Racial Idioms

[steeldragons]

Due to the great fun and entertainment from [MENTION=608]Waylander[/MENTION]-the-Slayer 's thread:

http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/176515-dwarven-sayings.html

I figure we could probably come up with other cultural notes for the other "classic" races.

So what might be some common sayings/conventional wisdom by:
Elves (any kind)
Gnomes
Halflings
Orcs

Or anything else you like/come up with: Goblins, Kobolds, Centaurs...Giants?

Just makin' up some shale on the spot to get things rollin':

Elf: "The leaves drop before their season." -Something strange is going on.
or "Something bad/unexpected has occured."
"That bow is strung with dwarven beard." -someone who is uptight, too harsh or stubborn.

Gnome: "There's a facet." - Good thinking or idea, generally something well done.
"Nice gems." -a lewd 'compliment' to certain attributes of a female (of any race). A female gnome would probably slap you for this one.

Halflings: "A true hearth needs no hole." -a compliment to friends/friendly company, essentially "Home is where the heart is."
"Like mama's Winterdark sausage pudding." (or Candlemas or Yuletide, whatever winter holiday you use in the setting) -roughly translates to "That went well/smoothly." Applied to a situation that begins badly or seems difficult, even impossible to the halfling, but ends with a good/beneficial outcome.
"Under my bushy toes!" - basically "No way!" or "Over my dead body!"

Orcs:...I'll leave this to people who have given more time/thought to orcish culture, as many different games/worlds treat orcs differently (moreso, it seems, than other races). I'll give the orcs of my world some thought and post more later.

Have at ye's.
--Steel Dragons

 

[catastrophic]

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.

 

[NewJeffCT]

ORCS - "Dwarf meat tough, elf meat sweet"

HOBGOBLINS - "Strength & Honor"

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Gnomish Sayings

"How hard could it be?" directed at non-Gnomes: your plan is missing a step, right before they tell you what you're missing.

"Dwarven games!" that looks like (very) hard work.

Elvish Sayings

"Orcish subtlety" violence

"Butterflies" slang for humans (who are short lived but generally well-thought of)

"Termites" slang for humans (who are short lived but generally NOT well-thought of)

Orcish Sayings

"Twigs" slang for Elf

"Pebbles" slang for Gnomes

"Foothills" slang for Dwarves

"Shoe-Scrape" slang for Halflings

 

[steeldragons]

Gnomish Sayings

"How hard could it be?" directed at non-Gnomes: your plan is missing a step, right before they tell you what you're missing.

"Dwarven games!" that looks like (very) hard work.

Elvish Sayings

"Orcish subtlety" violence

"Butterflies" slang for humans (who are short lived but generally well-thought of)

"Termites" slang for humans (who are short lived but generally NOT well-thought of)

Orcish Sayings

"Twigs" slang for Elf

"Pebbles" slang for Gnomes

"Foothills" slang for Dwarves

"Shoe-Scrape" slang for Halflings

"MUst spread some around" yada yada...grrr.

But these are home runs, one and all. Thanks for coming to the party.

"Orcish subtlety" and "Shoe-Scrape"....hahaha. Perfect.

Apologies also to [MENTION=10784]NewJeffCT[/MENTION]. "Must spread some around"....jeez....I need to read more stuff I like to XP, apparently. But thank you, likewise, for joining the "sayings soiree."
--SD

 

[steeldragons]

Minotaurs:
"Hoof n' mouth!" - a general expletive also used to comment on one's "not so good" looks.

"Take me to market!" [optionally]"...and call me a burger." -a statement of surprise/disbelief.

Elves:
(Grey): "By the blessed aurora." -statement of surprise...used in good and bad situations.
(High): "Gnomish treats" -1. something that is unexpected, traps or riddles, as in "The floor's a gnomish treat." or 2. convoluted, over complicated or backtracking, as in "His tale's a gnomish treat."
(Wood): "a <insert tree type here> bough (or branch)" -i.e. "He's an oak's bough, that's for sure." -about someone strong, sturdy, longlasting. "This is willow bough." -something bent, flexible, pliable. "It's rowan boughed." -something magical in nature. Also used in meetings/greetings simply as, "Rowan bough." -meaning "Enchanted." as in "it's a pleasure to meet you." For this reason it is believed a large number of wood elves are considered to have the name "Rowanbough" in non-elf lands.

--SD

 

[JarvethDarksmith]

Good stuff! Also for Halflings and/or gnomes: "You don't want to get stepped on, do you?" Might be used to imply that standing around is a bad idea. Or, could be, "We'll get stepped on if we stay here." said while the party is contemplating a rest to suggest that danger might still be looming. For elves: Now there's an archer with true aim!" might be used to say that someone's got the right idea.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

"You'll have your answer when we see eye to eye..." a threat by Halflings directed at taller races

"Happy as a dwarf" a gnomish expression meaning "in a bad mood"

 

[Jimlock]

*silence*



-An ancient ooze saying about the facts of life...

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

"SUPPER!" Athasian Halfling battle-cry. See also, "FEAST!"

"This smells of elves" Dwarven expression for something that is too fancy