Calling Kildarians, Historians, Retirees and Grumpy Old Men

[Andreas the Wise]

Jonas and I, despite the fact we're meant to be having a huge spat over an island ... are starting to seriously plan an all-Kildare game to rival CoD in Shirithian memories. And, in true Andreas style, I'm planning to adapt whatever pre-existing stuff I can to my own devices - I'm a prolific adapter - including some Jasonian stuff that I've already begun adapting to Gralan stuff in the Archaeology (with Harvey's permission). Time will probably involved prominently in the game (after all, Sakat IS Lord of Time), and so the call goes out to great historical memories of Kildare. Yes, I know it started properly as UAS and we'll probably ignore most of the non-magical states, because that just doesn't make for a fun game ... but things like the lost Library of Hallucigrad (ooh, Jonas, add this to the list from my pm), the Kitanus Fields (I need more info on this one), Temple of Ryvenna etc ... that's really rather cool. And then I'm sure there are stuff people here are rather attached to in Kildare that I've never heard of ... and so the call goes out.

Anyone who would like to volunteer historical information about Kildare, memories of favourite (preferably magical) places, and especially anything that could properly be classed as Ancient and have existed, relatively unchanged, for thousands of years to the present day ... please reply in this thread.

[Kaiser Ayreon]

There were an ancient people in Kildare, called the Halluci. They dwelled in the Old Halluci Nation, but after troubles with Dutchess Hypatia Agnesi, most of them left for Illumination in Elwynn.

[Andreas the Wise]

I knew about the Halluci, I didn't know they nicked off to Elwynn .. *notes that down for future reference*

[Erik Mortis]

Kitanus Fields had a dragon named Eros.

[Scott of Hyperborea]

Here's an early history of the Apollo Sector that includes Audentior (southeast of Antya River), Automatica (southwest of Antya River), Demesos (east of Lake Odlum), Blackrock (northwest of Lake Odlum), and the UAS: http://www.geocities.com/giantsquid1_19 ... istory.doc

[Jacobus Loki]

Well, I new Austi, Baron of Hallucination, fairly well, but I was tied up with other projects at the time.

What little I can recall went into the wiki. If I find more, I'll advise.

[Sebastien Alexandre]

The County of Port Illumination in Elwynn is what one could call the 'Halluci Diaspora'. Simply put, Ari and Ric were much more willing to put up with me and my ideas than Hypatia ever was, so I moved to Elwynn. So yes, there were Halluci (and Elves, and Dragons) in Port Illumination as well as in Old Hallucination.

[Andreas the Wise]

I'll be sure to make a special trip to Illumination to check it all out ... soonish.

[Wil Nider]

Here's an early history of the Apollo Sector that includes Audentior (southeast of Antya River), Automatica (southwest of Antya River), Demesos (east of Lake Odlum), Blackrock (northwest of Lake Odlum), and the UAS: http://www.geocities.com/giantsquid1_19 ... istory.doc

Is Blackrock in Kildare now? The OSI will go nuts :-P

[hypatias mom]

Hi, "Will," it's good to see you back here again. Yes, it is in Kildare. As a matter of fact, the capital of the Dutchy is now called Blackrock Nua.

I hope you will visit a lot more. You have been missed by a number of us. (btw, it was great to have you stay with us in 2006. I hope things are going well for you.)

[Wil Nider]

It was great to stay! California was entirely too warm for me and my pasty Irish skin, but I might make a return visit at some stage when I'm not heavily in debt. Go camping in Yosemite maybe!

In real life, Blackrock is in County Dublin, and Kildare is a neighbouring County. I live in County Wicklow myself, the Garden of Ireland, and can therefore hold myself above both. I just think it would be amusing if the Ordnance Survey of Ireland ever found out. They have enough problems with housing developers changing Counties to get a "better address" as it is, without people on the internet transplanting an entire town

[hypatias mom]

Let's face it, Eoin, California in the summer is almost always too hot for people from northern Europe (and for me, too). Next time, try to come in the spring, when the weather is mild, the hills look like Ireland (really!!), and the waterfalls are at their best. I love that season best of all. Seeing the valley when the dogwoods are in bloom and most of the crowds aren't here yet makes it a magical place to visit. Oh, and don't forget you need to reserve way ahead to be sure to get a campsite.

[Wil Nider]

Really? I just figured you make bear noises until you frighten all the other campers away, and then you take their spot.

...on second thoughts, no. They have guns in the states, and itchy trigger fingers!

If I do come back it will indeed be at a more sensible time of year.

[hypatias mom]

Just go online and you can find out all about reservrations--times, places, etc. We'd love to welcome you back (and, yes, spring is a much more survivable season for people who can't handle the heat). Hope everyone has a chance to visit us here.

[Jess]

I have...its too hot for me

[hypatias mom]

Jess--

California has almost any climate you'd like--our state has 13 of the 14 climate zones on earth--you just have to choose your location. And some places are mild year-round. We have crowded areas, and those rarely visited. If you hate the heat, come in a cool season. Give the state another try.

[Jess]

I went to San Jose...any other interesting parts?

[hypatias mom]

I don't really consider San Jose one of the more interesting parts here in California. Sure, the weather is usually not too bad year-round, but the scenery leaves much to be desired. I prefer the coast, with its beautiful scenery http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl ... tnG=Search and massive redwoods http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=digQPVh1 ... re=related, or the Sierras, with great national parks like Yosemite http://www.terragalleria.com/large-form ... emite.html. We have just about any type of place you could wish to see. You just need to figure out what type of experience/vista/adventure, etc., you want, and you can find it. If you must visit a city, San Francisco is at least visually interesting and varied (just bring a jacket in the summer--it's cold then). Yosemite is my favorite place, but there are mamy other places of all types here.

[Jess]

I should go back sometime!

[hypatias mom]

I'm afraid San Jose is not representative of the scenic areas in this state. If you want high-tech, yes. This is Silicon Valley, after all, but you are going to have to leave the crowded areas to see the state. Oh, yes, you might try to avoid coming in the heat of summer if you can't stand hot weather. The coast proper is rarely really hot, but inland it can be well over 100 degrees F. in summer. For example, in the San Francisco Bay area, where I live, it is often in the high 50's on the coast; 10 miles inland, around the Bay, it can be in the 70's or 80's, and inland on the other side of the east bay hills, it can be sweltering in 100+ degree weather. These are called microclimates, and the bay area has many of them.

You need to choose an area that interests you, and choose a season that is comfortable for you. California has just about any type of scenery and weather--you just need to pick ones that fit you.

[Jess]

What would be the best place on the coast?

[hypatias mom]

I guess that depends on whether you want warm ocean water, or pretty scenery. In southern California, water is warm enough to swim without a wetsuit, but the crowds of Los Angeles and south are pretty bad. Santa Barbara and Ventura have lovely beaches. Anywhere north of San Luis Obispo or Big Sur is beautiful, scenic, and the water is not freezing--that comes north of about Half Moon Bay. If you wish to camp, we have many campgrounds along the coast--check out California State Beaches and Parks--beach campgrounds. http://www.goingtocalifornia.com/pages/ ... s-beaches/ You can camp right on the beach--but reserve 3 months ahead for most of them. If you will be staying in a motel along the coast, check for areas. North of Half Moon Bay, you will need a wet suit to swim in the surf, but watch for sneaker waves and rip currents. The most scenic area is above San Francisco, all the way to the Oregon border. It is cool almost all summer long, rarely above 70 degrees, and usually in the high 50's. During the winter we have storms out of the Gulf of Alaska (you've seen the waves if you've every looked at the show Deadliest Catch on Discover). In January we have a competiition just outside of Half Moon Bay, about a half mile off shore, called Maverickshttp://www.maverickssurf.com/Multimedia/Default.aspx?id=160, in which the best surfers in the world are invited to ride monster waves up to 80 feet high in some years, but usually "only" in the 30-40 foot range. Winters can be really wild along the coast, with rain and floods and slides in wet years. Spring is lovely and green. The redwoods are great all year round, and they range from Big Sur to the Oregon border. If you want more specifics, you might check out the relevant websites.

[Jess]

Cool!