This page will include pages for all those great shows, info on the stars, lists of the broadcasts and air dates, and tonnes more i'll eventually get around to.
The following is a compilation of idioms, quotations, curses, blessings, boasts and so on in common circulation in my campaign broken down by geographic region and race.
*That hound won't hunt.*
--Of an ill-conceived plan or scheme, a mild insult.
*Counting Coin.*
--Thieve's cant expression meaning to size up or case a particular potential
victim, particularly for a cut-purse job.
*To sell slaves in Silverymoon.*
--To do something that violates local law/custom in a particularly outrageous
and obvious way and then say: >I didn't know any better.
*When the walls fall down.*
--In Waterdeep, to mean *When Hell freezes over.*
*To miss the tide.*
--In Waterdeep, to miss out on a wonderful opportunity because of bad planning.
*Auril's Kiss.*
--A sudden realization of something terrible; a cold slap in the face.
*Beshaba's Bad Breath!*
--Oath/Curse meaning that things just couldn't get any worse. Also sometimes
as *It stinks of Beshaba's Breath*, meaning that a given course of action
seems unlucky.
*Between the Dragon and the Desert.*
--As in *Between the Devil and the Deep*; to be caught between two equally
unattractive possibilities.
*Cyric's Sword!"
--A curse and a double entendre. It is generally frowned upon and considered
bad luck to mention the Dark Sun's name.
(Note: History/Literature are replete with examples of curses and oath's by the genitals of various deities. The best example is the common shakespearism: 'od's Bodkin, that is: God's Dagger.)
*Gond's Gears!*
--A curse, something unnecessarily complicated and unlikely to work.
*Helm's Hemorrhoids.*
--A jest, irreverent, to deride a necessary but unappealing task.
*By the light of Lathander.*
--An oath or blessing by priest's thereof.
*Leira's Lamentation(s).*
--Something that is not what it seems, particularly feigned grief, a double
entendre when spoken because Lliira (Our Lady of Joy) is pronounced the same
way as Leira (Lady of the Mists).
*Loviatar's Caress.*
--Something that hurts, also *Loviatar's Lash,* for those less given to subtlety.
*Mystra's Miracles!*
*Great Stinking Balls of Tempus!*
*Tymora's Smile*, als *The Lady's Smile.*
*Bane's Black Blood.*
Many of the oath's and curses found in Waterdeep and the North are also found
here with the following additions:
*Keep your Peace Knot tied.*
*The difference between an adventurer and an idiot is difficult to determine,*
sometimes it is added: *until you draw weapons.* Also: *The difference between
and adventurer and an idiot can be tested by time: idiots live longer.*
*Before Selune began to cry.*
*Shardae* (SHAR-day), "Winds blow."
*To walk familiar paths.*
*The way of sword and bow.*
*The way of harp and song.*
*To see the wind,* also *To hear the starshine.*
*Est eionivan ei tie Myotha.* (Until the stones forget.)
Note t lves are not given, as a rule, to casual cursing or oathmaking.
One of the worst things in elven society is to be an oath breaker, therefore
such things are not done in jest or exasperation, but only in earnest.
Adventuring elves sometimes pick-up human expressions which shock other elves;
if such expressions are translated back into elvish it is considered vulgar
in the extreme.
*By my beard!*
*His beard is long.* or *...longer than his years.*
*His axe is sharp.*
*Under the Mountain.*
*Open to the sky.*
*That's why archmages are at the top of the food chain.*
*Bring extra bowstrings.*
*You check with the sage, I'll check with the barmaids.*
*As luck would have it.*
*No more Firewine for the barbarian (wizard/dwarf, etc.).*
*Orcsnack.*
*Looks like a job for an NPC.*
*You old guys are always on with the doom and gloom. If I had a copper piece
for every time I was sent out to save the universe, I'd be drowning in
coins.*
--An exclamation of surprise, as when something happens by unexpected magic,
also note that
>Miracles
--An adventurer's watchword meaning to take on an adventure so dangerous
that only the god Torm (The True, the Foolish) would attempt.
--A battle cry, shouted with much gusto.
--A blessing or fond farewell. Good luck.
--An oath/curse, actually more common these days that the Black Lord is
considered .
Cormyr:
*By the Dragon!*
-->By the King,
--*When Hell freezes over.*
--Don't go getting all upset over nothing.
Elves:
--In the beginning; a damn long time ago.
--A neutral elven greeting indicating that chance has brought you together.
--A metaphor, to remember, to dwell in the domain of elven memory.
--The warrior's code; it is said of an elf who does something dishonorable:
*His bow is broken, his sword grown dull.*
--The minstrel's code; it is said of a minstrel who has done something
dishonorable: *His harp is unstrung, his song's forgotten.*
--Euphemisms of this sort (sensory contradictions) are used when speaking
of the recently . *When I heard the stars shine on my Father's house,
I wept bitter tears, for he was a blessing to the People.* (When my father
died....)
--A green elven curse, pronounced in all seriousness on those who have done
some great harm to the People. Based on the idea that all things have an
anima or spirit which the People can speak with and that the stones have
the longest memories.
Dwarves:
--I'm being VERY serious.
--He is wise/wiser than his youth would make him.
--Said of a good strategic thinker.
--Safe, well protected.
--Unsafe, unprotected.
Adventurers:
--Annoying comment, pointing out the obvious after the fact.
--Come early and bring help.
--Warrior's watchword.
--Annoying comment, especially by priests and followers of Tymora.
--Said of someone going too far with a jest or scheme.
--Nick-name often given to green recruits.
Gamespeak:
--Said when walking into an obvious and unavoidable trap.
trepper@aol.com
--Flavious Deximoor
Conversation with Elminster
Year of the Shadows
Entererd October 25, 1995