Post by ShadowReine on Sept 28, 2008 12:26:25 GMT -5
Or, what the Pernese have and don't have.
There is no electricity on Pern with a few rare exceptions. Landing does have power, and the very wealthy may have electric lights in their quarters. There are no computers, cell phones, radios or televisions, again outside of a few prototypes at Landing.
The Pernese do have paper, but small cotholders still use parchment. Children are generally taught to write using slates. However, Pern's rate of literacy is high. The printing press has been rediscovered, but bound books are still relatively expensive.
Clothing is all natural fabric, with boots and shoes being leather. There is no silk on Pern...expensive Gather outfits are made of very fine cotton or occasionally wool. Wool is the normal cold weather protection.
Oil is known and some holds have oil-fired stoves, but for the most part cooking is done with wood. Forges are normally coal-fueled.
Pern is relatively metal-poor, although not metal-devoid. Wooden marks are essentially the Pernese equivalent of 'paper' money. Pern is, however, somewhat rich in gemstones and even poor families often have sapphire or diamond jewelry as part of their inheritance.
Jewelry is also commonly made out of bone, shells and even the shards of firelizard eggs (the inside of the shell resembles mother of pearl).
Holds often have hypocaust style under-floor heating, as do at least some parts of Weyrs. Hot water for bathing is generally pumped into bathing pools as needed...the Pernese, especially weyrfolk, do know about and value personal hygiene. Potable water, however, is a rare luxury...only if you happen to have a spring on your land is it available. Most Pernese drink wine, ale or fruit juice. Children are generally given juice, 'small beer' (very low percentage) or water with enough wine in it to kill any present bacteria.
Medical knowledge is patchy. Surgery is reserved for life threatening cases, but open wounds are commonly stitched. Fellis juice is an opiate that is used as a painkiller and anesthetic. Another plant, numbweed, provides a topical anesthetic good for burns, threadsores and, diluted, sometimes aching muscles. Ice packs are used, but ice is not readily available at Ista, and a healer is likely to prescribe a long, hot soak for a strain or pull. Redwort produces an antiseptic substance that is used on cuts...failing that, quixal (a strong spirit) is sometimes used medicinally.
The Pernese do not have, or see the need for, the internal combustion engine. Ground transport is by wagon, drawn by horse or ox (the original colonists, for whatever reason, neglected to bring donkeys...there are no mules on Pern), horseback or foot. Dragons provide long distance transportation and often act as couriers. Major trade routes generally have fairly decent roads, but once off of that...the going can be very tough.
In general, the Pernese philosophy is not to develop technology, but instead to make use of their world's resources.
There is no electricity on Pern with a few rare exceptions. Landing does have power, and the very wealthy may have electric lights in their quarters. There are no computers, cell phones, radios or televisions, again outside of a few prototypes at Landing.
The Pernese do have paper, but small cotholders still use parchment. Children are generally taught to write using slates. However, Pern's rate of literacy is high. The printing press has been rediscovered, but bound books are still relatively expensive.
Clothing is all natural fabric, with boots and shoes being leather. There is no silk on Pern...expensive Gather outfits are made of very fine cotton or occasionally wool. Wool is the normal cold weather protection.
Oil is known and some holds have oil-fired stoves, but for the most part cooking is done with wood. Forges are normally coal-fueled.
Pern is relatively metal-poor, although not metal-devoid. Wooden marks are essentially the Pernese equivalent of 'paper' money. Pern is, however, somewhat rich in gemstones and even poor families often have sapphire or diamond jewelry as part of their inheritance.
Jewelry is also commonly made out of bone, shells and even the shards of firelizard eggs (the inside of the shell resembles mother of pearl).
Holds often have hypocaust style under-floor heating, as do at least some parts of Weyrs. Hot water for bathing is generally pumped into bathing pools as needed...the Pernese, especially weyrfolk, do know about and value personal hygiene. Potable water, however, is a rare luxury...only if you happen to have a spring on your land is it available. Most Pernese drink wine, ale or fruit juice. Children are generally given juice, 'small beer' (very low percentage) or water with enough wine in it to kill any present bacteria.
Medical knowledge is patchy. Surgery is reserved for life threatening cases, but open wounds are commonly stitched. Fellis juice is an opiate that is used as a painkiller and anesthetic. Another plant, numbweed, provides a topical anesthetic good for burns, threadsores and, diluted, sometimes aching muscles. Ice packs are used, but ice is not readily available at Ista, and a healer is likely to prescribe a long, hot soak for a strain or pull. Redwort produces an antiseptic substance that is used on cuts...failing that, quixal (a strong spirit) is sometimes used medicinally.
The Pernese do not have, or see the need for, the internal combustion engine. Ground transport is by wagon, drawn by horse or ox (the original colonists, for whatever reason, neglected to bring donkeys...there are no mules on Pern), horseback or foot. Dragons provide long distance transportation and often act as couriers. Major trade routes generally have fairly decent roads, but once off of that...the going can be very tough.
In general, the Pernese philosophy is not to develop technology, but instead to make use of their world's resources.