tattoos n' piercings [Archive] - Wizards Community

tattoos n' piercings [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lucifer_the_Puritan
09-03-07, 02:17 AM Are tattoos n' piercings common in Khorvaire? If so which places & races use them ?
Lucifer the Puritan
Hair Wax
09-03-07, 06:08 AM I'm not sure that there's been any direct information on it (if there is I'd be interested in something official as well) but here's what I'd do/am doing.

Humans - I'd imagine that tattooing is quite prominent in the Lhaazar Principalities, being awash with sailors and mariners as it is.
There would likely be a lot of veterans of the last war with regiment tattoos displaying their motos and/or their regimental colours/crest and perhaps even a national symbol if they're particularly patriotic.
I'd put tattooing as a fashion that occasionally comes in for the elite and rich as well although I'd place this as magically done and maintained rather than actual ink. A noble or d'marked scion might have an actual tat. done if they wanted to seem particularly fashion-daring or exotic.
For other humans I'd say tatttoing wasn't uncommon but not as many people as you'd see now would have them.
Piercings: I just can't pictures humans in Eberron with facial or bodily piercings for some reason. Maybe the odd nose ring but nothing exciting.

Elves: Aerenanii Elves use body modification quite regularly to imitate the deathless and I would think tattooing features quite highly in this.
Valenar elves, well I have this image of them having specific patterns for their arms depending on the number and quality of those they've defeated in battle. I wouldn't give them piercings though.
Khorvaire elves I'd put as humans for body modification except for members of the shadow houses, who wouldn't have any modification at all so as to have less identifying features.

I'll post others in about twenty minutes I just need a cup of tea to help me think!
galon101
09-04-07, 12:06 PM I play a shifter druid, and i incorporated into his background that he has a long pattern of tribal tattoos running down his arms and chest symbolizing his clan's accomplishments, and pacts that he has made with his Druid sect and his Beast Spirit. He also wears several tribal braids for the same reason. The DM had no problem with it, and seemed to think it was a nice way to flavor the chracter out a bit.
galon101
09-04-07, 12:10 PM I forgot to add that as much as i wanted many piercings to his ears (normally my halfling rogues wear like 4-6) i thought that it wouldn't be appropriate for a druid to wear all that extra metal so i left it out. You would think that with the Dragonmarks that tattooing may not be a stigma or as seen as art for the lower class (not sure where i heard that) but rather a fashion statement of some kind. I do and always have liked the idea of magical tattoos after reading bout them in the DM's guide.

just cuz i got ink doesn't make me a bad person. :D
Yakman
09-04-07, 03:48 PM I would imagine that it's frowned upon by most everyone. After all, the association with aberrant marks more or less would make tatooing a major taboo. the d'marked houses, and anyone sane would not trust anybody with a tatoo, even if it said "mother"
Need_A_Life
09-04-07, 04:16 PM I think that tattoos would carry the same implications as in our own world.

You wouldn't want to have a heavily-tattooed mayor, though getting a tattoo doesn't make you any more irresponsible, and thus he would be as fit to lead as if he hadn't had a needle inject colour into his skin several times a second for a few minutes every once in a while.

---

Warforged would probably avoid tattoo's and piercings would be for eccentrics only, but that's just my call.
Yakman
09-05-07, 10:10 AM considering how recently tatoos became socially 'acceptable' i have to disagree. try walking around china (outside of the megacities) with a tattoo. watch how people treat you.

i suspect things would be fairly similar, if not worse, in khorvaire. things might be QUITE different in Sarlona though, especially in Syrkarn or Adar.
ZeroSD
09-05-07, 12:20 PM The primary association is going to be dragonmarks, and since it's always possible to tell any dragonmark, even an aberrant, from a fake, I don't think people will worry about associating them with aberrants. I'd expect it to catch on. Or another possibility is it might catch on with the rise in respectability of the half-orc house.

Now, if you do research into the ancient past and get the Mark of Death tattooed on your forehead... be prepared to have to hid from some very powerful people.
dsivis
09-05-07, 02:35 PM Now, if you do research into the ancient past and get the Mark of Death tattooed on your forehead... be prepared to have to hid from some very powerful people.

Man, that'd be dumb.

I always saw orc-blooded types as being really fond of major bodymod as a way of showing off how tough you are. Same with giants in Xen'drik.

Seren probably do it to emulate their totems:
White Dragon tribes bleach their skin,
Red Dragon tribes brand themselves,
Metallic Dragon tribes pierce with the appropriate metal in large quantities,
etc etc.
Highschool_Magic
09-06-07, 09:13 PM Changelings I would think. They might think of it as an art form.

Highschool Magic
Revvecor
09-06-07, 09:30 PM I think that your average city/town peasant would view both tattoos and piercings are odd and primitive. Although they wont attack you, they may be less helpful with you than with someone without either.

On the other hand, if you were in the military or if you are a sailer then you are probably going to have tattoos dedicated to some past action/event relating to their service.

As was already mentioned barbarian tribes are likely to have tattoos and piercings that relate to tribal symbolism and rites of adulthood. In this case those whom have neither a tattoo are piercings would be vied as the oddball.
Alas
09-11-07, 12:32 PM The ECS mentions the signature branding/scarification styles of various Darguun goblinoid tribes; it's possible that non-Darguun goblinoids may have continued or evolved that practice.

Between changelings, magewrights, and Phiarlann/Thuranni artisans, it's easy to imagine that someone has developed the cantrips necessary to make cosmetic body modification (by which I mean purely aesthetic, no game advantage) fun and profitable. (Incidentally, I've always thought tattooing was the best application for the shadow magic ink fundamental...)

I seem to recall fluff to the effect that before the Mourning, Cyre was home to the more avant garde art scenes. That sounds like a good source (albeit a lost one) for advances in both techniques and styles. With the diaspora, there's now a chance for techniques and styles to spread around (or, admittedly, die out).

One more medium we're forgetting here: henna! Great for the bangs, too.

Ink isn't just fun-- it's addictive.
ZeroSD
09-12-07, 10:48 AM Man, that'd be dumb.

Hopefully they'll be impressed by the shear effort you put into your blasphomy.
ProjectA
09-13-07, 04:14 PM In the example identification papers on page 123 of the Eberron Campaign Setting the House Thuranni member has a tattoo on her palm and shoulder and her face pierced.
bhasu
09-14-07, 08:43 PM Actually,
I seem to remember reading somewhere that because of dragonmarks, tatooing is more accepted in Khorvaire. I am at work and don't have my books with me, so i can't get the page and such.

And my entire first group had matching tatoos, being from the same Unit in the Brellish military. My shifter has gotten several others since then. She also has several earrings and a piercing in her bottom lip.

I guess it is up to your style...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lucifer_the_Puritan 09-03-07, 02:17 AM	Are tattoos n' piercings common in Khorvaire? If so which places & races use them ? Lucifer the Puritan
Hair Wax 09-03-07, 06:08 AM	I'm not sure that there's been any direct information on it (if there is I'd be interested in something official as well) but here's what I'd do/am doing. Humans - I'd imagine that tattooing is quite prominent in the Lhaazar Principalities, being awash with sailors and mariners as it is. There would likely be a lot of veterans of the last war with regiment tattoos displaying their motos and/or their regimental colours/crest and perhaps even a national symbol if they're particularly patriotic. I'd put tattooing as a fashion that occasionally comes in for the elite and rich as well although I'd place this as magically done and maintained rather than actual ink. A noble or d'marked scion might have an actual tat. done if they wanted to seem particularly fashion-daring or exotic. For other humans I'd say tatttoing wasn't uncommon but not as many people as you'd see now would have them. Piercings: I just can't pictures humans in Eberron with facial or bodily piercings for some reason. Maybe the odd nose ring but nothing exciting. Elves: Aerenanii Elves use body modification quite regularly to imitate the deathless and I would think tattooing features quite highly in this. Valenar elves, well I have this image of them having specific patterns for their arms depending on the number and quality of those they've defeated in battle. I wouldn't give them piercings though. Khorvaire elves I'd put as humans for body modification except for members of the shadow houses, who wouldn't have any modification at all so as to have less identifying features. I'll post others in about twenty minutes I just need a cup of tea to help me think!
galon101 09-04-07, 12:06 PM	I play a shifter druid, and i incorporated into his background that he has a long pattern of tribal tattoos running down his arms and chest symbolizing his clan's accomplishments, and pacts that he has made with his Druid sect and his Beast Spirit. He also wears several tribal braids for the same reason. The DM had no problem with it, and seemed to think it was a nice way to flavor the chracter out a bit.
galon101 09-04-07, 12:10 PM	I forgot to add that as much as i wanted many piercings to his ears (normally my halfling rogues wear like 4-6) i thought that it wouldn't be appropriate for a druid to wear all that extra metal so i left it out. You would think that with the Dragonmarks that tattooing may not be a stigma or as seen as art for the lower class (not sure where i heard that) but rather a fashion statement of some kind. I do and always have liked the idea of magical tattoos after reading bout them in the DM's guide. just cuz i got ink doesn't make me a bad person. :D
Yakman 09-04-07, 03:48 PM	I would imagine that it's frowned upon by most everyone. After all, the association with aberrant marks more or less would make tatooing a major taboo. the d'marked houses, and anyone sane would not trust anybody with a tatoo, even if it said "mother"
Need_A_Life 09-04-07, 04:16 PM	I think that tattoos would carry the same implications as in our own world. You wouldn't want to have a heavily-tattooed mayor, though getting a tattoo doesn't make you any more irresponsible, and thus he would be as fit to lead as if he hadn't had a needle inject colour into his skin several times a second for a few minutes every once in a while. --- Warforged would probably avoid tattoo's and piercings would be for eccentrics only, but that's just my call.
Yakman 09-05-07, 10:10 AM	considering how recently tatoos became socially 'acceptable' i have to disagree. try walking around china (outside of the megacities) with a tattoo. watch how people treat you. i suspect things would be fairly similar, if not worse, in khorvaire. things might be QUITE different in Sarlona though, especially in Syrkarn or Adar.
ZeroSD 09-05-07, 12:20 PM	The primary association is going to be dragonmarks, and since it's always possible to tell any dragonmark, even an aberrant, from a fake, I don't think people will worry about associating them with aberrants. I'd expect it to catch on. Or another possibility is it might catch on with the rise in respectability of the half-orc house. Now, if you do research into the ancient past and get the Mark of Death tattooed on your forehead... be prepared to have to hid from some very powerful people.
dsivis 09-05-07, 02:35 PM	Now, if you do research into the ancient past and get the Mark of Death tattooed on your forehead... be prepared to have to hid from some very powerful people. Man, that'd be dumb. I always saw orc-blooded types as being really fond of major bodymod as a way of showing off how tough you are. Same with giants in Xen'drik. Seren probably do it to emulate their totems: White Dragon tribes bleach their skin, Red Dragon tribes brand themselves, Metallic Dragon tribes pierce with the appropriate metal in large quantities, etc etc.
Highschool_Magic 09-06-07, 09:13 PM	Changelings I would think. They might think of it as an art form. Highschool Magic
Revvecor 09-06-07, 09:30 PM	I think that your average city/town peasant would view both tattoos and piercings are odd and primitive. Although they wont attack you, they may be less helpful with you than with someone without either. On the other hand, if you were in the military or if you are a sailer then you are probably going to have tattoos dedicated to some past action/event relating to their service. As was already mentioned barbarian tribes are likely to have tattoos and piercings that relate to tribal symbolism and rites of adulthood. In this case those whom have neither a tattoo are piercings would be vied as the oddball.
Alas 09-11-07, 12:32 PM	The ECS mentions the signature branding/scarification styles of various Darguun goblinoid tribes; it's possible that non-Darguun goblinoids may have continued or evolved that practice. Between changelings, magewrights, and Phiarlann/Thuranni artisans, it's easy to imagine that someone has developed the cantrips necessary to make cosmetic body modification (by which I mean purely aesthetic, no game advantage) fun and profitable. (Incidentally, I've always thought tattooing was the best application for the shadow magic ink fundamental...) I seem to recall fluff to the effect that before the Mourning, Cyre was home to the more avant garde art scenes. That sounds like a good source (albeit a lost one) for advances in both techniques and styles. With the diaspora, there's now a chance for techniques and styles to spread around (or, admittedly, die out). One more medium we're forgetting here: henna! Great for the bangs, too. Ink isn't just fun-- it's addictive.
ZeroSD 09-12-07, 10:48 AM	Man, that'd be dumb. Hopefully they'll be impressed by the shear effort you put into your blasphomy.
ProjectA 09-13-07, 04:14 PM	In the example identification papers on page 123 of the Eberron Campaign Setting the House Thuranni member has a tattoo on her palm and shoulder and her face pierced.
bhasu 09-14-07, 08:43 PM	Actually, I seem to remember reading somewhere that because of dragonmarks, tatooing is more accepted in Khorvaire. I am at work and don't have my books with me, so i can't get the page and such. And my entire first group had matching tatoos, being from the same Unit in the Brellish military. My shifter has gotten several others since then. She also has several earrings and a piercing in her bottom lip. I guess it is up to your style...