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Seethyr
Master of Realmslore
USA
1151 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Jan 2021 : 23:07:52
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I was recently writing something up on the Land of the Insect Men (from FMQ1 City of Gold) and realized how silly it would be for the thri-Kreen who live there to say they live in, well, the land of the insect men. I had to homebrew a name for it instead.
That sent me down the rabbit hole of thinking about what creatures call themselves when their names are frankly a holdover from 1970s monster naming conventions. One perfect example is of course mind flayers being illithid. I am more interested in more obscure lore like how I believe Ed Greenwood (I believe) said that displacer beasts call themselves dirlagraun if they call themselves anything at all.
Are there others like that? I mean, even beholder is a bit hokey in a way, but less so than others of the past. Anyone remember the adherer from the old Fiend Folio? Any creatures whose names irritate you a little?
Just think, by the way, how much greater svirfneblin is better than deep gnome...
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11695 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jan 2021 : 01:13:37
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quote:
Originally posted by Seethyr
I was recently writing something up on the Land of the Insect Men (from FMQ1 City of Gold) and realized how silly it would be for the thri-Kreen who live there to say they live in, well, the land of the insect men. I had to homebrew a name for it instead.
That sent me down the rabbit hole of thinking about what creatures call themselves when their names are frankly a holdover from 1970s monster naming conventions. One perfect example is of course mind flayers being illithid. I am more interested in more obscure lore like how I believe Ed Greenwood (I believe) said that displacer beasts call themselves dirlagraun if they call themselves anything at all.
Are there others like that? I mean, even beholder is a bit hokey in a way, but less so than others of the past. Anyone remember the adherer from the old Fiend Folio? Any creatures whose names irritate you a little?
Just think, by the way, how much greater svirfneblin is better than deep gnome...
Yeah, this is exactly why I gave my "Anchorome Hybsils" the name anikiwah.
One that irritates me is "dragonborn", but I know there IS another name they call themselves... I just can't recall it. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Lord Karsus
Great Reader
USA
3737 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jan 2021 : 21:42:58
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-According to I, Tyrant, Hive Mothers are called "Kawahak Kru" (Spawner Boss). Since so much of Beholder mythology/society is based on them being perfect and spreading their perfect genes, maybe they call themselves the Spawners (Kawahakk?)?
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(A Tri-Partite Arcanist Who Has Forgotten More Than Most Will Ever Know)
Elves of Faerūn
Vol I- The Elves of Faerūn
Vol. III- Spells of the Elves
Vol. VI- Mechanical Compendium |
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Monster Names for Themselves
