[h1][center][u][color=gold]Scholars of This Algid Earth![/color][/u][/center][/h1]
[sub][center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbbtmskCRUY]Music[/url][/center][/sub]
[i][color=lightblue][h3]Good Scholars,[/h3]The fires of great Ignaes are dying. The gestalt magic of that light, the light of sorcery you see; it is leaving this world. The chaos that will follow will forever mar this wonderous land with disaster. Flood & tidal waves. Eldritch firestorms. Earthquakes that will unleash the gods-knows-what from the depths of our world.... We know not why we should be forsaken as such. Regardless, Ignaes' temples are falling one by one, whether by chaos-loving anarchists or divine will, this world is coming to an end. In its stead has come a barren, desolate & cold land...an algid earth.  

You are the wisest, most learned men & women I could find within my power. Some of you may know one another. Some of you may despise one another. Others may have never graced this land until now. Whatever the case, leave behind your prejudice & quarrels for now-the task at hand is far greater. 

I wish all of you to record a great compendium of all that has come before. There is a vast ocean of knowledge that must not be lost in the storm that is to come-a history and encyclopedia must be preserved, recorded and copied. It is unfortunate that the temperament of scholars is legendary, else I would not have locked you in my Tower of Truths. 

In this tower you will find all of the necessary implements of your respective scholarly pursuits, parchment, ink, quills, etc. My dear steward Bremen has offered to assist all of you in your day to day necessities. He has at his command all of my kingdoms resources. Whatever you may require to finish the job will be requisitioned. But I warn you my word is not to be questioned. Even in these dark times I will not hesitate to dispense with Justice. Good luck to all of you. Ignaes be blessed.[/color][/i]

[center][color=gold]-By the word of the Lord of the Terrible Winter,
The Guardian of Emberhold, Master of the Relnish Heartland and the Pabashaw Outlands,
King Alem I, Commands you thus![/color][/center]
[h3]Welcome![/h3][hr]
[indent][i]Scholars of This Algid Earth is a combination of Roleplaying and Worldbuilding. Create a character of great knowledge, be it scholar, wizard, cleric, adventurer, explorer, alchemist or scientist and help preserve the knowledge of Reln before the great Cataclysm destroys the world...[/i][/indent]
[indent]Posts consist of writing personalized (from your characters perspective, with all the accompanying quirks, flaws and psychosis) scholarly works that reference events, places, people, artifacts, gods, weapons, wars, books, races, kings, sorcerers, creatures, monsters, monuments, lairs, dungeons etc. (Don't worry I'm not holding anyone to actual academic standards, just casual-advanced standards) In this way, players have a way to influence and shape the development of the world. In each piece that you write you can make references to things within the post that you don't fully explain. Here's an example:[/indent]
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[h3]Maggot Men[/h3][hr]
 [i]....consider the Maggot-men of [color=steelblue]Bloodmoon Barrows[/color]. Through the word of their horrid god [color=steelblue]Illumiiax[/color], they consider and demand that all humans be sacrificed, and their flesh feasted upon. Obviously, this has made trade with the creatures near impossible for men. It is unfortunate as the spores of the native Bloodmoon Barrow [color=steelblue]Fardream Toadstool[/color] are in high demand for the euphoric and healing proper...[/i][/hider][/center]

[indent]In this example I've highlighted potential subjects for other players to pick up, flesh out and submit to the compendium. Whether or not someone decides to write about the Fardream Toadstool, Illumiiax or the Bloodmoon Barrows or not is up to the players. Here's where it gets fun. In subsequent articles, contradictions can be made. Accusations of fraud, idiocy and other scholarly pursuits can be woven into the RP. Did so-and-so say that the Fardream Toadstool has healing properties? What an idiot! It's sure to kill you!. Contradict, make outlandish claims, be a scholar![/indent][hr]
[h3]Compendium Post Format[/h3]
[indent]It is very important to follow the guidelines for Compendium posts. These are the way your characters (and by extension, you) will influence the development of the world. Compendium posts should be added in the CHARACTER TAB section. The IC tab is for standard roleplay. More about that later. Now, here is a template for the Compendium Posts:[/indent]
[center][hider=Compendium]
[indent]It is very important that when you write your entries, you include and reference other things for other scholars to pick up on. You can reference books, tomes, operas, songs ballads, and works of art that you make up. Like the example above I have highlighted some names and things I want other people to write about. Please use the color tag and the color code [color=steelblue]steelblue[/color]. This will keep things nice and organized.  Don't forget to add your name to your compendium article as well.[/indent]
[b]Name:[/b] The thing your writing about
[b]Category:[/b] (Thanks to [@Hael] for the suggestion) What broad category does your post fall into? Animals, Cultures, People, Creatures, etc. Feel free to invent new categories if you can't find one that fits your post. Remember, you can write about ANYTHING.
[b]Main Body:[/b] (Don't actually name it "Main Body" that would be silly. 
Here is where you need to decide what to include. So for artifacts, I might include, history, appearance, function and where it is now. If I was writing an entry about a creature then I might include Appearance, habitat, magical properties, cultural significance etc. Really up to you. If your not sure feel free to ask your fellow scholars in the OOC or send me a PM. 
[i]NOTE: It's important to consider your characters perspective when you write your Compendium entries. You can embellish. Lie even. You can make absurd statements for others to debunk or discard in future posts.[/i]
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[h3]RP Guidelines[/h3][hr]
[list]
[*]Any scholar (player) may pick and choose an article to write about at any time.
[*]It is OK! if more than one scholar writes about the same thing.
[*]Compendium article lengths will inevitably vary. No word count limit-yet. Just keep it manageable. 
[*]Communicate. Use the OOC to collaborate and talk with your fellow scholars. PM whenever for anything, I check the forums throughout the day. 
[*]If things start to slow down, jump in! Make an IC post. Send a message to King Alem or a fellow scholar. Pester Steward Bremen with absurd demands for your 'glorious work'. Keep the game rolling forward! :) 

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[h3]Create A Character[/h3][hr]
[indent]First you have to make a character. To begin with all you really need is a name and an appearance. As the compendium progresses, feel free to add things that have been written about. Lie. Exaggerate. Embellish etc. Anything to be remembered as the GREATEST MIND of all time. For now don't worry too much about what is contained in your CS. Just have a basic concept in mind and develop/evolve your character as the RP progresses.[/indent]
[center][hider=character sheet]
Name:
Race: I'm tentatively accepting standard fantasy races...not sure how this will affect gameplay however so be prepared to revert to standard humans...Also, try not to rip off other establish canon from the get go. (I.e. Not all Elves are named GALADRIEL) 
Appearance: Describe your characters appearance FIRST. Rejecting all those APPS that are just pics. (small pics are OK. No anime. Large pics need to be tucked into hiders. Remember this is a dark fantasy world) 
Abstract: A line or two that sums up your character. i.e. "The silver-tongued scholar of Manipulation Magic" 
Background: Not much to put here as of yet. You can make mention of a town or city they are from or lived in. This will get filled in later. 
[i]NOTE:Please PM [@Polybius] your completed character sheet.[/i]
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