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<blockquote data-quote="Celebrim" data-source="post: 714749" data-attributes="member: 4937">&quot;Although come to think of it, Gond from FR isn't so far off it. One of my characters in a PbP game is/was a Cleric of Gond, and has taken to saying 'Oh Gond' when things are bad, which sounds a hell of a lot more natural than 'Oh Wee Jas' or 'Oh Fharlangan'.&quot;Well, it's witty, and on that grounds I'd probably smile at it as a DM, but I really feel that this is just another fine example of why you should avoid modernity in your thinking when trying to role play someone from another culture.'Oh Gond' may sound more natural to you, but you probably aren't a particularly pious person if you think so.&nbsp; While 'Oh God' might be the natural thing for a modern person to say, it is hardly a respectful thing to say.&nbsp; Do you imagine many ministers, rabbis, and priests going around saying 'Oh God'?&nbsp; Why do you imagine a cleric of Gond going around saying 'Oh Gond'?&nbsp; Many religious people when they forget themselves say at most something like 'Dear Lord', because this is at least a form of address that they are familiar with, but even then they tend to feel slightly ashamed of themselves.&nbsp; For instance, &quot;Dear Lord, what have you done?&quot; when the 'you' in in the sentence does not refer to the 'Lord' in the sentence makes it pretty clear that the 'Dear Lord' = vulgarity not respectful address.&nbsp; 'Oh God' is pretty much right out unless it begins something like 'Oh God, hear my prayer...' and even then it is more likely to be something like 'Oh mighty God...' or 'Oh gracious&nbsp; God...'I would expect that in terms of oath taking, making, and addressing deities that there would be various standard forms of addresses for each diety.&nbsp; A person might say 'Oh Mighty Wonderbringer' or 'Oh Dread Wee Jas' or 'Oh Merciful Lord of the Road' or something similar.&nbsp; A little research and experimentation ought to find something appropriate for each deity both as an oath and form of common address.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Celebrim, post: 714749, member: 4937"] "Although come to think of it, Gond from FR isn't so far off it. One of my characters in a PbP game is/was a Cleric of Gond, and has taken to saying 'Oh Gond' when things are bad, which sounds a hell of a lot more natural than 'Oh Wee Jas' or 'Oh Fharlangan'." Well, it's witty, and on that grounds I'd probably smile at it as a DM, but I really feel that this is just another fine example of why you should avoid modernity in your thinking when trying to role play someone from another culture. 'Oh Gond' may sound more natural to you, but you probably aren't a particularly pious person if you think so. While 'Oh God' might be the natural thing for a modern person to say, it is hardly a respectful thing to say. Do you imagine many ministers, rabbis, and priests going around saying 'Oh God'? Why do you imagine a cleric of Gond going around saying 'Oh Gond'? Many religious people when they forget themselves say at most something like 'Dear Lord', because this is at least a form of address that they are familiar with, but even then they tend to feel slightly ashamed of themselves. For instance, "Dear Lord, what have you done?" when the 'you' in in the sentence does not refer to the 'Lord' in the sentence makes it pretty clear that the 'Dear Lord' = vulgarity not respectful address. 'Oh God' is pretty much right out unless it begins something like 'Oh God, hear my prayer...' and even then it is more likely to be something like 'Oh mighty God...' or 'Oh gracious God...' I would expect that in terms of oath taking, making, and addressing deities that there would be various standard forms of addresses for each diety. A person might say 'Oh Mighty Wonderbringer' or 'Oh Dread Wee Jas' or 'Oh Merciful Lord of the Road' or something similar. A little research and experimentation ought to find something appropriate for each deity both as an oath and form of common address. [/QUOTE]

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