For the Halloween episode of The Brainstorm Podcast, the plan is to cover the topic of "Superstitions" in campaign use. This means we are probably recording this episode next Tuesday night.
Now, I could rack my brain thinking up a handful of superstitions that would be handy to drop in game, but I figure it's more fun to have my readers help. So, hear's what I'm going to do with you:
- Add a superstition or three to the comment section below this blog post before midnight, Saturday, October 11th, 2014
- Listen to the Halloween episode of The Brainstorm Podcast soon after it goes live to the masses. If you hear your submitted superstition mentioned AND are one of the first two to comment that you heard your superstition mentioned (comment on this same here post) on the podcast, I'll send a $10 RPGNow gift certificate your way.
Pretty simple, right?
In any case, I'll put all submitted superstitions into a numbered table for random superstition generation (to be posted both here on the blog and downloadable at the Brainstorm Podcast website) and will also suggest it as a source of inspiration for the Tenkar's Landing Crowdsourced Sandbox Project
Some Common Customs and Folklore (from a local campaign)
ReplyDeleteWhile many cultures and races have customs and folklore specific to their peoples, the following are commonly encountered everywhere in the civilized lands.
The Rule of Salt: When the master of the house offers a guest salt and he or she accepts and consumes it, then none of them may spill each other's blood in the house for three days.
Blood Brothers: An act where two or more men (or women) swear loyalty to one another. It is usually ritualistic and involves mingling of the bloods or drinking each others blood or some similar ritual. Blood-brothers are considered relatives and therefore a man can't marry his blood-brother's sister, for example. Blood-brothers have duties toward each other, like helping in battle and risking one's life to save the other's life, raising blood-brother's children if the blood-brother should die and so on.
Trial by Combat: This is the sort of trial where who is innocent and who guilty is decided by a duel, sometimes called a Judicial Duel. In theory, victory favors the one who is right.
Guardian Warrior: Many locals will place a small statue of a warrior on the right side of the main entrance into their house. It is believed that this will guard them against all who would do them harm.
This is more of a superstition among the PCs... One of my characters played non-magical pipes. Upon the character's untimely death, the pipes were passed to another PC. That character also met a gruesome end. After several deaths, the party was convinced the pipes were cursed and did everything they could to get rid of the (non-magical, non-cursed, didn't have anything to do with the deaths) pipes. To this day, musicians are viewed with suspicion and fear, and pipes are not tolerated peacefully.
ReplyDeleteBone of My Bone, Beard of My Beard: It is the dwarven custom that the father of a dwarven bride is to give his new son in law a locket of his beard at the wedding ceremony. This is both a pledge of his approval of the wedding as well as to bring about healthy grandchildren. This locket of hair is often displayed in the home.
ReplyDeleteA red squirrel that flares its tail at a person is said by the wood elves to be an omen of tragedy.
The people of Kratos believe that births and deaths come in threes.
The last loaf of bread made from the years harvest is to be left to stray dogs. If anyone fails to do this, the wolves will come back.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed "Brainstorm." Thanks for mentioning my post. I wish you had more feedback on superstitions, but it looks like riddles are popular.
ReplyDeleteJoel - send your RPGNow email info to tenkarsDOTtavernATgmailDOTcom
DeleteThank you for mentioning my superstitions on the Brainstorm podcast.
ReplyDeleteThank you for mentioning my superstitions on the Brainstorm podcast.
ReplyDeleteThank you mentioning my superstitions on the show!
ReplyDelete