dirt and grass

[kiyuna]

ah, so, I was talking to a PC today, and he pretended to not know what dirt and grass were.  Even though it's allanak, one would think any person would have heard of the plains in tuluk, its like how IRL people know about the rainforests.  Also, there are trees in the south, and I'm not entirely sure trees can grow purely out of sand, and there are definately planters lying around with dirt in em, so I guess this one is split because I'm not sure if it goes in World or RP discussion..

[Mean_Old_Bastard]

maybe his character was just nuts

[Anonymous]

Well, it's not like someone in Allanak or Red Storm would have had a tour of Tuluk and it's likely that Tuluki agriculture isn't the sort of stuff talked about when the subject of Tuluk comes up in those locations.

I don't see what's wrong with playing a character that is ignorant or unschooled about the world outside of where he or she lives.

[kiyuna]

That's fine and all, but the world discussion part of the post is that I'm asking if there's dirt in those planters all over allanak, and if there's grass about em, or if there's dirt around the trees spouting up in front of the tavern, and if there's grass around those.

[EvilRoeSlade]

That?  That ain't dirt.

It's just brown stuff.

[Ghost]

I am not sure if I have the right answer for your original question Kiyuna, but for this one:

Even though it's allanak, one would think any person would have heard of the plains in tuluk, its like how IRL people know about the rainforests.

Actually, it is a little different.  People now know lots of stuff about all over the world because we have TV, internet, books and a lot more books, and traveling is not something that much dangerous.  People in Allanak might not have much of a clue what is in Tuluk, and same goes for Tulukis knowledge about Allanak.  Most people just know the "rumors".  For example, consider the time just before the crusades.  People used to believe the east had mountains of gold and ridiculous riches like that.
An average Allanakki might have no idea about Tuluk, other than what he heard as "city of infidels and barbarians".

To your original question: I think there would be dirt around the plants in Allanak, but Allanak is not common with his trees and plantlife.  Average people might not have noticed it.

[Bestatte]

Dirt isn't soil. It's dirt. You'll find it in the rinth, you'll find it in the commoner's quarter, you'll find it on the faces of most commoners in Allanak, and on their clothes, and in those nasty pipes sticking out of the ground all around the city. Anyone in Allanak who claims they don't know what dirt is, is insane.

Trees are common enough for any city dweller to understand. Even rumors of these things would've gotten to the rinth, for those characters who have never left it. At some point in everyone's life, they'd have come in contact with something made of wood, and at some other point, would've enquired and be instructed what that substance is and what it looks like when it isn't a longsword.

There are also coded -and- non-coded trees all along some of the streets in the town. They're no mystery, they're right there in front of your face. A rinth-rat might be awestruck upon actually seeing one for the first time, but he would know that yes, this thing is a tree.

Even in the elemental quarter, there are planted vegetation. So again - the only people who might never have seen plantlife would be rinthis, and even they would've heard about it and know it exists. The rinth, afterall, isn't some completely isolated place where nothing comes in or leaves.

[Larrath]

There is a pair of trees just outside the Gaj, on Caravan Road.

About dirt though, while it (and soil, inside the planters) can be found in Allanak, some commoners might not know what it's called.

[Maybe42or54]

They actually use shit from the Byn Latrines and the current loser of the arena to fill those planters.

[Xygax]

I think it's safe to assume that both "dirt" and "grass" are common enough vocabulary.

There are a lot of things in the region of Allanak described as "dirty" or containing dirt, and there are shops occasionally containing items (albeit expensive) made from woven grass or selling grass itself.

-- X