| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Nerfed2Hell |
Posted - 29 Sep 2008 : 16:42:04
Inspired in another post about hours in the Realms, I caught this snippit from The Sage and found myself wondering:
“But that could take DARMAR, hrast it!”
What does hrast mean, and what manner of cursing takes place in the Realms? ...unique words and such, plus general oaths (for example, something like "Bhaal take thee!") and any other curious language would be interesting, I think.
In an article over at WotC (A Moment With Alusair), a young Princess Alusair was quoted as saying the following:
“Go ahead, Marladro. Swear like a Dragon! I know I often want to! In fact, let me help you: hrast, naed, and haularake! Let tluining Vangerdahast fall flat on his tluining tluin-staff, and break it right off! Let --”
What does naed or haularake translate to? No need to explain "tluin," I think I got that one from the context. 
Is there an official or even unofficial lexicon detailing a goodly amount of Realms specific words and phrases? |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Chosen of Asmodeus |
Posted - 23 Feb 2011 : 11:27:50
Think of it as being the "Hot damn!" of the realms. |
| Dennis |
Posted - 23 Feb 2011 : 06:15:55
"Sune's ass" doesn't sound like a curse to me. Unless there's a story behind it. |
| Chosen of Asmodeus |
Posted - 22 Feb 2011 : 14:01:08
"Andraste's ass" was my favorite one from Dragon Age. Replace Andraste with Sune and you've got a realmsian curse.
My cursing in rp tends to be more influenced by Spartacus: Blood and Sand. "Jupiter's [explitive deleted]!" "Juno's [explitive repeatedly deleted]!" "Words fall from your mouth like [explitive deleted] from [explitive deleted]." |
| Kyrene |
Posted - 22 Feb 2011 : 13:36:23
I've noticed "Maker"-this-or-that and "Andraste"-this-or-that has been creeping into my swearing pattern of late. When a lot younger, a friend of mine and I used to "Holy Cow!" a lot too. I suppose any phrase/word can be used to curse with, if uttered with enough meaning!  |
| Dennis |
Posted - 31 Jan 2011 : 10:17:21
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
"Dark and empty" is another curse that just doesn't work for me. Yeah, no Sembian wants his coffer to be dark and empty. But no Sembian is going to want to be dropped in a huge pile of manure, either -- and I don't hear them saying "pile of manure!"
There's a reason that profanity often refers to certain biological acts and/or their results.
Indeed.
Perhaps it's a translation from the Black Speech which Riven happens to be fluent in. Even so, that it's used as a curse doesn't work at all, and that it's used by an assassin makes it all the more bizarre. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 28 Jan 2011 : 00:26:54
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
"Dark and empty" is another curse that just doesn't work for me. Yeah, no Sembian wants his coffer to be dark and empty. But no Sembian is going to want to be dropped in a huge pile of manure, either -- and I don't hear them saying "pile of manure!"
I've always thought that particular phrasing should instead suggest this was referring to someone's soul -- "dark and empty." A very harsh cursing, as I see it. And it's probably the way I'd swing it, if I were to drop it into my Realms. |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 27 Jan 2011 : 18:55:35
Aye, ye have the right of it, oh Wooly one! And some such curses refer also to persons who engage in or are the result of such acts themselves.... |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 27 Jan 2011 : 18:52:08
"Dark and empty" is another curse that just doesn't work for me. Yeah, no Sembian wants his coffer to be dark and empty. But no Sembian is going to want to be dropped in a huge pile of manure, either -- and I don't hear them saying "pile of manure!"
There's a reason that profanity often refers to certain biological acts and/or their results. |
| Dennis |
Posted - 26 Jan 2011 : 16:13:30
quote:
Originally posted by Kajehase
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Kajehase
quote:
Originally posted by Arion Elenim
I like the curses Kemp uses: Dark. Dark and empty, man.
If I remember correctly, he got that one from Ed in one of the earlier "Ask Ed" threads.
It doesn't sound like a curse. Considering that Riven is an assassin, I thought he should have used some vulgar ones.
It makes perfect sense for a Sembian - nothing in the universe can be as frightening and obscene as a dark and empty coin chest.
Riven has been using that curse ever since he was a Zhent assassin. |
| evildmguy |
Posted - 26 Jan 2011 : 15:58:49
quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
Have you tried music? That's always a good way to immerse players in the world- sets the mood....
I absolutely agree that music would be a great way to do it. In the past, I have had music in the background that would fit medieval times. That's about the best I could do as there is little chance of me being able to time a speech with a crescendo of music!
What I found harder for me was to have relevant music going. I have CDs of music of the time, and could use my computer to play them, but I tend to start them going and then ignore them myself. So, I might still have more tavern like music going in the background during the battle or a battle song going while we talk about mundane things. Again, that's my own limitation and ability with music.
But, I should think about doing this again for many reasons, so thanks. |
| Kajehase |
Posted - 26 Jan 2011 : 15:35:16
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Kajehase
quote:
Originally posted by Arion Elenim
I like the curses Kemp uses: Dark. Dark and empty, man.
If I remember correctly, he got that one from Ed in one of the earlier "Ask Ed" threads.
It doesn't sound like a curse. Considering that Riven is an assassin, I thought he should have used some vulgar ones.
It makes perfect sense for a Sembian - nothing in the universe can be as frightening and obscene as a dark and empty coin chest. |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 26 Jan 2011 : 07:56:05
Hmm, now you have me intrigued. Mind if I ask? Pm yes or no is fine. Darn it, though, you've got my feline curiosity up. (My totem spirit animal is a panther, so yes, I "am" a cat...) |
| Dennis |
Posted - 26 Jan 2011 : 07:45:52
Sorry, Alystra, I couldn't divulge details. In fact, I shouldn't have mentioned it at all. (Edited prior post.) |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 26 Jan 2011 : 07:33:22
In person? I'm assuming these are military guys, right? (At least, I HOPE so- 'cause the alternative would be the mob or something, and that's just disturbing.) |
| Dennis |
Posted - 26 Jan 2011 : 07:07:30
Well, almost all of the assassins I read in books swear profusely.
***Deleted something I should not have mentioned. |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 26 Jan 2011 : 06:28:10
That would depend on the kind of assassin. It's all about the background, folks! |
| Dennis |
Posted - 26 Jan 2011 : 06:01:26
quote:
Originally posted by Kajehase
quote:
Originally posted by Arion Elenim
I like the curses Kemp uses: Dark. Dark and empty, man.
If I remember correctly, he got that one from Ed in one of the earlier "Ask Ed" threads.
It doesn't sound like a curse. Considering that Riven is an assassin, I thought he should have used some vulgar ones. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 26 Jan 2011 : 00:22:35
quote:
Originally posted by Kajehase
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
Never? Come on, nearly everyone IRL swears on occasion, even if it's just from stubbing a toe. How much MORE so when they miss the shot that might have killed the rampaging dragon?!!! NOT swearing under such conditions seems less real to me. I know I sure would!
Eh. I actually don't care for usual and/or common swearing/cursing in real-life terms. And I never use the words myself, as I've long considered them an abuse of the wonderful intricacies of the English language. It's just so much more fitting for me to find other more creative ways of verbally expressing myself -- using those intricacies I mentioned above -- during such circumstances that would otherwise warrant cursing.
Trust me, when you're walking in snow up to your nipples for 2,5 kilometres while dragging a bicycle and several hundred newspapers you want as many cursewords in as many languages as possible.
Well, since I'm living in one of the driest countries on the planet, I've never really had to worry too much about finding myself chest-deep in snow. |
| Kajehase |
Posted - 26 Jan 2011 : 00:14:43
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
Never? Come on, nearly everyone IRL swears on occasion, even if it's just from stubbing a toe. How much MORE so when they miss the shot that might have killed the rampaging dragon?!!! NOT swearing under such conditions seems less real to me. I know I sure would!
Eh. I actually don't care for usual and/or common swearing/cursing in real-life terms. And I never use the words myself, as I've long considered them an abuse of the wonderful intricacies of the English language. It's just so much more fitting for me to find other more creative ways of verbally expressing myself -- using those intricacies I mentioned above -- during such circumstances that would otherwise warrant cursing.
Trust me, when you're walking in snow up to your nipples for 2,5 kilometres while dragging a bicycle and several hundred newspapers you want as many cursewords in as many languages as possible. |
| Kajehase |
Posted - 26 Jan 2011 : 00:06:47
quote:
Originally posted by Arion Elenim
I like the curses Kemp uses: Dark. Dark and empty, man.
If I remember correctly, he got that one from Ed in one of the earlier "Ask Ed" threads. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 25 Jan 2011 : 23:55:32
quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
I tend to put up cool pics on my Pc desktop as well. If they are in a dank dungeon, I want them to see the mold on the walls and the rats scurrying in the shadows.....
Ah, yes. I usually hook up my gaming laptop to a wide-screen digital television, when I want to accomplish stuff like that. The depth and picture quality tends to immerse the PCs in an environment like no other. |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 25 Jan 2011 : 23:06:46
I tend to put up cool pics on my Pc desktop as well. If they are in a dank dungeon, I want them to see the mold on the walls and the rats scurrying in the shadows..... |
| The Sage |
Posted - 25 Jan 2011 : 00:25:02
quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
Have you tried music? That's always a good way to immerse players in the world- sets the mood....
Oh, I very much second this. Depending on the atmosphere you use to create for your games, music can be just as important as having the core rulebooks at your table. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 25 Jan 2011 : 00:24:14
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by evildmguy
[brI think the problem for myself is not knowing other languages. Perhaps English has too much Germanic influence, but I do know a bit of Spanish, and curse words need to flow or be harsh. "stlarn" as a curse word does neither for me, which is why I didn't like it and why I posted on here in the first place. "hrast" might work if the h is silent or it doesn't flow or me. In the end, I came away disappointed that the canon words don't work for me or my group.
Yeah, stlarn, hrast, and tluin all fail to flow for me, and thus don't work as profanity. At least, IMO.
I don't mind hrast, and although I'd never use it in real-life, it does have a certain appeal. Maybe because it's pure Ed-lore... I don't know. |
| Dennis |
Posted - 24 Jan 2011 : 23:09:03
I have three languages to choose from (English, Cebuano, Filipino), so picking some "mild" equivalences of the rather vulgar-sounding ones is not a problem. However, I tend to use both---the former for ordinary things that happen, and the latter for the terrible ones, because when something so vastly infuriating occurs, I tend to match it with the "intensity" of the curse words. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 24 Jan 2011 : 18:21:46
quote:
Originally posted by evildmguy
[brI think the problem for myself is not knowing other languages. Perhaps English has too much Germanic influence, but I do know a bit of Spanish, and curse words need to flow or be harsh. "stlarn" as a curse word does neither for me, which is why I didn't like it and why I posted on here in the first place. "hrast" might work if the h is silent or it doesn't flow or me. In the end, I came away disappointed that the canon words don't work for me or my group.
Yeah, stlarn, hrast, and tluin all fail to flow for me, and thus don't work as profanity. At least, IMO. |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 24 Jan 2011 : 16:47:56
Have you tried music? That's always a good way to immerse players in the world- sets the mood.... |
| evildmguy |
Posted - 24 Jan 2011 : 15:29:33
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
As for cursing, I've long felt that there are situations where it's appropriate. You drop an anvil on your toe, saying "Oh, bother" just isn't going to do it. There is actually scientific evidence that indicates cursing helps alleviate the pain.
I myself grew up in a household where the profanity flowed freely, so I've got a tendency to reach quite readily for the expletives. I've found I can control that with alternatives, so now I've a notable tendency to say "Gods curse it!" instead of the more common version referring to the Man Upstairs. Additionally, I had a coworker who was just religious enough to be bothered by people casually invoking the Man Upstairs. Out of respect for him and a desire to not cause issues at work, I found an alternative, inspired by one of the few funny bits in Mostly Harmless (I ignore that book when reading the other four books of the trilogy). So now I am frequently heard to say things like "Mother of Bob!" or "Oh, for Bob's sake!"
In the first, I had a ninety pound bag of shingles dropped on my hand. I don't tend to curse but this was a moment for it. And then I saw the two and four year old nearby. Not wanting to teach them a bad word, I did so "oh, darn" instead of something else and it wasn't the same.
In the second, I still use "Oh my Bob" or the like at times! In fact, I adopted that very soon after I read that book!
I also use frak or other made up words to curse, since I don't use curse words most of the time. It wasn't about offending but a habit I wanted so I wouldn't curse in front of my nieces and nephews. Now, it is my habit, and I do have to think about it to curse, except in very rare situations.
I think the problem for myself is not knowing other languages. Perhaps English has too much Germanic influence, but I do know a bit of Spanish, and curse words need to flow or be harsh. "stlarn" as a curse word does neither for me, which is why I didn't like it and why I posted on here in the first place. "hrast" might work if the h is silent or it doesn't flow or me. In the end, I came away disappointed that the canon words don't work for me or my group.
I will have to look elsewhere for way to immerse the players into the world. |
| Crossed Arrows |
Posted - 24 Jan 2011 : 03:14:34
I my line of work (Military) swearing is very commonplace, But a guy I work with once stated:
"If we could just get rid of the word F#*, it would cut so much time out of our conversations and day, we could all go home 2 hours earlier each day"
As for the original intent of this thread (I think I'm using that right), I usually find movies that relate to the time and setting of D&D. for example from A Knights Tale:
Wat: All right, I'm about this fonging close mate! I swear to God, Quaisimodo! I oughta...
or
Wat: Uh, betray us, and I will fong you, until your insides are out, your outsides are in, your entrails will become your extrails I will w-rip... all the p... ung. Pain, lots of pain.
Therefore I believe "fong" is a suitable curse word. |
| Chosen of Asmodeus |
Posted - 24 Jan 2011 : 02:57:24
My opinion on swearing goes back to one of my all time favorite movies, Inherit the Wind, and I'm paraphrasing here, "I just think that language is so damn limited that we should use every damn word we have to get the damn point accross." |
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