As long as I've been playing DR, I've never really had a solid grasp on what exactly an Ondjai is supposed to look like. Is there anyplace in-game either in a book or by asking an NPC somewhere that gives a bit of description? Like let's say someone was going to build a traditional style Elothean dwelling, would an Ondjai be the building of choice with ricepaper walls and all that sort of thing? Or is it more of a Surlaenisan(?) thing and not necessarily specific to Elotheans? Just one of those questions that popped into my head while out hunting on the island and I decided to get an answer. Any resources, in game or otherwise, for Elothean architecture would be welcome as I develop my character. Culture, too, though that seems more readily available in libraries and Elanthipedia.
-Player of Talmarin
HEESCHJ
RAIST
Re: Question about Ondjais
11/06/2009 02:16 AM CST
Well, this is what I found in one of the housing shops:
"Samples of the beautifully shaped tiles and panels and screens that make up the basic construction of the ondjai or "mountain home" are displayed on low tables."
Magic's Death Caraamon Makdasi,
Gor'Tog Barbarian
Hunta Talna Kortok, built by Gor'Togs, for Gor'Togs
http://www.angelfire.com/rpg2/caraamon/home.html
Blunts for Sale:
http://www.elanthipedia.com/wiki/User:Caraamon#Wares
"Samples of the beautifully shaped tiles and panels and screens that make up the basic construction of the ondjai or "mountain home" are displayed on low tables."
Magic's Death Caraamon Makdasi,
Gor'Tog Barbarian
Hunta Talna Kortok, built by Gor'Togs, for Gor'Togs
http://www.angelfire.com/rpg2/caraamon/home.html
Blunts for Sale:
http://www.elanthipedia.com/wiki/User:Caraamon#Wares
DRAKEWARLORD
Re: Question about Ondjais
11/09/2009 07:12 PM CST
I've always imagined they would look like a traditional Japanese mountain home.
I found a link that shows some modern versions of this concept.
http://www.decodir.com/2009/09/rural-japanese-houses-by-kidosaki-architects/
I've always imagined that is why they are inside a gated courtyard, because they are so open to the outside, so you seem to be living in the outside though you are totally protected from the elements.
I might be wrong.
"The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool."-William Shakespeare
I found a link that shows some modern versions of this concept.
http://www.decodir.com/2009/09/rural-japanese-houses-by-kidosaki-architects/
I've always imagined that is why they are inside a gated courtyard, because they are so open to the outside, so you seem to be living in the outside though you are totally protected from the elements.
I might be wrong.
"The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool."-William Shakespeare
ZUERCAT
Re: Question about Ondjais
12/17/2009 06:58 PM CST
Gotta love text based descriptions!
I've also always seen the ondjai as an 'open air' structure, and agree with the courtyard summary of DRAKEWARLORD. I don't imagine the modern version though, with the glass, but rather with the traditional paper walls and rich woods.
http://www.mchyl.net/images/beijing/88.jpg
http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/5412454/365636-main_Full.jpg
http://library.osu.edu/sites/rarebooks/japan/images/full/06/19.jpg
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/baili009/architecture/sukiya4.jpg
Also, on the Elothean vs Aesry question, only a GM could say for sure of course, but I feel that the other Elothean-heavy area, Shard, would be too cold for this style of architecture. Now, some of the Houses do have similar styles, for instance the dojo-ish training area in the Rowan Branch House with paper wall references or the Gilded Longleaf House interaction with the outdoors, none that I have seen in Ilithi make me think of the indoor/outdoor transparency of living space that the Aesry architecture has. So, while the ondjai's could be an Elothean influenced style, only the temperate weather of Aesry could make for the comfortable living in one.
As an aside, some of the architecture in the Crystal Wave supports the idea of the elaborately carved wood details and indoor courtyards also associated with the (real life) rural open air homes found in the Asian cultures, which is what I imagine the city is loosely themed after, and it's a great place to explore as well to add to the whole feel of the city IMO. I happened to be there when it was opened and got a tour of all the housing areas, its very lovely.
Kythryn
I've also always seen the ondjai as an 'open air' structure, and agree with the courtyard summary of DRAKEWARLORD. I don't imagine the modern version though, with the glass, but rather with the traditional paper walls and rich woods.
http://www.mchyl.net/images/beijing/88.jpg
http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/5412454/365636-main_Full.jpg
http://library.osu.edu/sites/rarebooks/japan/images/full/06/19.jpg
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/baili009/architecture/sukiya4.jpg
Also, on the Elothean vs Aesry question, only a GM could say for sure of course, but I feel that the other Elothean-heavy area, Shard, would be too cold for this style of architecture. Now, some of the Houses do have similar styles, for instance the dojo-ish training area in the Rowan Branch House with paper wall references or the Gilded Longleaf House interaction with the outdoors, none that I have seen in Ilithi make me think of the indoor/outdoor transparency of living space that the Aesry architecture has. So, while the ondjai's could be an Elothean influenced style, only the temperate weather of Aesry could make for the comfortable living in one.
As an aside, some of the architecture in the Crystal Wave supports the idea of the elaborately carved wood details and indoor courtyards also associated with the (real life) rural open air homes found in the Asian cultures, which is what I imagine the city is loosely themed after, and it's a great place to explore as well to add to the whole feel of the city IMO. I happened to be there when it was opened and got a tour of all the housing areas, its very lovely.
Kythryn
