OOC [OOC] Pack of Goblins! - Page 3

Exile · #31 04-28-2009, 01:26 AM

Yea, and it could be somewhat calligraphic or stylized in a circular or what not pattern. Easily recognizable and could also double as our "mark" or sign. We could even have it (whatever we decide) on say crudely made goblinic cattle brands, retrofitted from use on wolves, to denote which family they were raised under, and could just brand the dead. Quick, efficent, and unique. Again, just a thought!

*edit*

Quote:

Originally Posted by McMouse

"Not dead, just sleeping"

I'm a fan

Theophilus · #32 04-28-2009, 01:46 AM

*hee hee* by branding the dead with our wolf-brands we fool the stealer of souls into thinking we are just wolves.

Rettu Skcollob · #33 04-28-2009, 02:03 AM

Here's something I thought up when I was making a cup of tea.

The Story of Coppereyes Translated from Goblin to Common ( Edit:The low register is intentional. I imagine Goblin doesn't sound particularly fluid when translated into Common.

Many many years ago, the Great and cruel God of death created V'fak, the soul-stealer. He visited Grak, the blind craftsgoblin God and said "I wish to make a creature to trap the souls of Goblins.." Grak agreed, and crafted for him a creature in the likeness of a Goblin, and called him V'fak - 'Pursuer' in the old Goblin tongue, long forgotten except to the Gods and the Goblin Seers. V'fak was a fearsome sight. Seven feet tall, skin pale and tough, and impenetrable by any mortal blade. Claws that could reach out and pull fleeing souls to him. He carried a big leather bag, to keep who he caught, and a big list with the names of all the creatures in the land.

The Death-God looked upon V'fak and was pleased, but saw that he had no eyes. Angry, he asked Grak "Why is this creature blind?!" Grak told him
"He is blind because I am blind. If I could forge eyes, why would I still lack sight? I have helped you as much as I will, go away.". The Death-God was angry, but he knew he could not get anything else out of the old God. He breathed unlife into V'fak, and watched him move. "What do you want?", asked V'fak.
"I have made you" lied the Death-God. "Your task is to walk my land. When you find any Goblin souls, catch them and put them in your big leather bag, and bring them to me, that I might make them into the dead that walk."
"But how shall I know they are Goblins?" asked V'fak. "You gave me no eyes to see with"
"Ask them" said the cruel God. He was not the smartest God, and had not thought that his creation would ask so many questions.
"But what if they do not speak the truth?" V'fak asked, confused. The Death-God thought about this for some time, then gave him a charm from around his neck.
"Take this, and none will ever tell you falsehoods. Not even the Gods." The charm was a powerful one, and the Death-God did not want to give it up, but he wanted a creature to gather the souls for him even more.

For a long time, V'fak fulfilled his masters wishes and brought him many souls for his dark crafts. One day though, three souls entered his domain. Hogsfeet, the proud. Steelfinger, the cunning. And Coppereyes, the simple. It did not take long for V'fak to find them. "What kind of creature are you?" He asked them, as he had asked so many others. Hogsfeet raised his chin and looked V'fak in the eye. "I am a Goblin, through and through", he said, and V'fak popped him into his bag. He asked Steelfinger, who said "I am a fierce Orc.", and V'fak popped him into his bag, knowing that he had lied. Finally, he asked Coppereyes, who said "I am me". V'fak was confused. He knew the names of every creature in all the realms, and he was sure he had memorized all of the creatures on his list. Yet he knew Coppereyes was speaking the truth.
"What kind of creature is a me?" he asked, confused for the first time in a long while.
"I am a me.", replied Coppereyes. Puzzled, V'fak read his list, and re-read it, over and over again. By the time he had given up, Coppereyes had long since walked away after becoming bored, and entered the Afterlife.

After hearing the story, it is said that the Goblin God of Wisdom gave Coppereyes a seat beside him for eternity. Ever since then, Goblins have drawn 'Me' on the foreheads of Goblins passed away, to trick V'fak.

What d'ya think?

Exile · #34 04-28-2009, 02:10 AM

Excellent; and our mark could be the old goblinic symbol or runic carving or whatever for "Me"

McMouse · #35 04-28-2009, 02:13 AM

That's straight up awesome. I love it!

Being the Blackblood Boys, the symbol would of course be in black paint, should no particularly black blood be available.

EDIT: What about, instead of a goblin-wide tradition, it was a superstition/old wives tale that the Blackblood Boys use? Being relatively divine-magic heavy, I would bet that they abide by a fair amount of superstition.

Theophilus · #36 04-28-2009, 02:19 AM

oh, ho ho! that's a good bit of myth right there, friend!

Rettu Skcollob · #37 04-28-2009, 02:23 AM

I'm glad you like it.

I was trying to get a kind of tribal story feel with the low register, something that Goblins might tell their young at night. I like making up little bits of tradition to fill a culture, and I've never tried it with Goblins before.

Theophilus · #38 04-28-2009, 02:30 AM

McMouse, I like your idea, too. It makes a lot of sense. Plus superstitious-types are pretty awesome.

Exile · #39 04-28-2009, 02:31 AM

A tentative symbol to represent "Me," following along with Rettu's trove of lore. McMouse and I were thinking that the "Me" could be what we smear/brand/paint on the dead, and the "My Family" could be our banner/flag what-have-you to represent the Blackblood Boys. Since they would be symbols from the ancient goblin language, it would be distinctive and would fit in pretty solidly with how we differ from the other raiding groups; cause we're a family.

"Me," "Me and My Mate," "My Family," "Group," and "Larger Group" respectively.

Shanrio · #40 04-28-2009, 02:40 AM

Excellent. Images are always helpful.

McMouse · #41 04-28-2009, 02:47 AM

Everyone okay with the whistle as the call, and the "me" symbol as the mark for the dead?

EDIT: Glossary and Info thread updated, going to sleep. IC thread will be active sometime tomorrow.

Rettu Skcollob · #42 04-28-2009, 02:54 AM

I'm alright with that.

Shanrio · #43 04-28-2009, 02:57 AM

I'm okay with that too.

kdtompos · #44 04-28-2009, 03:22 AM

Hah, I hate to be the devil's advocate, but...

First of all, I love that Mythology. I like the thought of a group of goblins with a death mark already on their forheads (especially an obscure one). It seems superstitious, crafty, and a tad bit courageous as well. It's as if death is such an imminent possibility that they prepared before hand, but continue to live boldly (or in the blissful ignorance that comes from the assurance that they've beaten it so simply).

With all that said, I'm not so sure it works well as a calling card. I doubt there will always be corpses for us to leave our mark on, and a sabotaged caravan with the mark of "Me" on it seems odd. (However, as a calling card, the object becomes more of a symbol and detaches itself from the original meaning.)

edit #2: Haha, the more I think of it though, I laugh at the thought of "ME" carved into an empty chest, or drawn in the ashen remains of a barn. "Who did this?" "Apparently it was 'me'."

My biggest question with it though is possibly a simple misunderstanding. I was thinking of it as a sort of calling card, something we leave behind, or a specific tactic we use to build our own notoriety and infamy. And if we are marking victims with it, it almost seems as if we're trying to aid them in the afterlife (though I realize they most likely wouldn't be goblins, making such a gesture moot). Nevertheless, playing off of that I was thinking it might be fun to do the opposite for our victims. Perhaps a mark on their forhead denoting "goblin".

Yeah, it wouldn't trick a blind god, but I appreciate the mockery in it.

So if I misunderstood the purpose of the mark, ignore all of that. If I understood it correctly however, I think it serves wonderfully to mark us, but needs a slight twist before becoming a "calling card" to mark our handiwork.

edit: I also really like Exile's "family" comment. It has a mafia theme going on that I'm enjoying!

McMouse · #45 04-28-2009, 03:44 AM

Maybe it's the "family" mark, intended as an ironic gesture. "ME" is intended to get goblins through the afterlife, but is very similar to "family" in form. "Family" is intended both as a symbol of camaraderie among the Blackblood Boys, and as an insult to their victims, as it is close enough to the ME mark for the meaning to be understood but perverted. Just another idea.

EDIT: Suppose you lose the cool superstition with that, though.

EDIT2: Perhaps the "ME" is intended to keep V'fak from returning the dead to life, or using the spirits against their slayers?