Posted on by Magnus Seter

Sayings, words and expressions (1)

The language of the Altdorf population is colourful, and often refers to commonly known events in the capital. Some of them bewilder me, some are quite simple to understand. I have come across quite a number of these sayings and have compiled a short list of some of them, and their meanings as far as I have divined them.

“Up the Reik without a barge” – In deep trouble, often abbreviated “Up the Reik.”

“Short crowd” – A gathering of angry people with no power. They don’t pose a threat, much like a bunch of halflings wouldn’t (they would make up a short crowd, hence the expression).

“Carstein Cattle” – inhabitants of Sylvania.

“Drunk as a map-maker” – derived from the fact that many maps of the Empire often are faulty and inconsistent, hence they are probable made by drunken map-makers.

“Moose-head” – norse raider. Refers to the helmets often worn by the Norscan warriors.

“Tybalt handshake” – a weak handshake, derived from the fact that chancellor Mornan Tybalt had his thumb clipped by rioters during a riot some years ago, in protest of his proposed labour tax.

“Altdorf party” – a riot.

“He’s riding the griffon” – someone is boasting, greatly exaggerating his prowess (often “romantic” prowess or combat skills). Could also mean that a person is mad, or hallucinating. Derived from the legends about The Emperor riding a griffon.

“Mad as Alfred” – Describes a person out of his mind, insane or just very, very different. Derived from Altdorf’s most famous and loved madman, called Mad Alfred. I’ll give you more details on this fascinating person in later writings.

“There’s no such thing as a free pie” – nothing in the Old World is free, everything has its price. You’ll never get anything for nothing. Also “a deal to good to be true”.

“A private war” – someone’s own personal business. “Well, it’s his private war, there’s nothing we can do to help”.

“Airhead” or “Cloudhead” – derisive term for Wizard, implying that they have their heads stuck in the clouds and consider themselves above mere mortals. Not used when a wizard is around, I gather.

“A Bergsburg deal” – a deal or offering that is on and off, depending on the whims of the people making the offering. Refers to the disputed status of the town of Bergsburg among the Imperial cartographers.

There are many more sayings like this, and I hope to document more as I spend more time talking to the people of Altdorf.

Adolphus Altdorfer
Konistag, Sigmarzeit 18, 2522 IC

Check out this link to the Black Industries forums, where Happy Gibbon started a fantastic thread about the sayings of the people of the Empire. The above list is my contribution, and you’ll find many more from Happy Gibbon as well as other contributors.

Magnus

Posted on by Magnus Seter

Gossip (5)

“Haven’t you heard? The Emperor is going to Middenheim to fight the Storm of Chaos! Only he can stem the tide of evil, they say! But you know what that means, don’t you? Yeah … that’ll leave Altdorf wide open to people like Fengsel and Waffenkammer!”

– Two soldiers sharing a flagon of Altdorfer Weisse at The Breasts of Myrmidia tavern, in the Niederhafen Bezirk

Few things have as much potential for trouble and therefore adventure as a sudden power vacuum. If for example the Emperor would leave Altdorf there would be many nobles and influential people trying to profit from his absence. Given the fact that communications are fairly slow and unreliable in the Old World, many plots can be hatched based on wild rumours as to the health of the Emperor as he campaigns against the Storm of Chaos.

But not every power vacuum needs to involve the Emperor or nobles and generals. Crime lords are notorious for warring amongst themselves when their … betters … are laid to rest or, erm … disappears. There are always room for backstabbing in the Guilds, the Merchant Guild being a prime candidate. But don’t underestimate the petty power-hungry fishmonger, rat catcher, City Watchman or lowly stable boy. Even the worst tyrant has to start somewhere after all …

Currrently in my own campaign, there is a riot running through Altdorf after news that the Emperor has been slain by traitorous generals allied with the forces of Chaos. This has provided some interesting twists to the lives of the characters, as well as given one of them an opportunity to prove his loyalty to the Emperor.

Whether this is a good idea remains to be seen.

Magnus

Posted on by Magnus Seter

Charlatans and tricksters

There are many magic fairy tales in this world, and none of them should be told lightly. Our old world contains mysteries beyond the understanding of our sharpest minds or most dim-witted fools. And so there are those who would profit from this. Profit from our fears and anxiety. Who would pretend to eradicate Chaos where no such taint occurs. To take our gold to rid us from evil, and save us from our waking dreams.

Most of these charlatans are adventurous types, armed with sharp blades and an array of tricks. They claim to fight evil, to battle Chaos and to do what is right in this world. In reality they only do what’s right by themselves. Today most of these wretched beings have fortunately been enlisted to fight the Storm of Chaos, and will hopefully justly perish on a dirty and grimy battlefield in the cold north.

But there are some who are still at large and I can see them pass me by on the streets of Altdorf every day. Who knows what they are planning?

Adolphus Altdorfer
Konistag, Sigmarzeit 2, 2522 IC

Those of you who follow my other blog, Fanboy at Large, might have already read my short review of the movie The Brothers Grimm, which I watched a couple of days ago. If you haven’t, nip by the site and do so, I’ll wait here until you’re done.

…

Already back? Good. Well, the point of this post is to make sure that all of you who play WFRP also watch this movie. For the scenery and visuals, if for nothing else. But also because I feel that the Grimm brothers and their companions really embody many of those qualities that make up a WFRP adventuring party. They look after themselves first and foremost, they are barely competent, they muck about with things they don’t understand, they are beset by a torturer which would be perfectly cast as an unhinged witch hunter in any WFRP campaign … the list goes on.

As a straight adventure or fantasy movie I feel that even though I like it, I can’t recommend it without some pretty severe caveats.

But as an inspiration for WFRP game masters or players, I can’t recommend it highly enough. Watch it as a source of inspiration for your games. You will find much in there that could make it into your game, or conversely you will find scenes that highlight what you don’t want in your game.

So gather your gaming group and watch The Brothers Grimm together, and imagine it being a session of WFRP. That will make the viewing even more fun!

Magnus