Athaya's Guide To The Realm of Elanthia

Welcome!

Once you have chosen your race, physical features and profession, you will need to outfit yourself for your adventures.  The basics include some sort of armor, including a helm or other head protection, and gloves,  which can be obtained at the Armor Shop, a light edged weapon, obtained at the Weapon Shop, a backpack or other carry-all, and a pouch or sack, all of which can be found at the General Store.  These stores are all found in The Crossing.  You will incur a debt with the Principality of Zoluren to pay for these items. This debt must eventually be repaid, at the Town Hall Debtor's Office.  Upon entering the Realm after the creation of your character, you will have some basic clothing, including footwear.

Coin of the Realm

There are three denominations of coin.  Kronars, Lirums and Dokoras.  The system is based on groups of ten coins.  Kronars ONLY are accepted at merchants within The Crossing.   Lirums and Dokoras are used in other regions and are accepted by merchants in these regions. 

10 copper kronars = 1 bronze kronar
10 bronze kronars = 1 silver kronar
10 silver kronars = 1 gold kronar
10 gold kronars = 1 platinum kronar (known as a "plat")

Lirums and Dokoras are based on the same system of tens, and are also copper, bronze, silver, gold and platinum.  You will have an account with the Bank in The Crossing once you make your first deposit there. There is an Exchange Booth here (for exchanging Lirums and Dokoras into Kronars) and a Teller's Window (for making deposits and withdrawals).  Until your debt is paid, you cannot make deposits.  After paying your debt in full, you may then deposit coins (Kronars only in the Crossing bank).  Your first deposit will open your account.

Stealing

It is a fact of life in the Realm.  Stealing is a skill that Thieves must develop.  However, all professions can steal, with the exception of Paladins, who are bound by honor not to steal.  Word of advice, here:  Do NOT carry large amounts of coin on you!   All coins are automatically placed in your pockets, and anyone can steal from you.   If you must carry coins to pay for a purchase, break them down into coppers or bronze.  This way, if someone does steal from you, they will only get a few smaller denomination of coins.  As your Perception grows, you will be able to catch people stealing from you, and thus save yourself the agony of being stolen from every time you turn around.  It is best to visit a merchant, read the catalog, decide what you want to buy, and head for the Bank.  Make the necessary withdrawal and go immediately back to the store to buy your item.

General Protocols

Within Elanthia, you will come upon "rooms" or areas that may have items laying on the ground.   It is best to NOT pick up these items if you feel they belong to someone else.   Always ask first, if someone else is there.  This is especially true in combat situations, which will be discussed in another heading.  We endeavor to treat each other with respect and courtesy in the Realm, making it an enjoyable experience for all.  

Combat Protocols

How do you make money in the Realm, you may ask.  One major way is combat.  There are varied "critters" that you will fight.  Some are able to be skinned, and the skins sold at the Tanner in The Crossing.  Before going out to hunt, stop by the Tanners and ask Falken the Tanner for a rope.  You will need one in order to make a "bundle" of your skins.  Bundling rope is free for the asking at the Tanner's.  Other critters may carry coins, gems, boxes and other items of value.  You will discover the details of this when you go into combat.   Again, it is most important to NOT pick up items or skins in a hunting room that do not belong to you.  The best thing to do is find a room where you, or your party, is hunting alone.  Review the combat verb usage in Sarazak's Verb List, and you will rapidly learn how to engage in combat.

Box Traps

There are several types of boxes you will come across on the critters that you kill.  I have not encountered all of the traps, but I will add information as I come across them.

Greenish Tint with Needle:  Poison
Hole near lock:  Acid (remove your leathers to keep them from being damaged)
Seal with Vial:  Negates magic for a period of time
Fibrous Cord:  Bomb (if this trap is triggered, the box and it's contents will be lost)
Razor glint:  Razor (this will cause you to lose one or both hands)
Vial with Stopper:  Gas (do NOT disarm in a room where others are present)
Silver Studs:  Arcane electricity (you will get a mild to severe shock, and be stunned)
Naptha:  BIG Bomb (you need high Disarm skills to get this one)

ALWAYS remove your gloves and headgear before disarming a trap, and leave them off to pick the locks with your lockpick. Lockpicks are available at the Locksmith.  Some injuries MUST be healed by an Empath, so get to an Empath as soon as possible to keep yourself healthy, in the event you are not able to disarm a trap.

Time Development Points

These are commonly known as TDPs.  Upon entering Elanthia, you will have about 600 TDPs to work with.  These are used to train your attributes.  Attributes are Strength, Stamina, Charisma, Wisdom, Discipline, Intelligence, Agility and Reflex.  Use these TDPs at the areas in The Crossing that are set aside for training each attribute.  I recommend training each attribute up to 10 in the beginning.  You will also incur a debt for this training, which must be paid at the Debtor's Office at the Town Hall.  To see the values of your attributes, the amount of any debt you may have as well as other information, type INF.  You will obtain more TDPs each time you reach a higher Circle.

Encumbrance

Also known as your "burden".  This is also found by typing INF.  Be aware that your strength and stamina in the beginning will be low even if you choose a race that is naturally strong.  Don't overburden yourself.   As your strength and stamina increase, you can carry more in your backpack and other carry-all items.  When you have a burden, you will find it difficult to stand up after being seated, and you may eventually "topple over" from a heavy burden.  I found this out the hard way.  Don't be tempted to collect "fluff" at first.  You will also tire more easily with a burden when you are in combat.  Injuries will also hinder your ability to fight.

Gwethdesuans

Commonly referred to as "gweths", these ingenious items are a type of communications device.  They are worn sort of like a crown on the head, and consist of different types of gems strung together by a silver chain.  There are four basic types of gweths:  Waermodi, Lasmodi, Lantholite and Sjatmal.  The Waermodi and the Lasmodi types are "receivers" only.  The Lantholite and the Sjatmal are "transmitters".  When wearing a gweth, simply TAP GWETH to activate it, and "a cacophony of foreign thoughts joins your own".  You may wear more than one type of gweth at a time, just be sure to specify the gweth you wish to activate (i.e., TAP SJATMAL GWETH).  If you are wearing a transmitting gweth, tap the gweth, then type THINK and the thought you wish to send out over the "Gweth Net".   Anyone who is wearing a gweth, and has activated it, will be able to see your thoughts on their screen.  To "turn off" a gweth, REMOVE GWETH (the thoughts will fade from your mind) and then WEAR GWETH.  Be advised that gweths do not last forever.  You are allowed so many taps, and then the gweth will disintegrate and leave a "broken silver chain" laying on the ground.  If you pick up this chain, then REPAIR CHAIN, it will assist you in learning your Mechanical Lore Skill.   At first, I was told that the chains were worthless, but I discovered that the Pawnshop in the City of Shard will buy the repaired silver chains.  The last one I sold brought me 50 copper Dokoras.  I have been told that there are other, much more rare gweths, that both receive and transmit thoughts.  These gweths are the Jadeite and Kyanite gweths, and are rare.  Gweths are not normally purchased.  More than likely, someone will give you one, or you will find them on critters that you kill in combat.  Anyone in the Realm may wear and use the gweths.    

Jadewater Mansion

Found in the northern section of The Crossing, Jadewater Mansion is where you can get help.   Mentors are there to answer questions regarding game play.  Also there are the Gamemasters, who deal with technical problems and harassment.  There are several ways to inform the GMs that you are experiencing problems.  First, there is REPORT.   This is the "911" of DragonRealms.  REPORT deals only with emergencies, such as someone harassing you.  Another way is the ASSIST command.   This is for non-emergency situations and for getting help with technical problems.  When using ASSIST, you are placed in an Assist Queue and questions and problems are addressed according to the Queue.  You do not have to be at Jadewater Mansion to be in this Queue.  The Hosts will come to wherever you are to help you.  Again, check Sarazak's Verb List for the necessary commands for this feature. 

Player vs. Player

Otherwise known as PvP, this is when players AGREE to spar with each other.  Combat without critters, as it were.  Be aware that the rules for PvP are VERY strict.  Attacking another player without permission is grounds for blocking and a possible ban from the game.   Brawling and sparring are permitted, but ONLY when a Challenge is issued and both players agree.  If someone attacks you without provocation, use the REPORT feature and move on.  If the harassment continues, get in the ASSIST Queue, and speak with a GM or Host. Don't aggravate the situation. 

Being in Character

When in Elanthia, you are helping to write a rich and varied story.  You will interact with many other characters.  Staying "in character" is something that most of us prefer to do. The use of emoticons, or "smilies", is generally not done.   One feature that is very useful is the Whisper feature.  It is a private message sent to another individual player, or your group, and only they can see what you type.  Try to confine your out-of-character (or OOC) comments to Whisper.  When you must leave your keyboard, a good phrase to use is "in my thoughts for a moment...".  This lets other players know you are not available for conversation, yet you still remain in character.  To use the Whisper feature, type whisper <player name> or whisper group.  When conversing in the room, always use the quote sign ( " ) before typing what you wish to say. 

Closing Comments

What I have done here is give you a very brief and general overview of interacting within Elanthia.   For more detailed information, please visit the Simutronics DragonRealms site.   Once you join us in Elanthia, bookmark the site for future reference.

May the Gods bestow their blessings upon you, and grant you safe travels!

   
Athaya's Moon Mage Guild Guide
The Lunar Eclipse
Moon Mage Spell List
Scroll Spell List
Athaya's Personal History