You heard it here. Hallifax had Tahtetso. Troofax.

Slightly off topic, but does anyone know if Hallifax is in any way shape or form derived from Xyl's palace in the Elder Days? There's a particular section in Trillilial that's always interested me:



Certainly as far as aesthetics go the places are similar: crystal spires, domes, lots of sparkly colors. Indeed, it is the product of Xyl and Trillilial, just as Hallifax is the union of lucidians and trills. It would be very interesting if it turned out that the House of Xyl formed a part of modern-day Hallifax: the bolded part leads me to think that the House would be the prime location for the Hallifax Nexus. While the city itself floats in the clouds, it's not beyond the realm of possibility that a mountain existed at some point in the distant past at the same elevation Hallifax does now - with the Matrix/House of Xyl providing the necessary power to keep the city airborne.

There's also this revealing snippet:



Howver, I can't find any mention of lucidians actually worshipping, or even acknowledging Xyl: in fact the only time I've seen the name in game was in Xion, with the crystal constructs talking about their maker. Is the similarity in appearance just a coincidence?

I thought the mountain Xyl's labs and such were on was Avechna's Peak. Because that's where all the fulcruxes are and such.

I think a lot of people assume Xyl sharded into the lucidians, but I'm not sure if that's absolutely known as a certain truth or just is a widely accepted assumption. Few of the races "worship" the being of which they are a part, though they may be proud of that being's accomplishments.

ummm..

Hmm, that was easier than I thought! Usually when I want to confirm things like that it takes digging through twelve sources and four books from the Elder Gods, and I don't have time so I didn't even bother to try. Too bad you can't just ask Weeky Pedea these things.

You really didn't pick up on that? That's the whole reason Hallifax is comprised of lucidian and trill. There's a snippet in the history where pre-tainted Rowena talks about how cold she finds the lucidian, and how she doesn't understand how the trills (who are more in tune with the natural world) stand them.

EDIT: I find the idea of Hallifax being technologically advanced interesting but unpalatable. Magnagora is the "Engine of Change" and therefore the most advanced organisation: I always saw one facet of their conflict with Celest being that Magnagora forged on ahead with research regardless of the detriment, while Celest (being a religious society) was more restrained and conservative. The conflict between Hallifax/Gaudiguch therefore is the straightforward order VS chaos, with Hallifax being a society of laws and regulations, some good, some bad (like their practise of slavery in the histories) and vice-versa for Gaudiguch.

EDIT2: Annnd everyone's already been through this, after reading the thread.

I envisioned Hallifax being technologically advanced, but not necessarily industrial. Crystalline technology perhaps, but definitely aesthetic in look and purpose.

I viewed the aesthetic of Hallifax as advanced: perhaps even advanced by our OOC standards, technology that wouldn't look out of place in sci-fi. But I always assumed this technology would be grounded on magic, whereas Magnagora (which by our OOC standards is more akin to Victorian England with its pollution and soot and factories) forges ahead with more mundane scientific pursuits. There's a great ambience message in Magnagora about the stench of burning ozone as the quest to refine planar research marches on; in Hallifax I'd expect the ambient messages to refer to its spotless, sparkling cleanliness.

I picture Hallifax as a sort of crystal Silvermoon: very ornate, but at the same time very stratified and controlled. Controlled to the point where the control becomes part of the aesthetic.

Silvermoon as in FR?

Silvermoon. Look at all the pretty guards there to escort you on your way! They even rolled out the red carpet.

I picture Hallifax like that, but with pretty crystal golems watching at every intersection who will alert the authorities to open a can of Murphy on you if you step out of line.

That job would be so boring.

Maybe the Arcane Reavers are temps in Hallifax.

From a completely IC perspective, I love to see more thought being put onto Hallifax.

I mean, compare the size of the Matrix Research Foundation clan vs. the Seekers of the Eternal Flame clan. One has like... 33% of the Basin and one has like... 3 active members.



Also, as far as the spirituality of the Lucidians in the Mesa complex goes, I think it was a development of their time spent in the Mesa complex and away from Hallifax. They developed the spirituality as a sort of side answer to replace their science's ineffective way of releasing their beloved city from beyond time. It was a common phenomenon in early human history - if something couldn't be explained, people just chalked it up to a spirit or a God and prayed for control of it.

That's why the Lusternian equivalent would be crystal golems! They never get tired, never complain, never shirk their duties, and to top it off they're sparkly as hell.

EDIT: To be honest, while I think the concept of Hallifax is cooler, I'd probably have to jump ship to Gaudiguch if it ever emerged solely because it's way better suited to the type of characters I play.

I'd like to see some specialization with Trill in Hallifax, like how Merian can become Imperial Merian if they have the skills. I've always thought Trill were one of the coolest races, but their stats just don't make it worthwhile for any class.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the reason Trill dont' have a specialization or a class tailored to them is because we've been told that they will have one/two/five in Hallifax if it ever comes out (okay, maybe not five, but I can dream, can't I?)

I've always assumed trill would get a spec and the lucidians would get another.

Yeah, I always imagined that too, but I wonder how it would be split? I mean, it's not like one's a physical race and one's a mental one, they're both pretty magic-oriented. Maybe there'd be more an emphasis on dexterity in combat for the trill warriors.