Jargon/Slang of various D&D religions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Jargon/Slang of various D&D religions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
JulesCARV
10-29-06, 12:45 AM I'm just wondering if you have some ideas for jargon and slang associated with various D&D dieties, philosophies, and religions. Really, probably the best place for this would be Planescape, with faction-specific slang to complement the already-existing slang. One might also do it for Eberron or Forgotten Realms deities. For now, though, I'll just do Greyhawk/DMG gods:

St. Cuthbert

-Beacon of Light -- an ideal or term of approbation for those who so embody St. Cuthbert's principles that they induce those around them to seek out the faith without even mentioning it directly, merely through non-self-conscious conduct of their everyday lives.

Hextor

-Centrality of Focus -- This is a term for steadfastness and concentration with regard to a mission or cause, focusing on the mission and avoiding distractions, such as the reason for the cause or mission or irrational emotions like sympathy for other beings or concern for one's own safety.

-Spinner -- One who is unwilling to place unconditional obedience in anything, and thus cannot be trusted to be consistent or loyal, and is thus expected to be weak and equivocal. Hextor's followers sometimes refer to followers of Heironeous as spinners, because they place moral conditions on their obedience, such as "if the war is just, then we will fight for the king." Spinners lack Centrality of Focus

Nerull

-Flinchers -- Those who seek to evade or avoid the inevitability of death. This is sometimes applied as a term of scorn to those who who seek immortality in undeath or other means, and is more generally applied to those regarded as valuing their own lives too much, such as those who retreat from battle to save their lives.

-Daydreamer -- One regarded as hopelessly naīve, idealistic, or gullible, usually with regards to the belief that violence, pain, and suffering is often unnecessary, that the world could be a better place than it is, or that mortals can transcend their mortality through arcane or scientific means.

Obad-Hai

-Fuzzthink -- a term for what Obad-Hai's followers regard as excessively romanticized, sanitized, or sentimental views of nature. This term is usually applied to urban dwellers with little contact with nature, but sometimes some followers of Obad-Hai also accuse some worshippers of Elhonna of fuzzthink.

-Drop in the Lake -- Regarded by many Obad-Hai worshippers as the ideal -- for a sentient being to lose his or her "unnatural" individuality and become an undifferentiated, non-self-reflective aspect of nature, like plants and animals. This is frequently said to be like being "a raindrop uniting with a great lake."

Pelor

-Purity Peddler -- One who advocates more concern for personal purity, self-denial, ritual, and propriety than compassion, mercy, and happiness. Sometimes used pejoratively of some followers of St. Cuthbert and Hextor, and occassionally Heironeous.

-Harmek's fallacy -- "the idea that it is better to have many problems, and overcome them through grit, resourcefulness, and stoicism, than to not have such problems in the first place." Regarded by Pelor worshippers (at least the ones who use the term "Harmek's fallacy") as a bankrupt idea.
JulesCARV
11-02-06, 03:22 AM BTW, I used PHB gods as examples, but if anyone wants to do FR gods, or Eberron religions (theistic or not), or even Planescape factions, that would be awesome.
The Venerable Archmage
11-02-06, 07:54 AM Okay, how are these?

Vecna
Peacock - One who joins the cult simply because secret societies are "cool". They strut around looking evil and secretive, and crowing loudly, but they never get near enough to the cult's true centre of power to discover anything worth revealing. Such fools generally don't last long, unless they provew useful in other ways (ways which are generally not good for the cultist in question).

Kord
Good Loser - A weak devotee of Kord who recognises that just because you can't win doesn't mean that the struggle and the competiton are not worth while. Good Losers are very well respected within the Church of Kord.

Erythnul
Bone Burner - When giving sacrifice to Erythnul, bone burners are those who give a sacrifice which does not actually inconvenience them. Erythnul's temple wants sacrifices which pain the sacrificer - family members, loved ones, etc.
JulesCARV
11-03-06, 03:23 PM Good ones! Thanks, Venerable Archmage.

Wee Jas:

-Martyr of Mercy -- generally, a follower of Wee Jas who has been imprisoned, banished, or executed for murder after killing someone with a painful, debilitating, terminal disease which is beyond magical or mundane healing. According to a semi-secret tradition of Wee Jas's temples, followers of Wee Jas have a special dispensation to break the law to end lives which will only be pointless pain and suffering if they continue, but must fully cooperate with authorities if they are accused or interrogated regarding the deaths, pleading guilty, answering all questions truthfully, and accepting punishment by the state (albeit while protesting the injustice of the law).
SeptimusMagistos
11-03-06, 05:03 PM Pesterer

A follower of Boccob who keeps asking for favors not realizing Boccob just doesn't care.
angryman
11-06-06, 10:08 PM Grummsh (one-eyes god of the Orcs)

Giblets- What Grummsh's followers call Halflings & Gnomes
Pinkskins- Grummsh's followers call Humans this (regardless of actual race, they also sometimes call Elves this).
Two-eyed Devils- Elves are called this
Longpork- Any ritually-eaten sentient humanoid, not referring to cannibalism
Doom_Linnorm
11-07-06, 04:11 PM Two-Eyed Devils?
I dunno, that one doesn't make a lot of sense to me, Orcs have two eyes themselves except for gruumsh.
I'd go for something along the lines of:
"Frail B-astards."
But then propper, can't think of anything myself right now.
angryman
11-07-06, 10:21 PM Two-Eyed Devils?
I dunno, that one doesn't make a lot of sense to me, Orcs have two eyes themselves except for gruumsh.
I'd go for something along the lines of:
"Frail B-astards."
But then propper, can't think of anything myself right now.

Two-eyed Bastards refers to Grummsh's injury sustained by Corellion.
Lunas_Argent
11-08-06, 01:54 AM I like the reference of Grummsh battle with Corellion with "Two-Eyed Devils"
Has anyone seen the picture of Corellion in Dieties and Demigods?
How about pansy little nancy-boy
Lunas_Argent
11-08-06, 02:00 AM "Man, them frail one-eyed pansy little nancy bastards make tender longpork."
"Hey, don't hog all the nibblets."
Yeah I can totally see this
angryman
11-08-06, 09:27 AM How about pansy little nancy-boy?

That's what most of my characters call Elves anyway, even if he's an Elf from another plane. (I almost never play Elves unless they're bizarre super-elves like Tolkeinien ones)
Doom_Linnorm
11-08-06, 10:32 AM I actualy invented three new brands of elves that detest the traditional ones becouse their stuck up arrogant nancy boys. :D
(Sun Elves (taller, reasonably muscular desert dwellers, nomads and mercentaries.))
(Arachi (Spider elves, applied a slightly modified insectile template to them, they live in hot jungles and spin webs, not drider style half body, but insectile-ogre style full body.))
(Lynians (Elvish ancestors, like elves but a bit more feral looking, tougher and more cunning.))
I know Correlon took Gruumsh's eye, but saying they have two eyes doesn't really reinforce this a lot.
elondir
11-08-06, 10:37 AM Shadowrun had elves and trolls hate Tolkien because of the negative stereotyping of elves as a bunch of pansies and trolls as dumb savages. I always thought that was pretty cool and quirky.
Dark Stryke
11-08-06, 07:12 PM I could imagine "Pelor's Shadow!" being a mild oath.

Eg:
"Sir, there's a warparty of orcs about a day's march from our position!"
"Pelor's shadow! How'd the buggers find us?!"

Curses like this can replace the more common english ones (we generally turn bodily functions into curse words, but some other languages use religion in their swears.) The advantage of doing something like this is that it adds an extra layer of reality to your world if the characters there have their own swear words.

Just my two cents.
JulesCARV
11-08-06, 11:26 PM Heironeous

-The Muratian Heresy -- the belief, originally attributed to the Muratius, a monk of Heironeus, that true worshippers of Heironeous must completely dedicate their lives to service, renouncing any secular obligations or privileges and giving all of their property to the Church. According to Muratius, those who attend services devoted to Heironeous while retaining ties to their secular jobs, titles, families, property, etc, are only "admirers" of Heironeous, not true "worshippers," because true worship is uncompromising dedication. This view is still held by a few worshippers of Heironeous, but the mainstream church disagrees with it.

-Voice of Honor -- attributed to those who successfully resolve problems through diplomacy and other nonviolent means without resorting to deceit. This is often used as a response to those who claim that deceit is frequently an alternative to violence, since those with the Voice of Honor regard their honesty as integral to their ability to negotiate and end conflict, rather than an obstacle to be worked around.
Adrez Nesnsid
03-05-07, 07:02 PM bump!!!!! :bump:
Melpomene
03-06-07, 04:06 PM Hextor
-Six Arms, By the Six Arms: The main docterine of faith, exposing the six lies of existance (freedom, peace, mercy, humility, equality, and love). To swear by the Six Arms is to affirm that something is without deception, a cold and hard reality.

For the love of Pelor
I swear to Cuthbert
IrishRover
03-13-07, 01:22 AM Hextor
-Six Arms, By the Six Arms: The main docterine of faith, exposing the six lies of existance (freedom, peace, mercy, humility, equality, and love). To swear by the Six Arms is to affirm that something is without deception, a cold and hard reality.

I like that--but the person swearing THAT best hope that there's not a Marilith in earshot, or he might get a look at the six arms...
Warforged Goblin
03-14-07, 08:45 AM I like that--but the person swearing THAT best hope that there's not a Marilith in earshot, or he might get a look at the six arms...

In that case, I suggest using "By Hextor's Six Arms..." instead of the shortened version.

In the Eberron Campaign Setting's 1st level adventure in the back, one of the Sharn town guards uses the expression "Olladra's bloody nose".
Khadmus
04-06-07, 11:51 AM :bump: To quote a video that was made about posting, "OMFG PEACOCKS ROXORZ TEH ONE111!".
M1kh43l_P4r4d1s0
04-06-07, 12:13 PM First off, as "Pelor-man" I love the "Pelor's Shadow" one.

Wandering Truth: Farlannfgsbnfgkbaslfgbnan (you know, the wandering god) priest.

Eyes of Vecna: Cultists who go and witness the happenings of the world, in order to learn the secrets.
Hands of Vecna: Cultists who go and push events in the direction that their foul, evil lord would prefer.

All I can think of right now. I don't want to insult my shining god with an unsatisfactory jargon.
Reverend_Valek
04-06-07, 12:16 PM Worshippers of Lloth (mainly drow)

Sunburnt Elves!
Khadmus
04-06-07, 12:17 PM If anyone's commenting on the Maimed Lord, they might as well include the thoughts, memories, etc. (I love Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vecna).)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
JulesCARV 10-29-06, 12:45 AM	I'm just wondering if you have some ideas for jargon and slang associated with various D&D dieties, philosophies, and religions. Really, probably the best place for this would be Planescape, with faction-specific slang to complement the already-existing slang. One might also do it for Eberron or Forgotten Realms deities. For now, though, I'll just do Greyhawk/DMG gods: St. Cuthbert -Beacon of Light -- an ideal or term of approbation for those who so embody St. Cuthbert's principles that they induce those around them to seek out the faith without even mentioning it directly, merely through non-self-conscious conduct of their everyday lives. Hextor -Centrality of Focus -- This is a term for steadfastness and concentration with regard to a mission or cause, focusing on the mission and avoiding distractions, such as the reason for the cause or mission or irrational emotions like sympathy for other beings or concern for one's own safety. -Spinner -- One who is unwilling to place unconditional obedience in anything, and thus cannot be trusted to be consistent or loyal, and is thus expected to be weak and equivocal. Hextor's followers sometimes refer to followers of Heironeous as spinners, because they place moral conditions on their obedience, such as "if the war is just, then we will fight for the king." Spinners lack Centrality of Focus Nerull -Flinchers -- Those who seek to evade or avoid the inevitability of death. This is sometimes applied as a term of scorn to those who who seek immortality in undeath or other means, and is more generally applied to those regarded as valuing their own lives too much, such as those who retreat from battle to save their lives. -Daydreamer -- One regarded as hopelessly naīve, idealistic, or gullible, usually with regards to the belief that violence, pain, and suffering is often unnecessary, that the world could be a better place than it is, or that mortals can transcend their mortality through arcane or scientific means. Obad-Hai -Fuzzthink -- a term for what Obad-Hai's followers regard as excessively romanticized, sanitized, or sentimental views of nature. This term is usually applied to urban dwellers with little contact with nature, but sometimes some followers of Obad-Hai also accuse some worshippers of Elhonna of fuzzthink. -Drop in the Lake -- Regarded by many Obad-Hai worshippers as the ideal -- for a sentient being to lose his or her "unnatural" individuality and become an undifferentiated, non-self-reflective aspect of nature, like plants and animals. This is frequently said to be like being "a raindrop uniting with a great lake." Pelor -Purity Peddler -- One who advocates more concern for personal purity, self-denial, ritual, and propriety than compassion, mercy, and happiness. Sometimes used pejoratively of some followers of St. Cuthbert and Hextor, and occassionally Heironeous. -Harmek's fallacy -- "the idea that it is better to have many problems, and overcome them through grit, resourcefulness, and stoicism, than to not have such problems in the first place." Regarded by Pelor worshippers (at least the ones who use the term "Harmek's fallacy") as a bankrupt idea.
JulesCARV 11-02-06, 03:22 AM	BTW, I used PHB gods as examples, but if anyone wants to do FR gods, or Eberron religions (theistic or not), or even Planescape factions, that would be awesome.
The Venerable Archmage 11-02-06, 07:54 AM	Okay, how are these? Vecna Peacock - One who joins the cult simply because secret societies are "cool". They strut around looking evil and secretive, and crowing loudly, but they never get near enough to the cult's true centre of power to discover anything worth revealing. Such fools generally don't last long, unless they provew useful in other ways (ways which are generally not good for the cultist in question). Kord Good Loser - A weak devotee of Kord who recognises that just because you can't win doesn't mean that the struggle and the competiton are not worth while. Good Losers are very well respected within the Church of Kord. Erythnul Bone Burner - When giving sacrifice to Erythnul, bone burners are those who give a sacrifice which does not actually inconvenience them. Erythnul's temple wants sacrifices which pain the sacrificer - family members, loved ones, etc.
JulesCARV 11-03-06, 03:23 PM	Good ones! Thanks, Venerable Archmage. Wee Jas: -Martyr of Mercy -- generally, a follower of Wee Jas who has been imprisoned, banished, or executed for murder after killing someone with a painful, debilitating, terminal disease which is beyond magical or mundane healing. According to a semi-secret tradition of Wee Jas's temples, followers of Wee Jas have a special dispensation to break the law to end lives which will only be pointless pain and suffering if they continue, but must fully cooperate with authorities if they are accused or interrogated regarding the deaths, pleading guilty, answering all questions truthfully, and accepting punishment by the state (albeit while protesting the injustice of the law).
SeptimusMagistos 11-03-06, 05:03 PM	Pesterer A follower of Boccob who keeps asking for favors not realizing Boccob just doesn't care.
angryman 11-06-06, 10:08 PM	Grummsh (one-eyes god of the Orcs) Giblets- What Grummsh's followers call Halflings & Gnomes Pinkskins- Grummsh's followers call Humans this (regardless of actual race, they also sometimes call Elves this). Two-eyed Devils- Elves are called this Longpork- Any ritually-eaten sentient humanoid, not referring to cannibalism
Doom_Linnorm 11-07-06, 04:11 PM	Two-Eyed Devils? I dunno, that one doesn't make a lot of sense to me, Orcs have two eyes themselves except for gruumsh. I'd go for something along the lines of: "Frail B-astards." But then propper, can't think of anything myself right now.
angryman 11-07-06, 10:21 PM	Two-Eyed Devils? I dunno, that one doesn't make a lot of sense to me, Orcs have two eyes themselves except for gruumsh. I'd go for something along the lines of: "Frail B-astards." But then propper, can't think of anything myself right now. Two-eyed Bastards refers to Grummsh's injury sustained by Corellion.
Lunas_Argent 11-08-06, 01:54 AM	I like the reference of Grummsh battle with Corellion with "Two-Eyed Devils" Has anyone seen the picture of Corellion in Dieties and Demigods? How about pansy little nancy-boy
Lunas_Argent 11-08-06, 02:00 AM	"Man, them frail one-eyed pansy little nancy bastards make tender longpork." "Hey, don't hog all the nibblets." Yeah I can totally see this
angryman 11-08-06, 09:27 AM	How about pansy little nancy-boy? That's what most of my characters call Elves anyway, even if he's an Elf from another plane. (I almost never play Elves unless they're bizarre super-elves like Tolkeinien ones)
Doom_Linnorm 11-08-06, 10:32 AM	I actualy invented three new brands of elves that detest the traditional ones becouse their stuck up arrogant nancy boys. :D (Sun Elves (taller, reasonably muscular desert dwellers, nomads and mercentaries.)) (Arachi (Spider elves, applied a slightly modified insectile template to them, they live in hot jungles and spin webs, not drider style half body, but insectile-ogre style full body.)) (Lynians (Elvish ancestors, like elves but a bit more feral looking, tougher and more cunning.)) I know Correlon took Gruumsh's eye, but saying they have two eyes doesn't really reinforce this a lot.
elondir 11-08-06, 10:37 AM	Shadowrun had elves and trolls hate Tolkien because of the negative stereotyping of elves as a bunch of pansies and trolls as dumb savages. I always thought that was pretty cool and quirky.
Dark Stryke 11-08-06, 07:12 PM	I could imagine "Pelor's Shadow!" being a mild oath. Eg: "Sir, there's a warparty of orcs about a day's march from our position!" "Pelor's shadow! How'd the buggers find us?!" Curses like this can replace the more common english ones (we generally turn bodily functions into curse words, but some other languages use religion in their swears.) The advantage of doing something like this is that it adds an extra layer of reality to your world if the characters there have their own swear words. Just my two cents.
JulesCARV 11-08-06, 11:26 PM	Heironeous -The Muratian Heresy -- the belief, originally attributed to the Muratius, a monk of Heironeus, that true worshippers of Heironeous must completely dedicate their lives to service, renouncing any secular obligations or privileges and giving all of their property to the Church. According to Muratius, those who attend services devoted to Heironeous while retaining ties to their secular jobs, titles, families, property, etc, are only "admirers" of Heironeous, not true "worshippers," because true worship is uncompromising dedication. This view is still held by a few worshippers of Heironeous, but the mainstream church disagrees with it. -Voice of Honor -- attributed to those who successfully resolve problems through diplomacy and other nonviolent means without resorting to deceit. This is often used as a response to those who claim that deceit is frequently an alternative to violence, since those with the Voice of Honor regard their honesty as integral to their ability to negotiate and end conflict, rather than an obstacle to be worked around.
Adrez Nesnsid 03-05-07, 07:02 PM	bump!!!!! :bump:
Melpomene 03-06-07, 04:06 PM	Hextor -Six Arms, By the Six Arms: The main docterine of faith, exposing the six lies of existance (freedom, peace, mercy, humility, equality, and love). To swear by the Six Arms is to affirm that something is without deception, a cold and hard reality. For the love of Pelor I swear to Cuthbert
IrishRover 03-13-07, 01:22 AM	Hextor -Six Arms, By the Six Arms: The main docterine of faith, exposing the six lies of existance (freedom, peace, mercy, humility, equality, and love). To swear by the Six Arms is to affirm that something is without deception, a cold and hard reality. I like that--but the person swearing THAT best hope that there's not a Marilith in earshot, or he might get a look at the six arms...
Warforged Goblin 03-14-07, 08:45 AM	I like that--but the person swearing THAT best hope that there's not a Marilith in earshot, or he might get a look at the six arms... In that case, I suggest using "By Hextor's Six Arms..." instead of the shortened version. In the Eberron Campaign Setting's 1st level adventure in the back, one of the Sharn town guards uses the expression "Olladra's bloody nose".
Khadmus 04-06-07, 11:51 AM	:bump: To quote a video that was made about posting, "OMFG PEACOCKS ROXORZ TEH ONE111!".
M1kh43l_P4r4d1s0 04-06-07, 12:13 PM	First off, as "Pelor-man" I love the "Pelor's Shadow" one. Wandering Truth: Farlannfgsbnfgkbaslfgbnan (you know, the wandering god) priest. Eyes of Vecna: Cultists who go and witness the happenings of the world, in order to learn the secrets. Hands of Vecna: Cultists who go and push events in the direction that their foul, evil lord would prefer. All I can think of right now. I don't want to insult my shining god with an unsatisfactory jargon.
Reverend_Valek 04-06-07, 12:16 PM	Worshippers of Lloth (mainly drow) Sunburnt Elves!
Khadmus 04-06-07, 12:17 PM	If anyone's commenting on the Maimed Lord, they might as well include the thoughts, memories, etc. (I love Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vecna).)