tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77825036931739476742024-02-08T11:32:49.941-06:00Tales of a GemsingerWatch an aspiring fantasy writer's thought process as she works to create an original series all on her own.SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.comBlogger973125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-71164539781253273722014-05-12T13:42:00.003-05:002014-05-12T13:42:21.305-05:00A ninth spellsong!It is the first eight seconds <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC0I1x8wJhI" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
I have transcribed it as "Seilei colfin ar kadram tro...."<br />
<br />
Who this belongs to is unknown. SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-62386611954923479192014-02-16T12:54:00.001-06:002014-02-16T12:54:20.322-06:00Digital Viginette: Gemdust Cave"This is it. Gemdust Cave," Miresa announced as they approached the
entrance to a large, gray, and rocky cavern. Although the path ahead was
dark, there were the occasional gleams of light sparkling from the
inside.<br /><br /> "Are those lights from gems?" Arune asked as she flitted by Miresa. Miresa nodded.<br /><br />
"Yes. Bradlin and I like to come to this cave often. This place is a
huge source of Gemdust, which as you know, is what we use to uncover
gems that lie in the Aoi River," she explained. As they got further in
the cave, the light from the gemdust lit the cave in a light blue hue.<br /><br /> "I can actually see now!" Arune exclaimed.<br /><br />
"Some of the enemies in here carry Gemdust on them. So let's be on the
lookout," Miresa added. But Arune's wings twitched as she felt the wind
of an approaching earth bat.<br /><br /> "Watch out!" Arune cried. The bat
barely missed Miresa as she ducked from its approaching dive. The bat's
wings were covered in a rocky crust, symbolizing its Earth element. The
bat raised its wings and flapped them violently, releasing a screeching
supersonic wave.<br /><br /> "Be careful, Arune!" Miresa shouted over the loud roar of the waves.<br /><br />
"I've had enough of this!" Arune exclaimed. "Foam Shower!" She yelled
as she raised her tiny rapier at the bat. Blue magical energy swirled
around the sword and soon turned into a foamy water. She swung her
sword, making the water fly towards the bat. <br /><br /> The ball of water
exploded upon hitting the bat, resulting in a large splash. The sonic
waves subsided as the bat fell to the ground. "Good job, Arune!" Miresa
said as she walked over to the bat's remains. Light glittered from the
wings of the bat.<br /><br /> "Is that what I think it is?" Arune asked as she flitted towards the substance.<br /><br />
"Yes, that's Gemdust," Miresa explained as she gathered the dust into a
small bag. She tied a rope around the top of the bag and shook it. "We
have what we came for, but how about we continue ahead? There may be
some rare jewels deeper in the cave."<br /><br /> "Sure! The day is still young after all," Arune replied as they both continued through the glittering cavern...... SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-34621999056730340232014-02-04T22:50:00.001-06:002014-02-04T22:50:27.306-06:00Idea: Field spellsOne new idea we are considering is the addition of HM-like field spells--if we go ahead with this idea, what kinds of field spells would you want to see (besides the obvious healing spells)?<br />
<br />
If it's a bad idea, why do you believe it is a bad idea? ("Because it's terrible" and the derivatives thereof are not acceptable answers, because it doesn't answer WHY you believe it is a bad idea--and if we know why, we can better tweak the idea)SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-32442729601700588992014-02-02T21:47:00.001-06:002014-02-02T21:47:28.890-06:00A New Beginning...The story begins...<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCKVQwCtWFE" target="_blank">here</a><br />
<br />
Now with a new prologue and a walking tour of the new Telrain.SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-40596983338612513092014-02-01T21:44:00.003-06:002014-02-01T21:44:49.677-06:00Miresa's DiaryOne major change we're making in this draft is in how to remind people what they should be doing--a journal system--or rather, Miresa's diary<br />
<br />
Check it out <a href="http://gemsingervideogame.blogspot.com/2014/02/journal-system.html" target="_blank">here</a>. SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-55220228233845539542014-01-30T08:20:00.001-06:002014-01-30T08:20:16.188-06:00First Look: New Forest of DawnHere's a sneak peek at the new Forest of Dawn. You'll notice that it has more winding paths now, which should encourage players to explore off the beaten path.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8kMuAnFWjw" target="_blank">Take a look </a>SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-61979689210548741782014-01-26T14:43:00.004-06:002014-01-26T14:43:31.175-06:00New Feature: InnsIn Shokiyu, not only will inns provide a place to recover your HP, but they will also be a useful source of knowledge.<br /><br />Talk to the NPCs in the inns. You will get useful information that may or may not be limited to:<br /><br />- Information about what you should be doing<br />- Information about Shokiyu<br />- Silly rumors and gossip<br />- Information about potential sidequests SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-17184064575484481822014-01-25T15:02:00.001-06:002014-01-26T09:28:33.592-06:00We're alive, but......we're starting the game over again.<br />
<br />
From my partner:<br />
<br />
"So. We're starting over.<br /><br />I feel that the old draft had way too
many errors, and I think starting anew after so long will give me space
to be able to redo everything in a more neat manner.<br /><br />I hope you guys stay tuned for more Gemsinger Updates.<br /><br />There will be many changes from the old version.<br /><br />Such include:<br />
<br />
More sidequests<br />More in-depth battle system<br />Characters will have a bigger role<br /><br />etc."<br />
<br />
That said, I'm hoping that this year we can at the very least get a working and playable demo out to you, the fans.<br />
<br />
I'm committed to seeing the game (and its novelization) through to the end--I wouldn't give up on Shokiyu after working and tweaking and refining it for five years now.<br />
<br />
Rest assured, I haven't given up on Miresa and friends--after her story ends, I have ideas for other stories (and possibly other games) in Shokiyu.<br />
<br />
For now, Miresa and co.are back and ready for more adventures in 2014. SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-21370669954526740632013-09-26T09:24:00.001-05:002013-09-26T09:24:14.973-05:00Lore Posts to ContinueSummer may be over, but the posts of lore will continue, to make up for missing a lot of days. I also hope to have some updates on The Video Game, as well.SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-80422519556900267032013-09-13T11:48:00.002-05:002014-03-21T11:48:40.237-05:00New Spellsong!An eighth spellsong echoes through Shokiyu... <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-VN3QYb__U">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-VN3QYb__U</a><br />
<br />
I have transcribed it as "Seios, higarima laisido..."<br />
<br />
Who this spellsong belongs to is currently unknown. SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-46435233714979307912013-09-06T20:38:00.002-05:002013-09-06T20:38:16.237-05:00New Spellsong!<span dir="ltr">t's a "blink and you'll miss it" moment, but here: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/t%27s%20a%20%22blink%20and%20you%27ll%20miss%20it%22%20moment,%20but%20here:%20http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHumTOqQ4wQ%20%20I%20have%20transcribed%20it%20as%20%22Leishu%20shun%20ji,%20lei%20si...%22" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHumTOqQ4wQ </a>
I have transcribed it as "Leishu shun ji, lei si..."</span>SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-36650163660471415612013-09-03T11:14:00.003-05:002013-09-03T11:14:54.602-05:00Summer of Lore #74: A Song for Miresa"Hear ye, people of Telrain! The lady Miresa Selvan has reached her
thirteenth year!" a blonde haired minstrel announced, making the guests
present cheer as a cake was set before Miresa with thirteen candles
adorning its chocolate frosting.<br /><br />"What is your wish for this year?" Arune asked her Other.<br /><br />"The
same thing I wish for every year." Miresa smiled before addressing the
guests. "I wish for peace for all Shokiyu." With that, she blew out the
candles, to cheers, applause and a triumphant chord from the minstrel's
harp.<br /><br />"A song for the young lady?" the minstrel grinned--he knew
as well as the other guests that when it was someone's birthday, the
guest of honor chose the first song of the party.<br /><br />Miresa thought for a moment, then told the minstrel "I would like to hear 'Oh Soldier, Soldier'"<br /><br />The minstrel nodded, then started the familiar melody. <i>Oh soldier, soldier, would you marry me now?<br />With a hey, and a ho, and the sound of a drum...<br />Oh no, fair maid, I cannot marry you<br />For I have no stockings to put on<br /><br />So she went to the shop, as quick as she could run,<br />With a hey, and a ho, and the sound of a drum...<br />And she bought him a pair of the very very best<br />Saying 'Here, my good man, put these on...'<br /><br />Oh soldier, soldier, would you marry me now?<br />With a hey, and a ho, and the sound of a drum...<br />Oh no, fair maid, I cannot marry you<br />For I have no leather boots to put on<br /><br />So she went to the shop, as quick as she could run,<br />With a hey, and a ho, and the sound of a drum...<br />And she bought him a pair of the very very best<br />Saying 'Here, my good man, put these on...'<br /><br />Oh soldier, soldier, would you marry me now?<br />With a hey, and a ho, and the sound of a drum...<br />Oh no, fair maid, I cannot marry you<br />For I have no bracers to put on<br /><br />So she went to the shop, as quick as she could run,<br />With a hey, and a ho, and the sound of a drum...<br />And she bought him a pair of the very very best<br />Saying 'Here, my good man, put these on...'<br /><br />Oh soldier, soldier, would you marry me now?<br />With a hey, and a ho, and the sound of a drum...<br />Oh no, fair maid, I cannot marry you<br />For I have diamond ring to put on<br /><br />So she went to the shop, as quick as she could run,<br />With a hey, and a ho, and the sound of a drum...<br />And she bought him a ring of the very very best<br />Saying 'Here, my good man, put this on...'</i><br /><br />After a brief interlude, the minstrel continued <i>Oh soldier, soldier, would you marry me now?<br />With a hey, and a ho, and the sound of a drum...<br />Oh no, fair maid, I cannot marry you<br />For I have no trousers to put on<br /><br />So she went to the shop, as quick as she could run,<br />With a hey, and a ho, and the sound of a drum...<br />And she bought him a pair of the very very best<br />Saying 'Here, my good man, put these on...'<br /><br />Oh soldier, soldier, would you marry me now?<br />With a hey, and a ho, and the sound of a drum...<br />Oh no, fair maid, I cannot marry you<br />For I have no linen shirt to put on<br /><br />So she went to the shop, as quick as she could run,<br />With a hey, and a ho, and the sound of a drum...<br />And she bought him a shirt of the very very best<br />Saying 'Here, my good man, put this on...'<br /><br />Oh soldier, soldier, would you marry me now?<br />With a hey, and a ho, and the sound of a drum...<br />Oh no, fair maid, I cannot marry you<br />For I have no feather cap to put on<br /><br />So she went to the shop, as quick as she could run,<br />With a hey, and a ho, and the sound of a drum...<br />And she bought him a cap of the very very best<br />Saying 'Here, my good man, put this on...'</i><br /><br />Miresa grinned as the minstrel began the final verse. <i>Oh soldier, soldier, would you marry me now?<br />With a hey, and a ho, and the sound of a drum...<br />Oh no, fair maid, I cannot marry you...</i><br /><br />He played a sad little flourish over his last line. <i>For I have a wife of my own...</i><br /><br />The
room exploded in laughter and applauded as they pictured the lady's
reaction to the news, drowning out the song's ending. "That last verse
gets me every time!" Arune wheezed in between giggles.<br /><br />"Is it any wonder it's Dorian's signature song?" Miresa smiled as she flipped a gold coin into the harp case...<br /> SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-45311720915639639792013-09-02T15:04:00.001-05:002013-09-02T15:07:37.221-05:00Summer of Lore #73: Shokiyan BirthdaysIn honor of my own birthday, today I want to tell you about a Shokiyan birthday.<br />
<br />
In Shokiyu, someone's birthday is a cause for celebration, no matter how old they are turning. If it is a child's first birthday, they are taken to the Seer, where the Seer foretells their future (and if they have any developing magic power) by reading their hearts.<br />
<br />
Bear in mind the spell used for this is different than Gem's Knowing!<br />
<br />
Different colors mean both what kinds of magic they will develop (if any) and possible talents the child has.<br />
<br />
For example, Miresa's heart glowed red (for the ruby) and light green (for the peridot), leading many people into thinking she would develop fire and wind magic (but it also symbolized her bravery and fighting skill and her musical and storytelling ability), which made it all the more surprising when she became infamous for magical accidents.<br />
<br />
Like Earth birthdays, there is still a cake and presents, and tysal stands in for ice cream. The guest of honor also receives a new item of clothing, which they are expected to wear to the festivities. There is no birthday song per se, but a minstrel is usually on hand to perform anything the honoree wants to hear SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-41713452214014455782013-08-31T09:16:00.001-05:002013-08-31T09:16:19.055-05:00Summer of Lore #72: The City of Wenjia and the Avri ClansLosi's hometown, Wenjia is one of the largest cities on the eastern plains of the avri lands. Avri society is based on a clan, with one of the twelve gems (eight in the video game) as their icon, and even the cities reflect this. For our purposes, we will be focusing on the game version of Wenjia and an eight clan system.<br />
<br />
Losi is part of the Sapphire Clan, which is in charge of sacred matters, healing, and teaching. As Wenjia is a city of the Sapphire Clan, sapphires are everywhere in the city and on the clothing of the avris that live there. All avris, regardless of their clan, can learn to use a bow (this is what Losi wields, even though the Peridot clan specializes in archery), but the Sapphire Clan specializes in magical fighting, which amazes city leader Wuzhou when he finds Losi can spellsing. (a rare talent among the clan)<br />
<br />
The other seven clans and their domains (and what weapons and fighting styles they teach, if any):<br />
<br />
Amethyst Clan--focuses on espionage and intelligence, they usually tend to wield shurikens, chakrams, and nonlethal stunning darts (killing someone is the ultimate disgrace to an Amethyst avri)<br />
Aquamarine Clan--focuses on trade--these avris are usually the ones traveling from place to place selling their wares. They don't have a specific style, but they will have a bow and maybe a dagger to protect themselves<br />
Diamond Clan--focuses on defense and protection--it is usually this clan that guards cities and towns. As such, they tend to wield heavy weaponry, such as pikes, maces, and spears<br />
Emerald Clan--focuses on farming and caring for young avris, they tend to focus on martial arts and other styles of physical fighting<br />
Pearl Clan--focuses on wisdom and study, many great scholars came from this clan. They tend to gravitate towards weapons and martial arts that rely on very precise aim and an eye for detail<br />
Peridot Clan--focuses on the arts and exploration, avris from this clan are famous for their archery skills, as well as skills in music, dance, theater, and storytelling. They also tend to serve as scouts, observing the world as they patrol the land, the sea, and the air <br />
Ruby Clan--focuses on martial arts and defense, they work with the Diamond Clan to protect the avri lands <br />
Topaz Clan--focuses on crafting and mining--avris from this clan make their keep crafting weapons, artifacts, and other items, as well as repairing broken items. SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-30907667668001335392013-08-30T08:23:00.001-05:002013-08-30T08:23:31.487-05:00New Spellsong!A new <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR_hYHw5L-w" target="_blank">spellsong</a> has appeared in Shokiyu!<br />
<br />
I have transcribed it as "Furiya, shuru shamato..."<br />
<br />
Who this spellsong belongs to is unknown at this time.SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-91199326551792975142013-08-29T19:08:00.003-05:002013-08-30T08:24:18.370-05:00Summer of Lore #71: Calitan LaryanNatiliene's elder brother, Calitan is very charismatic, but this is offset by a huge ego. When it came time for a successor to Taraka to be chosen, Calitan had every belief that he would be the one--only to be stunned when his sister was chosen over him.<br />
<br />
In his jealous rage, he tracked down the leader of the Blue Wolves and asked if they would kill his sister and have it look like an accident so he would ascend to the mayorial seat. But he didn't count on Miresa and co. to intervene, much less Natiliene gaining a spellsong of her own! SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-74078429639743819542013-08-24T09:13:00.002-05:002013-08-24T09:13:09.874-05:00Summer of Lore #70: Gem MiningGem mining is a popular pastime in Shokiyu, and an easy way to get money and means to craft weapons. If digging through dirt isn't your fancy, you can buy gemdust (dirt with gems and minerals hidden inside) and do it in a river or stream with a screened box (the easier and most common way)<br />
<br />
On your journey, earth based enemies may drop one or more bags of gemdust (which have about 20-50 uses apiece depending on the size, which you can use to mine gems at rivers and streams. Depending on the quality of the gemdust, you are more likely to find mythril shards and diamondsSparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-20616829978508500832013-08-22T17:57:00.002-05:002013-08-22T17:57:37.806-05:00Turning a Dreadknight to a HeroWould you want to see one of the yet to be unveiled dreadknights join the side of the heroes? If so, why? If not, why not?SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-30316663444112195482013-08-21T10:01:00.001-05:002013-08-21T10:01:06.599-05:00Board Games and How They Can help Create Video GamesSomething to think about: <a href="http://www.penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/a-case-for-board-games" target="_blank">Board games can actually be a big help in making video games--here's how</a>SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-62549040809664937252013-08-19T17:14:00.000-05:002013-08-19T17:14:49.591-05:00Sci fi/Fantasy movies I've seenAnd now, a little something different, taken from <a href="http://wisb.blogspot.com/2013/08/flavorwire-sff-films-everyone-should.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheWorldInTheSatinBag+%28The+World+in+the+Satin+Bag%29" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Bold means I've seen it<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial </b>(cried all the way through)</li>
<li>Pan's Labyrinth</li>
<li>Moon</li>
<li><b>The Fellowship of the Ring </b>(and own it on DVD)</li>
<li><b>The Two Towers </b>(and own it on DVD)</li>
<li><b>The Return of the King </b>(and own it on DVD)</li>
<li><b>The Princess Bride </b>(not all the way through)</li>
<li><b>Labyrinth</b></li>
<li><b>Men in Black </b>(had nightmares about Edgar's true form for a week afterwards)</li>
<li>Edward Scissorhands</li>
<li>Mad Max</li>
<li><b>Princess Mononoke</b></li>
<li>Spirited Away (but I really really want to see this!)</li>
<li>Gattaca</li>
<li>Primer</li>
<li>Blade Runner</li>
<li>Fantastic Planet</li>
<li><b>The Wizard of Oz </b>(the Wicked Witch of the West STILL scares me to this day!)</li>
<li>The Secret of Roan Inish (really want to see this, if only for the Celtic music!)</li>
<li>Dark City</li>
<li>The Matrix</li>
<li>Time Bandits</li>
<li><b>Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark </b>(have seen Temple of Doom and Last Crusade too--would love to own the classic Indy trilogy on DVD)</li>
<li>La Jetée</li>
<li>Brazil</li>
<li>Metropolis</li>
<li>Big Fish</li>
<li>Solaris (original)</li>
<li><b>Jurassic Park</b> (just the opening segment on DNA)</li>
<li>Alien</li>
<li>Aliens</li>
<li>Orpheus</li>
<li>Dark Star</li>
<li>2001: A Space Odyssey</li>
<li><b>Avatar </b>(not completely--got bored an hour in, and it came off as too preachy to me)</li>
<li>Back to the Future (I really want to see this)</li>
<li><b>Star Wars IV: A New Hope </b>(seen this and the next two more times than I care to count) </li>
<li><b>Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back</b></li>
<li><b>Star Wars VI: The Return of the Jedi</b></li>
<li><b>Close Encounters of the Third Kind </b></li>
<li>A Clockwork Orange</li>
<li>Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb</li>
<li>The Fountain</li>
<li>Sleeper</li>
<li>City of Lost Children</li>
<li><b>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone</b></li>
<li>Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets</li>
<li>Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban</li>
<li>Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire</li>
<li>Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix</li>
<li>Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince</li>
<li><b>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt.1 </b>(would love to see the other movies)</li>
<li>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt.2</li>
<li>The Day the Earth Stood Still (original)</li>
<li>Donnie Darko</li>
<li>Invasion of the Body Snatchers (original)</li>
<li><b>Ghostbusters </b>(love the theme song, but the movie scares me to this day)</li>
<li>Being John Malkovich</li>
<li>Akira</li>
<li>The Terminator</li>
<li><b>Terminator 2 </b>(in bits and pieces)</li>
<li>Strange Days</li>
<li>Serenity </li>
</ol>
Total: 20/63 SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-77279381830880896132013-08-18T09:50:00.001-05:002013-08-18T09:50:38.001-05:00Summer of Lore #69: Differences between Shokiyan casino games and their Earth counterparts <u>Slot machines</u><br />
<br />
The slot machine counterpart in Shokiyu as known as an onnihata (from a word in the ancient elven tongue meaning "lucky banners") To play, the player inserts however many pearls they wish to bet, then press a button that locks in their bet, which automatically sets a row of banners with symbols on them spinning and then stopping after a few seconds, with the player winning pearls depending on how many of a certain symbol are lined up when the banners stop. Like slot machines on Earth, an onnihata can have multiple paylines, including some in Taraka that have hundreds, thousands, or even millions of paylines<br />
<br />
<u>Roulette</u><br />
<br />
Shokiyan roulette is harder to win than on Earth because of extra colors besides red and black, but if someone does win, they win big.<br />
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For beginners, the easiest bet to win is what is known as the rainbow bet--have the ball land on any color of the wheel. A proven strategy for winning big is to start slow with some rainbow bets, and then venture into the riskier (and more rewarding) bets<u>.</u><br />
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<u>Playing cards</u><br />
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Playing cards reflect the jewels of the colors of magic, with the face cards depicting heroes and creatures from Shokiyan lore. Some mages can actually call creatures from the cards with a certain spell, but it takes many years of practice before a mage can do this. SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-35431721129016090822013-08-17T08:30:00.000-05:002013-08-17T08:30:03.570-05:00Summer of Lore #68: The Red CrowsThe rivals to the Blue Wolves, the Red Crows focus more on stealing treasure, but they are not adverse to kidnapping someone if offered enough. They tend to keep any living items alive when working (According to their leader, "What good is a rare creature if it is dead?)<br />
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But if they are cornered, they tend to use ninja/rogue-like tactics, confusing or distracting their opponent to get away with their ill gotten goods. But if pursued by a Blue Wolf, they can and will fight back, and woe be anyone caught in the crossfire when the two sides clash.<br />
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A Red Crow is usually identified by the stylized crow embroidered in red on their outfits (which they conceal when on a mission to avoid detection) SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-90006936725532663032013-08-15T12:21:00.001-05:002013-08-15T12:21:06.377-05:00Summer of Lore #67: The Blue WolvesThe Blue Wolves are one of the two most feared gangs of thieves in Shokiyu. Unlike their rivals, the Red Crows, they prefer to kill any in the path to what they want (making them feared assassins all over Shokiyu)<br />
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The group gets their name from the outline of a wolf's head in blue on their tunics and on the handles of the daggers often used to carry out the kill. (guards all over Shokiyu know to look for this wolf head on the weapon if they have a suspicion a Blue Wolf was behind a crime.) While many Blue Wolves prefer to use blades, bows and maces are not unheard of.<br />
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But when a jealous Laryan hires them in an attempt to kill Natiliene and take Taraka for himself, the Blue Wolves don't count on encountering the Gemsinger! SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-76542352778350337942013-08-14T10:46:00.002-05:002013-08-14T10:46:36.431-05:00Summer of Lore #66: Touring the Kukidama Workshop"...and here is the workroom, where up to ten <i>danevala</i>s may be working at one time." a maroon haired guide explained, gesturing to a small semicircle of six boys and girls in pale green robes blowing into large metal tubes far below the catwalk the group was watching from, making a large round crystal grow larger and more colorful. "The speed and strength of each breath affect the color of the finished <i>kukidama.</i>"<br />
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"What if the <i>kukidama </i>needs glitter or something?" someone asked.<br />
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"The <i>danevala</i> applies a special lip balm before they start--the heavier the layer applied, the more sparkles the finished <i>kukidama </i>will have." the guide replied, gesturing to a seventh apprentice walking down towards the semicircle. As the seventh apprentice knelt down before an empty tube with a large mouthpiece at the end of it, her master swabbed a clear glittery goo on her lips.<br />
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The group oohed and ahhed as the seventh apprentice started blowing a deep green <i>kukidama </i>with gold sparkles into existence. "Now then...let's move on to the <i>kukidama </i>gallery." the guide instructed before leading the group across the catwalk to the gallery foyer.<br />
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More awed chatter went up when they saw the hundreds of <i>kukidama</i>s on display. "As one of the top <i>kukidama</i> makers in all Shokiyu, our work is in high demand everywhere." the guide began before gesturing to a pale green <i>kukidama </i>with a faint white swirl. "This is our signature pattern, Goddess' Breath--every temple to the wind goddess with a <i>kukidama </i>workshop has their own unique pattern that is not blown anywhere else.<br />
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"What's this one?" Miresa asked, gesturing to a royal blue and white <i>kukidama</i> with silver sparkles.<br />
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"That one is 'Gemsinger's Hope'" the guide replied. "It will be presented to the winner of the tournament here in a few days, so it is being kept here for safekeeping." SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7782503693173947674.post-76303480146486306152013-08-13T08:00:00.000-05:002013-08-13T08:00:11.491-05:00Summer of Lore #65: The Ichidou Aeris NOTE: Most of the material today is story exclusive, and does not appear in the game<br />
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Commissioned as Natiliene's first major building project as ruler, the Ichidou Aeris is a sight to behold. Made from enchanted peridot, it is the first building you see when you enter the Jeweled District.<br />
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(story exclusive)<br />
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Central to the worship of the wind goddess is the <i>kukidama</i>, a special type of crystal that is inflatable like a balloon.<i> </i>When inflated, a <i>kukidama</i>'s colors will often change depending on the strength of the <i>denevala</i>'s (devotees of the wind goddess that have dedicated themselves to inflating <i>kukidama</i>s) blows, then harden into a jewel that resembles a huge marble when it is completely inflated.<br />
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<i>Kukidama</i>s are often displayed in the common rooms of houses and from the roofs of prominent officials in trade cities like Taraka, as thanks to the wind goddess. However, <i>kukidamas </i>are also in high demand as collectibles, with certain patterns being very valuable. An apprentice <i>denevala </i>will have to learn to blow 500 unique<i> </i>patterns as part of their training. Of these, three are often blown as part of ceremonies--Peridot's Luster (a pattern blown during prayers--an apprentice's final task is to blow this pattern as part of a special ceremony), Stardust (a beautiful sparkling pattern blown on holidays) and Windsong<i> </i>(blown to open and close ceremonies)<br />
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An apprentice will blow most of the patterns as part of selling <i>kukidama</i>s--a good <i>danevala</i> can blow up to 10 <i>kukidamas</i> a day. Natiliene receives three specially designed <i>kukidama</i>s from the Ichidou Aeris a year--one on her birthday, one on the anniversary of Taraka's founding, and one on Lafisavia.<br />
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The weak of lung and those that are not <i>danevala</i>s need not attempt to inflate a <i>kukidama</i>--the inflation process is a long and tedious process (about 3-5 hours--a good <i>danevala </i>can usually finish in 1-2 hours) done strictly by mouth. The huge mouthpiece (which is slightly larger than a tuba mouthpiece--it is custom made to suit each individual <i>danevala</i>'s mouth shape) used in this process is attached to a long metallic tube that is in turn attached to the bottom of the<i> kukidama, </i>which pops out on its own when the <i>kukidama</i> hardens.<br />
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Since the Ichidou Aeris is one of the top producers of<i> kukidama</i>s in Shokiyu, their work is in high demand. One of the prizes in the tournament Miresa and co. participate in is a "Gemsinger's Hope" <i>kukidama</i>, one of the harder patterns to create<i> </i> <br />
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SparklingBluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078183466560217480noreply@blogger.com0