Survival Manual

Used also as blurbs at the start of chapters.

The Colonies

This is the book that provides practical advice to the residents, engineers, clergy, magistrates etc.

1. The paradigm of survival can be boiled down to one fact: Do not stay outside after dark. [Surviving in the Colonies pg.1]
2. If stranded during daytime, it is advised to look for the following in this exact order: water and railroad tracks. Failing either diminishes chances of survival greatly. [Surviving in the Colonies pg.6]
3. A colonist should keep a small pocketknife on his person at all times. While it is not useful against the indigenous wildlife, it is useful when procuring food or when the colonist becomes prey. For quickest results it is advised to cut the jugular in one quick cut. [Surviving in the Colonies pg.67]
4. The colonists are the peak of human civilization on Dachaigh. It is the job of youths to learn as much as they can during their spring, so they can become useful members of society. The useless are not needed. [Surviving in the Colonies pg.2]
5. Nocta berries are the prime source of food while exploring the wilderness. However, the juice from the berries is high in sodium so all colonists should drink plenty of water after ingestion to prevent dehydration. [Surviving in the Colonies pg.32]
6. Faith in yourself is important; faith in God is paramount. If lost, pray to Him and He will deliver salvation. Either by train or by blood. [Surviving in the Colonies pg.98]
7. Keeping our youths on the trains all day is unwise, as God has made this earth for us to share. The proper time for any excursion is between ten and two. Survival cannot be guaranteed if the youths are not aboard their train outside the recommended hours. [Surviving in the Colonies pg. 47]
8. The stations are not safe during the night. [Surviving in the Colonies pg. 8]
9. The Magistrates and Medina are infallible. Trust them with your life. [Surviving in the Colonies pg. 20]
10. While traversing through the wilderness, the moon is your guide west. God has made it a permanent fixture on our sky, visible during the day and night [Surviving in the Colonies pg.205]
11. Gorehounds are not the only predators on Dachaigh. A colonist must be vary of a multitude of dangers, even those posed by flora. [Surviving in the Colonies pg.55]
12. Travelling in packs of two or three is advisable for a scouting party. The most experienced colonist should always note the position of their train. [Surviving in the Colonies pg.81]
13. Delirium is the first sign of rot. Should symptoms advance, we advise the use of your pocketknife. [Surviving in the Colonies pg. 9]

Tom's Boxes

1. Leaves and twigs make great explosions but those blasted things hide snakes. Definitely one for the 'Do not touch' box.
2. Jee's initiation into my campaigns wasn't great. He barely listened, asked me about desert six times (!!!) and laughed when I described the Ruler of Peenus. He's going into the 'Not even remotely possible' box.
3. Nun Bess's cookies are almost like God's work, but stealing them is difficult but not impossible. Going into the 'Doing in the future box'.
4. Kimberly's the best. Also for the 'never-forget' box.
5. Kimberly's an asshole. I was an idiot. For the 'never-forget' box.
6. Creating a whole world is hard but so is sewing. I'm sure Nun Delaney will understand that her scolding is imperative to my ideas. Going in the 'Future campaign ideas' box.
7. Go outside every chance you get. Another one for the 'never-forget' box.
8. Nobody has talked to me in days. My mouth feels dry and I feel all squirmy when I even think about talking to someone. If things don't change soon, making friends will have to go in the 'Not even remotely possible' box.
9. Having Kimberly in my campaigns is great. I told her how much she brings and she just laughed at my face. Well, one for the 'We aren't going to talk about it again' box.
10. Numbers are stupid. 'Not even remotely possible'.
11. Growing up in the Colonies is hard. Useful, useful, useful. Sometimes I want to put it in the 'Not my fight' box, but I can't.
12. I saw how we got meat. 'Oh crap'.
13. Kimberly acts strange every few weeks but when I ask her, she just huffs and goes in the bathroom. I think I have to keep not-knowing. One for the 'Do not touch' box.
14. I hate being lonely. I'm living in the 'Nothing escapes that hell' box.
15. There’s a time to hide and a time to take your punches. ‘Never forget’. [Tom, aged 16]

Cool Dangers

1. The wind is a strange thing, blowing hither and thither until a Wonderous thing happens. In any case, rapid movements are a sign of disease. [Cool Dangers, pg. 205]
2. The destruction cycle is unyielding, unstoppable. It can only be delayed. [Cool Dangers, pg. 495]
3. Water is Magical in nature, thus its channels remained absolute. But there are weakness to be found, small ones where Magic is too big to fit through. [Cool Dangers, pg. 75]
4. Rocks remain dangerous. [Cool Dangers, pg. 13]
5. A study of the toughest elements has proved that flaws exist, although one would need a lifetime to find them [Cool Dangers, pg. 83]
6. Sometimes natural tunnels are lined with toxic air. This barrier should never be breached. Expansion is only possible upwards in limited steps. [Cool Dangers, pg. 111]
7. The grass is tiny, the roots even smaller. While finding imperfections is hard, the void left behind is perfectly safe. [Cool Dangers, pg. 8]
8. You should never move the moon, ever. You know who I'm talking to. [Cool Dangers, unknown page]
9. No journey will be peaceful, no path untreacherous. [Cool dangers, pg. 861]
10. The moon is older than you might expect, its creation spanning eons and eons. But until Wonder was introduced, it remained a lifeless rock. [Cool dangers, pg. 1]

The Guide to Tàlant

1. The Hub is the central part of Tàlant. It is where the tri-kings reside and govern although their power is not absolute. There are other seats of power just as powerful. [Guide to Tàlant]
2. Everyone works in Tàlant but none so more than the residents of the Smoke and Soot district. [Guide to Tàlant]
3. Most houses are made from brick and morter, while a few are made with the help of Wonder. [Guide to Tàlant]
4. Every garden is tended to. If it is left barren, its position reverts back to the tri-kings. [Guide to Tàlant]
5. The Athlestian’s mountain range is named after the first explorer to reach the summit, Georg Athlestian. [Guide to Tàlant]
6. Fish, above all other animals, make the jump most frequently. This is possibly due to the fact that fishing is near eradicated on Dachaigh. [Guide to Tàlant]
7. The first generation of citizens lived within the Chamber of the Occult Language until it was transformed into a school. [Guide to Tàlant]
8. Some traders live in their tents on the Long Market. While this is illegal, no one really cares. [Guide to Tàlant]
9. Procreation on Ma'dain Aurora is unnaturally high. [Guide to Tàlant]
10. The biggest cities beside Tàlant are: Beinn, Eoch and Neonach. [Guide to Tàlant]
11. The soil is sometimes red, which indicates an extremely fertile patch. Growers can use this to create a crop in less than a month. [Guide to Tàlant]
12. Happiness in Tàlant is rated at 'fair'. After a round of beer, this goes up to 'extremely happy, can I have another pint now'. [Guide to Tàlant]

The Cool

1. The Cool cannot be mapped. Not that the rooms change or switch, it is simply impossible. [Cool introductory note]
2. Observations of the night sky via an imaging device from the parapet is unhindered and always crystal clear. It is also prohibited. [Cool introductory note]
3. There are 20 subbasement levels. Access to personal and individuals only. [Cool introductory note]
4. The Thinker's meadow is strictly prohibited to staff, pupils and visitors. The Cool will not be held responsible for any damages, deaths or accidents. [Cool introductory note]
5. An exceptional student may be promoted to rank Dhà and given extra responsibilities. A stipend may be granted to such an individual. [Cool introductory note]
6. Their is no set course, no lectures, no homework or tests. This does not mean that the Cool is easy or forgiving. Only the best graduate. [Cool introductory note]
7. Years three and up gain access to the kitchen and lunchroom. Cost: three hundred per visit. [Cool introductory note]

Wonder Gazette

1. The greatest achievement of a Landscape Grower was a barn erected in a single night, capable of storing a thousand tons of hay, together with a hundred cows. A marble yes, but the Thinker will never allow so many cows to make the jump. The architect remains unknown. [Wonder Gazette]
2. There was incident on Juxtapose street earlier today. A preserver stopped the demolition of a garden, because it had 'rare' plants on. Authorities said they were nothing more than weeds. [Wonder Gazette]
3. The annual Physik games are going to be held next week. Competitions include: speed mountain trekking, steel beam twisting and spotting. [Wonder Gazette]
4. Is your child a destructor? Are things disappearing or rotting away? Take the quiz and find out now! [Wonder Gazette]
5. Witherers say they will not clear forest, due to nature preservation efforts. [Wonder Gazette]
6. A riot happened today in the Hub, due to an unprecedented gathering of mice and pigeons. The mischief is attributed to Red Robin who is yet to be identified. [Wonder Gazette]
7. Dexterity Physiks wanted! Payment extraordinary, must like water. [Wonder Gazette]
8. Gaia proved once again she is as slippery as an eel. Despite eye witness testaments, the tribunal could not find enough arguments to sentence her. [Wonder Gazette]
9. Beinn seers at it again - say no more rain until next year. [Wonder Gazette]
10. A mix-up in the fields caused a Grower to plant peas instead of barley. A beer shortage might be coming our way. Stock up! [Wonder Gazette]
11. The thousand voice singer cancelled her appearance tonight after one of the audience awoke his Wonder. Witnesses say the crowd came screaming out of the theater, rolling in mud. [Wonder Gazette]
12. The tri-kings made their bi-annual appearance today announcing a challenger to their throne. A bout is imminent! [Wonder Gazette]