Getting Started

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Jusenkyo Mordor Getting Started Guide

This page is designed to help give a new player all the necessary information he or she will need to get started on JM.

JM is a free form roleplaying game (more like a MUSH than a traditional MUD) with a fantasy based theme. There will be the ocasional character brought in from a technologically advanced world though with no way to recharge, repair or replace any of the technology they are used to, they'll have to learn to adapt in a world that isn't advanced and where magic is one of the fundamental laws of physics. There are a few exceptions though they tend to not change the overall theme and feel of the game.

New players who are curious about the style of RP may wish to take a look at the most recent RP logs that have taken place during the Origins Plot or they can view any of the online logfiles from the main Log Index.

For learning about the game world itself, the Topic Index lists all currently available topics (we're still working on getting things added and filled out). However, it can be a bit overwhelming at first (especially as we haven't split things up among geographic, historical, political and character specific topics). So instead, the guide below should give anyone a good place to start.


The basics
The important thing for new players to understand is that they would have arrived through the Nexus. Also important to character development (as noted during character creation) is the characters "alt form" or "flux form". Reviewing the topic on the Flux should give you enough information to go on.

Magic is an important part of JM. There are various methods for accessing magical power as well as varying levels of power and ability. While some basic magical ability is not all that uncommon in the floating islands of Eraniss, it is less common on the surface. Also, those that have developed more powerful magics generally specialize in a few key areas or types of magic.

It is possible for players to play characters who are native to the world of JM though it is asked that it not be the player's first character. Once a player has a better feel for the game world it will be easier to play native characters and even be involved in building and running plots (it's not hard to get a DM on Jusenkyo Mordor for anyone who is active and has been around awhile).

When on the MUD itself there are only a few basic/important commands to remember:
* To move around either type the full name of the exit (or n for north, e for east, u for up) or "go ".
* One of the first commands you'll want to use when logging in is the "desc" command in order to set your characters description (just type desc immediately followed by the description).
* Players can use the ooc and ic commands to set their status (in the unlikely event they are just wanting to watch an RP session and not participate... but really, most players just set ic and then leave it that way).
* Finally, to pose players can use the "emote" command (or : as a shortcut). This will put the character's name first followed by whatever is typed. If players have the recho flag set they can also use the recho command which does the same thing but without the character name in front.


The Geography of Jusenkyo Mordor
When first arriving, the character will be on the floating islands of Eraniss. In particular they may first go through the nexus and arrive in the crystal city of Girralatia. If they leave the city they may wander into one of the other two cities on Eraniss: Haven and Kuushan.

Characters may soon travel past Kuushan and down to the surface. The important thing to note here is that most of the surface is rather uninhabitable. Huge wastelands left over from the cataclysm that created the floating islands make up most of the surface. However recent events have flooded the northern steppe lands between Radley and Farhaven creating a very fertile landscape that has been drawing in immigrants from all around and drastically changing things down on the surface.

When traveling from Eraniss to the surface, characters will first arrive in the Kingdom of Radley. Heading west over the Merlose Mountains they would come to the small farming village of Harvestfall. Heading east along the road known as the Torihiki Michi they will cross the flood plains, a small town of Michimachi and eventually arrive at Farhaven. If they head south from Radley instead, they will eventually arrive at Fowler. There is a handy Surface Map to help out wayward travelers find their way (and we hope to have a map of Eraniss and the various cities up eventually as well).


The peoples of Jusenkyo Mordor
While those arriving through the Nexus from other worlds are from a variety of races, the native population is mostly human though there are pockets of other races here and there.

There used to be a large population of elves on the island of Qeshna, though it has been destroyed and Sotek is the only known survivor. There are few other elves among the native population though one notable exception is Rayne, leader of the fire faction in Girralatia and head of the Girralatian Council. The crystalsingers who reside in Girralatia also have some elvish heritage in them.

The once tribal population of Kobolds in Eraniss have mostly become citizens of Haven, though there are likely still a few pockets of kobolds clinging to their old traditions elsewhere on the islands.

Radley was once almost entirely populated by dwarves. Dwarves still remain a dominant race in the kingdom though large numbers of human immigrants have settled in the kingdom (mostly at its eastern edge which comprises the western most part of the flood plains).

After the failed invasion of the Zilhadian Empire, thousands of now stranded Zilhadians have settled into the lands between Farhaven and Michimachi while many have also settled in either of those two cities as well. There have been reports of many Zilhadians traveling to other far off places in the world and a hundred or so now live in Haven as well. One notable Zilhadian, Xerion, is head of the KDF.


The politics of Jusenkyo Mordor
The politics of Jusenkyo Mordor have grown more complex quite recently. In general, however, there has been a divide between Eraniss and the surface. For generations, Eraniss has been prosperous even while life on the surface has been hard. There are strong prejudices against the "Sky Dwellers" even to this day, though some recent events have begun to polorize opinion on the surface. Due to the help the KDF and others from the Eraniss gave to the Farhaven resistance and their role in stopping the invasion, much better relations have existed between Farhaven and the cities of Eraniss.

Addtionally, despite the invasion and asserting control over them during the war, many of the general populous are friendly towards the Zilhadians after they returned control of the city to the local authorities. This is probably in large part due to the assistance of the Zilhadians in helping the farmers with their crops (even if their motives were self serving). Of course, the ill treatment of the merchant class by the Zilhadians during the war has breed significant resentment among that part of the population. For this reason, there are few Zilhadians actually living in the city and those that do often work along the docks or in the merchant fleets. Just outside of the city, however, most people live quite peacefully with their new Zilhadian neighbors.

In the past, the tiny town of Michimachi never gathered much attention. It's only two redeaming qualities was the small trickle of a river that flowed down from the Riu Mountains and the fact that it lay on the trade way between Farhaven and Radley. Today, however, it lies right in the middle of the flood plains and has seen its own share of immigrants settle around the town. While most Zilhadians left over from the war have settled east of the town a few have settled around Michimachi and have sworn to protect the town.

Radley, however, has been a different story. While not even from this world, Ramias has become quite a popular king. He has initiated grand public works: improving the roads in the kingdom, building the new town in the western part of the flood plains, a new mine and quarry and has even broken ground on a castle sitting near the crossroads. Radley controls the road leading east-west and north-south. This means that just about any trade (apart from Girralatia's trade by airships) goes through Radley and is subjected to a small tax which is officially used to improve the roads and safety of travelers within the kingdom. Ramias has also exploited the natural prejudices against but Eraniss and the Zilhadians and has, perhaps, slightly exaggerated his own role in the war against the Zilhadians. Because of this, the relations between Radley and the cities of Eraniss have not improved, with the exception of Haven (at least on the surface). Additionally, Zilhadians are not at all welcome in the kingdom and there has been at least one incident where a Zilhadian acting as a guard for a merchant has been booed, heckled and forced to leave the kingdom without even stopping (perhaps, as some stories go, even with bit of rotten food thrown for good measure).

The other known cities on the surface, Fowler and Harvestfall, remain largely independant. In Eraniss, as on the surface, each city is largely it's own state as well. The crystal city of Girralatia is strongly independant. They survive through dominating trade with their monopoly on airships. Girralatia is quite prosperous despite having to import all of its food and water and crime in the city is uncommon.

Haven has just been recently founded and built though its leaders have already worked to secure trade relations with the other cities both in Eraniss and on the surface. Much effort is also being expended to ensure the survival of the city in the event of any potential trade or military war.

Kuushan is just as independant as Girralatia though the real power behind the city remains largely uncertain. On the surface, at least, the city is clean and orderly and most of the people go on about their daily lives without worrying or caring much about the secrets the cities government may hold.


Recent Events
Most of the recent or at least current state of affairs can be gained from everything mentioned above. The following, however, is a quick summary of the more recent events that have widely effected things either historically or politically.

* The Zilhadian invasion. The Zilhadians came from another world through a portal originally set up by the long dead civilization of Avala. The chaos demon Kain also used these events to attempt to destroy Girralatia and remove the seals that bind the Nexus. The KDF and the Zilhadians joined forces at the last moment to defeat Kain and his demonic army. When everything was over a cease fire was signed, later followed by an offical peace between all parties involved.

* Another result of the invasion and battle against Kain was the resulting explosions along the Riu Mountains which were accidently set off by Sotek when trying to shut down the ancient Avala weapon Kain was using to attack Girralatia with. An enormous amount of stored water poured down from the mountains, flooding the dry northern steppes and changing the weather patterns in this part of the world. As hundreds of streams begin to carve out new river courses in the land, the entire region has become known as the flood plains and has become the most fertile land on the surface.

* Haven was founded by Laset, Ephiral and Krista. Newly united kobold tribes helped in its initial construction and many more immigrants have come to the city over time, include a large number of Zilhadians many of whom Laset befriended during the war.

* Radley has been expanding its borders, the kingdom now reaches from the Merlose Mountains in the west, the Riu Mountains in the north and east into the flood plains. Of particular note are the large number of immigrants settling within Radley's borders, the increase in size of its army and the rumors of a new religion spreading throughout the kingdom.


The History and Mythology of Jusenkyo Mordor
The history of the world of Jusenkyo Mordor is mainly divided between two periods of time. Before the great cataclysm and after, though there are some historians who believe that with recent events, the world is beginning to move forward into a new age...

The Cataclysm occured many many generations ago. The exact date and cause is uncertain. Most history from the period is lost. What is known is that the cataclysm caused the floating islands to be ripped from the earth and placed in their current locations in the sky. Many people also believe that the Nexus was formed at the time and that it may have, in fact, been the cause of the cataclysm itself. It is known that the crystal city of Girralatia was built to keep the Nexus sealed and it is widely believed that should the seals ever break, the world would be destroyed. The cataclysm also scorched the surface, leaving much of the land barren and infertile. Until recently, there had been only a few places on the surface where people could eke out a hard living.

In more recent times, Girralatia had become the dominant power mainly through its airship fleet. Girralatia's prosperity was only rivaled by Kaeino, though that city has since been destroyed. Due to wars and natural disasters, two of the original five floating islands have been destroyed and the population of Eraniss has been cut at least in half. Even more recently, outsiders who arrived through the Nexus have played an ever increasing role in the course of history- to the point that one Girralatian councilman in the earth faction wrote (and was widely criticised for) a work describing recent events which was titled 'The Age of Heroes'.

Going back to the time of and before the Cataclysm delves into the realms of mythology more than history, though some recent events have indicated that there is at least some truth to the old tales. In particular, discoveries have proven the existance of an old and advanced civilization from the Legend of Avala. On the surface, the prevailing mythology has been quite similar in some ways to the Celtic mythology of our own world, moost notably in the names of the various gods and goddesses. However, it is not usually practiced as a religion as such and any rituals are more often done out of tradition than any other reason.