Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="catastrophic" data-source="post: 5587423" data-attributes="member: 81381">ORCS : Orcish sayings are often more subtle and humerous than they appear. "Are we feasting?"When two orcish tribes come together, it's either to feast, or to wage war. Asking this implies a question about the second option. This saying can be used many ways, including in a more subtle way than many would credit orcs with, but generally it means "make your intentions clear, or i'll assume the worst". "I take no lessons."Most orcs take pride in rejecting what they see as absurd, civilised notions, but again, this is a more sophisticated comment than it appears. An orc saying this isn't saying he isn't willing to learn or gain skill or knowlege, but rather, that he isn't willing to be 'taught a lesson'; punished, controlled, or forced to comply by some higher authority. The kind of lessons he rejects are the kind 'taught' in other cultures by parables, patriarchs, and courts. "He's still dead""You can see his body"These and comments like them are often said with charicteristically dark humor. They mean 'it doesn't matter what you're saying about the guy, or what he said, or did, he's dead now so he doesn't matter'. For instance, the lackey of a dead leader might seek to sing his praises, or use his memory to gain influence, in which case orcs mocking him might offer to take the lackey to his master's head, to check if it has come back to life. "A Blade."recognition that something is a weapon or otherwise effective or relevant, no matter what it's nature. It could be a plan or power or an army or whatever, but if you have it, then you're worthy of respect. To orcs, either you have a blade, or you don't, and if you don't, you'd best start running. A broader variety of phrases are used to denote the opposite- "empty hand", "elf fist", or the lewd "Warrior's Wand", which is alas, no good for fighting with.   HOBGOBLINS : With a culture focused on war, the hobgoblin lexicon is likewise focused. "Don't march with your hands"When you march, what's important are your boots, your scouts, your provisions. . . not your hands. Don't worry about things that aren't important for what you're doing- worry about them when they are. "Plan or Pattern"Here 'pattern' is short for a soldier's drill and training, in contrast to a formal plan. Hobgoblins recognise that even the best laid plans often can't help or go astray, and in such situations, their warriors return to their patterns- their own skills, and the simple squad tactics they have drilled with all their lives. This phrase goes beyond that, and says that regardless of wether things are going to plan, or have collapsed into a chaotic melee, the issue is still relevant. An example would be: "Plan or pattern, when the red wyrm decends upon the field, we must lay it low."  "Dwarves Don't Swim."Sometimes the more jovial 'dwarves don't bounce'. Refers to the fact that even stalwart foes can be anihilated using the right tactics, even if you have to drown them, or push them off the edge of a cliff. "Shorter, Taller?"A task better suited to the other goblinoids; goblins or bugbears. Usually refers to goblins being sent out as cannon fodder and disposable troops, with the humor coming from the idea that this strategy is comparable in merit or gravity to the deployment of bugbears, who tend to be more respected, even elite troops. "A banner, not a beast."Refers to leadership. More honorable hobgoblins would never serve a general or leader who they didn't feel treated them with respect, and operated in the way they expect their generals to. For these hobs, the idea of serving any old lich or dragon who comes along is despicable, and they will only follow a 'banner' which they feel is honorable and proper. Normally, but not always, this is a hobgoblin warrior of high rank.   WERE-RATS : As victims of a powerful curse who are likely to live in the bowels of great cities, were-rats can develop some interesting cultural affectations over the generations.  "Not my doing"Many wererats either refuse to take responsibility for things they do under the full moon, or simply don't see such acts as open to moral judgement. This could be used as a threat, or to brush aside atrocities committed at such times. The level of actual guilt the creatures feel varies from none, to a great deal, but the phrase is often used, either way. "Smoke Twitch"While in theory it takes silver to kill a were-rat, in pratice, one who finds themself trapped in a burning building of the kind common in their city will end up just as dead, or perhaps, simply wishing they were. Hence, were-rats tend to keep their noses sniffing for smoke in case if fire. Of course, many many more things can kill a were-rat- a skilled warrior or spellcaster, or an ambush by one of their own. Hence, more broadly, a smoke twitch is a twitch of the nose or expression that comes from a were-rat who fears that their normal invincibility/resilience is about to come to an abrupt halt. Example: "You've got a smoke twitch on your face, jacky. You think these do-goodders might have a wizard amongst 'em?" "Moon Beam Dust"Often involved in the criminal underworlds of the cities they inhabit, were-rats often trade in, and imbibe various narcotics and similar substances. Of course, being so resilient, they often find such substances fail to give them much of a 'buzz', so when they find something which does, they tend to be enthusiastic. The best drugs are those that they claim are comparable to the rush they feel under the full moon. More broadly, this term can mean anything thrilling and worth pursuing.  "Still your smile, or lose it"The infectious bite of the wererat is offered with various levels of restraint by those who are already cursed by it. Wiser leaders realise that their swarm must be grown with care, while others resognise the value of- or have personal attachment towards- key humans who must remain, human and untainted. Such a threat is given with a lot of weight, or not at all, but wererats who survive for generations do so in part by knowing when not to bite- and giving harsh punishements to those who cannot restrain themselves.</blockquote>

Verification