ArtichokeNet

How Communicators Work
Communicators connect to a network (ArtichokeNet or AN). This network allows users to transmit via text and voice. It also keeps records of all transmissions made to the network, so that characters can go back and reference things they may have said before or people they may have spoken to.

Keep in mind though, that this is an internal network only. Google, this ain't. Your characters will not be able to use anything like the Internet to search for information over the network; it only works between communicators. If you need information on artichokes, though, or you want to look up the specific gravity of iron (7.85, for those of you wondering), the temple’s library has a copy of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica. It seems at some point they must have Called a door-to-door salesman. Huh.

All communicators are also equipped with a small, glowing crystal. This crystal serves as a memory function for the aforementioned transmission logs. It also serves as a location memory, automatically recording places your character has been before. Combining the communicator’s memory with the transport crystals around Vertiline will allow your character to teleport to any location he or she has already visited. Of course, this won’t work if your character hasn’t already visited a given location, but hey, walking is good for you!

Posting is limited to audio and text only. Video is not supported at this time. Anonymous commenting is not allowed. Supposedly there are other ways to communicate that are even faster than AN, but nobody knows how these work.

Your character will be assigned a unique ID code that other characters can use to tell who is who from post to post. This ID is a randomized series of letters and/or numbers, NOT your character's Livejournal username. Similarly, characters cannot see the icons you use--those are for player benefit and entertainment only! The downside to this ID and to the lack of video is that characters may not immediately recognize each other the first time they meet in person, unless they are lucky enough to recognize each other's voices!

If you steal another character's comm, it is possible to use it. Be sure to discuss this OOCly with the other character's player!

Locking
ArtichokeNet has two modes: open and locked. (Hey, give us a break, hacking magic is hard.) Keep in mind, though, that certain NPCs can see everything, whether it's locked or not.