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Ozzalum
Learned Scribe
USA
277 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Aug 2007 : 17:56:52
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Are slaves in Thay tattooed? I was thinking something along the lines of branding cattle. Is there any published lore to confirm this practice?
And if so, any ideas on where the brand might be placed and what it would look like?
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36995 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2007 : 19:09:33
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I don't recall if they are or not, and I have not replaced enough of my books to even look it up...
But, I'd imagine that they would tattoo their slaves. I'd expect the tattoo to be based on the wizard's sigil, too. As for placement, I'd follow the neogi example of placing it on the front and back of the left shoulder.
An interesting idea would also be for someone to figure out how to make the tattoos double as arcane marks, and/or enable tracking, communication, or even transmission of pain from the wizard to the slave. |
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Ozzalum
Learned Scribe
USA
277 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2007 : 19:54:31
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Indeed. I was thinking along the lines of the tattoos placed on the Thayan Knights, the ones that make them fail any will save for spells cast by Red Wizards. But is it too much work (XP or cost) to place a magical tattoo on so many slaves? Would special tattoos be reserved for special slaves?
As for placement, I kind of liked under the eye, so it would be immediately obvious and difficult to disguise without looking awkward.
I had not thought of using the Wizard's sigil but that makes a lot of sense. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2007 : 00:48:08
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I don't immediately recall any specific mention of Thayvian slaves being tattooed or branded. We do know, however, that the slave industry represents a significant investment among Thayvian society. As such, most slave owners would do well to keep their slaves marked in ways that can make it easy for them to identify their property in case they escape, are lost, or are taken by others.
Dreams of the Red Wizards states that "slaves who have been in Thay for more than a month can always be told apart from the peasantry because slaves are not allowed to cut their hair, no matter where on their bodies it grows." This can, for the most part, be considered a 'brand' of sorts -- reflecting the person's status as a slave.
Spellbound supports this view, making it clear that this method is used to underline the status of the slave when compared to his/her master.
In Unapproachable East, we are told that slaves "are chattels, like livestock." Again, reinforcing the notion that methods used to mark livestock may also translate into the mindsets of slave owners.
Overall, I would consider a slave's tattoo/brand to be placed somewhere on the slave's body where it can be easily identified and very difficult to hide -- should a slave manage to escape from their owners. Common areas include the forehead, the upper back/chest, the back of their left and/or right hand/s, either shoulder, or even the inside of their wrists. |
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Ozzalum
Learned Scribe
USA
277 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2007 : 14:43:26
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quote:
slaves who have been in Thay for more than a month can always be told apart from the peasantry because slaves are not allowed to cut their hair, no matter where on their bodies it grows.
The reason the lovely tattooed slave girl will be spirit folk - no facial or body hair. Take that you dastardly Wizards! |
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Ren
Acolyte
2 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2007 : 05:57:20
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| Although a bit late, I DO know the Untherites tattoo their slaves, if'n you need any associated slaver country, not just Thay. (They tattoo them in the back of either arm, in between the shoulder and the elbow) |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2007 : 07:07:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Ren
Although a bit late, I DO know the Untherites tattoo their slaves, if'n you need any associated slaver country, not just Thay. (They tattoo them in the back of either arm, in between the shoulder and the elbow)
Very interesting......... do you have a source to back that up? Would be lovely if you'd share it with us...........
Thanks in advance, Ergdusch |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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Wenin
Senior Scribe
585 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2007 : 09:32:14
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With there being feats and such that allow for wizards to write their spellbooks upon their body via tattoos you might want to consider the effect the erase spell would have on marking of slaves in Thay.
If I were to implement property marks in Thay, I'd go with a mixture of branding and arcane marks. Branding would be the most common, for the lowly, heavily worked slaves, or slaves of those who can't afford or aren't wizards that can cast arcane marks. Those slaves with arcane marks would be of a higher status, or just identify them as those "uncle toms" of Thay.
Spoiler from Mysteries of the Moonsea below
The Red Wizards are experimenting with magical tattoos on slaves. The goal is to spy and infiltrate on Zhentil Keep with them. This might lend weight to the marking of slaves being somewhat common, however a zhent buying previously marked slaves would lead them to trying to remove the marks... which shoots a hole in the Red Wizard plans. /shrugs
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Session Reports posted at RPG Geek.
Stem the Tide Takes place in Mistledale.
Dark Curtains - Takes place in the Savage North, starting in Nesmé. I wrapped my campaign into the Hoard of the Dragon Queen, but it takes place in 1372 DR. |
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Ozzalum
Learned Scribe
USA
277 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2007 : 13:21:29
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Wenin,
I like that implementation. It gets around the problem of putting magical markings on thousands of slaves. For the ones that will likely only be around a little while, branding works just fine.
Thanks |
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sirreus
Learned Scribe
USA
118 Posts |
Posted - 13 Sep 2007 : 17:51:51
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alias was a tattooed slave in the 'azure bonds' books. i have never read a novel that spoke on this subject long. some thayan slaves may never leave their owners house so marking them would seem a waste of time. also with all their magic, it could possibly be a mental flag that when searched (detect thoughts) would reveal ownership with no physical branding needed. we all know thayans care nothing for this group, so the immoral intrusions into their psychy would not even be relevant. what about the slave and mastre rings. the slaves can't remove them and the wizards could scry/chastise them easily.
hope these help. |
"The measure of an undisciplined mind, is that the intellect allows emotion to challenge the observed truth" Richard Baker |
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Thayan Tattoos
