Goblin Funeral Rites (Help Wanted)

[Nimble Goodbarrel]

Division of wealth usually plays a large role in tribal cultures, especially nomadic cultures. In an eastern Canada native tradition, the deceased's family actually auctions off items, litle things like a mug and whatnot, to come up with funds to pay for the funereal. Friends and supporters pay as much as they can for these items, as a way to donate money without it being a "donation".

Totally agree with this. In my games, Goblins are money grubbing little SOB's. I think that instead of an auction, to me it seems too civilized, a massive goblin free for all would be in order.

The Goblin's possesions would be laid out before the body. You know his 15 copper peices, rusty short sword, and broken Buckler. The head of the tribe, or the most powerful, would get to be at the head of the pack of Gob's licking his lips over the 15cp. Once the Shaman has performed the "See ya real soon" chant while standing over the body, (prime location by-the-by) the goblin's would charge in to claim whatever they could get there paws on.

Of course this would lead to a massive goblin bruhaha which would give the PC's an excellent chance of sneaking (or charging) in to do whatever they needed. Afterwards whatever is left of the body, after being trampled, would be burned in a large bonfire with the rest of the smelly buggers.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I would go with ritual cannibalism, with various wolves being fed all the parts associated with the best qualities of the fallen goblins. The less desirable parts are eaten by the other goblins themselves.

 

[Rechan]

I'm surprised with all the suggestions of heartfelt, emotional suggestions.

Goblins never struck me as the, well, caring sort. Enough to mourn the fallen, or respect them enough to give them a proper burial, have a priest say something over them, or care less about the guy next to them dieing, as long as that goblin got the other guy's stuff.

I always pegged 'em as the sort to walk over their mother to get to a shiny copper or a piece of moldy bread.

 

[CPT PLAYDOH]

I would think that they would prepare for several days for a goblin funeral. I believe that there would be ritual poems written, music recitals, perhaps some artwork or sculpture commissioned for the poor Gru'ang Krunk that was slain so young in his life. Also a lot of wreaths and flower bouquets to decorate the area. And after they had read the poetry, admired the art and laid the corporeal remains of the dead goblin to rest, they would torture some prisoners, perform horrible acts of violence against defenseless females or children and have a good laugh. Come on! They are goblins! Give me a break dude!

 

[DreadPirateMurphy]

Goblins are viscious, evil-minded creatures. They create effigies of the killers, and make primitive scenes with the corpses showing the slain goblins getting revenge by tearing out throats, etc. They are crude but offensive in nature.

The corpses are trapped in various ways, ranging from simple snares to being stuffed with smoke powder. Anybody who disrupts the display is likely to get a nasty surprise vengeance.

 

[Herremann the Wise]

Hello Everyone,

My view of goblins is perhaps a little different from some expressed here.

Goblins are:

• Part of a disparate tribe that struggles to maintain even the appearance of unity - very factional and chaotic. The Chief and Shaman will have power that keeps most in line.
• Vicous, lazy, sneaky, poor, hungry.

I can't imagine a goblin being productive enough to go out of their way to bother with any official ceremony. Even if the chief karks it, this will just turn the rabble upon itself until someone steps up or is chosen by the Shaman. If the Shaman dies, well the tribe would most likely dissolve.

However, I could imagine the bodies would be well and truly plundered for anything of even remote value. Additionally, if there was fueding in the tribe, I could imagine the severed heads of tribal enemies being paraded around or used and abused for different purposes. As such, the bodies would be unburied, pretty much naked of worth and in some cases missing heads and other body parts. There certainly would be no benefit to the goblins in burying their dead. They would just move on.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[Wik]

There certainly would be no benefit to the goblins in burying their dead. They would just move on.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

Well, using cultural models as a guide, this wouldn't ring true. Even true nomadic cultures stay in one place for awhile, and have to find a way to dispose of the dead. And since many so-called nomadic cultures actually revisit certain places over and over again as the seasons change, this doubly applies.

Leaving bodies kicking around is a great way to attract wolves (and, in fantasy setting, even worse). Rats that are already present will increase, and disease is never fun (but I can let that slide... they are goblins, after all). At the very least, string 'em up and use them to intimidate enemy goblin tribes (or your OWN goblin tribe! Nothing better to keep 'em in line)

I say, feed 'em to your own wolves. It would be a great way to save on wolf-chow.

***

On another topic, regarding cannibalism rites... there are human societies that practice cannibalism, but it never applies to members of your own family. The Aztecs used to believe that captured warriors could be killed and eaten - and certain warriors got to eat certain parts of the body. Of course, these parts were eaten ceremonially, and never in large numbers.

(As a side note, it's believed among many that the Aztecs, who lacked serious animal domestication, suffered from protein deficiencies. The process of removing the hearts of sacrifice victims and kicking the bodies toward the poor section is theorized to help alleviate this problem - though it's really only a theory at this point.

 

[Stoat]

Thanks for the help everybody.

I wound up torn between exposure and ritual cannibalism, and in the end, exposure won out. The goblins stripped their fallen of anything valuable and then staked down the remains at the edge of the battlefield. By the time the PC's arrived, there wasn't much left.

The Goblins believe that doing things this way will cause their fallen kin to rise as ghosts and torment their enemies forever.

IMC, Goblins are nasty, spiteful little bastards, but they stick together. Imagine a filthy, hateful commune that responds to any outside threat with hideous violence.

Scribbled on the walls of the fallen city in crude runes: "F--- with one. Fight us all."

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Scribbled on the walls of the fallen city in crude runes: "F--- with one. Fight us all."

Oooooh! I love "Hangman!"

Is there a "k?"