing there's nothing to read, but some people don't realize that.
- What kind of musical instruments are there?
Many kind are available, however they all have the same basic restriction. Instruments of music will be woodwind types, and percussion for the most part with a very few possible stringed ones. Like say a lute or something similarly easy to fashion.
- What do we use for money?
There is no 'money'... Elves trade and share.. each doing their part for the survival of the whole tribe. You don't need to pay for anything or offer favors. If you need something you frequently have only to say so if it hasn't been offered already.
- Do we have a religion?
The elves have no gods of any kind only believing in their fate and gifts from the High Ones or their ancestors.
- Can I have a tattoo/be tattooed?
This is a little complicated. While the elves of this holt do not typically tattoo themselves. However in some instances, with an appropriate history, small tattoos may be allowed. This would be a slow painful process involving 'ink' made from fish and plant oils and would have to be renewed every 30 to 40 years because the nature of the color would cause them to break down relatively quickly and the lives of elves are extremely long.
The process itself would probably involve a 'needle' of some kind, possibly something like an urchin spine attached to a stick which is then tapped with another stick that would drive the ink coated needle into the skin. It would take much much longer than typical tattooing RL because it would be much much slower and less easily guided.
- Can I have a birth-defect or birthmark?
Recognition does not ever create such a child. Since 99 out of 100 children are born through recognition it is extremely unlikely that any such elf would exist. Additionally, an elf with a birth defect is almost guarenteed to never recognize as recognition seeks to create 'perfect' children. That can not be done when the base materials are flawed. This also means that the only way to have a birthmark of any kind is to be born outside of recognition and we're not approving any applications for such a thing.
This does not mean that one can not ever be flawed. A young child could get away from parents probably any time after the age of 1 or so and could theoretically be injured in such a way as to cause loss of limb, blindness, deafness, muteness (though never the mind-voice). Given the severity of such an injury and the skill of the magical healer at hand, some things could be fixable, but are not always.
- Can I play more than one character?
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| When you are ready to return home, follow the footsteps. |  |
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