By the twisted knickers of Iomedae! - Adding local color


Skull & Shackles


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Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

I'm running this AP for my group, most of whom have little or no exposure to Golarion. So I've added a Chelish sailor with a colorful turn of phrase to add in some 'local' references. I'm not really a 'swears like a sailor' person myself so I thought I'd share some of the phrases that have been thrown about and see what other suggetions people have.

  • Hanging from Mammon's golden teats.
  • By the leathery sack of Asmodeus.
  • I'd rather be in Fierna's pleasure gardens.
  • Dryer than Urgathoa's box.
  • By the salty nips of Gozreh!
  • Buried in Besmara's Bosom.

Any other ideas, especially that refer to local governments/cities/deities?


Well you already figured out alliteration. And having your players thinking "did he really just say that?" Or " what?" Is the main goal here. Because that's what makes it memorable.

By the bountiful breasts of Besmara.

Besmara is a finicky and lusty goddess.

It's not hard to find them, but I am a cusses like a sailor. So finding relatively clean ones is a chore.


Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

I don't mind if they're not clean, I'm just not that good at thinking them up ;)

Although I'm not sure what the restrictions are on posting them.


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You've got a bunch based on the local gods, but here are a few other routes to explore:


  • Parts of a ship, and places to stick them
    "Git your prow out o' your poop deck, or we'll never beat this demon of a storm!"

  • Gruesome ways to kill or maim people
    "Get yer ugly mug off my deck, or I'll cover ye in chum and hoist ye up the mainmast by yer barnacles - let the gulls pick yer flesh!"

  • Sometimes even pirates have something nice to say
    When a sailor risks himself for his crew, "If that lad had any more salt in his blood, he'd be jerky!"

And look here for how to talk like a pirate.

Liberty's Edge

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National or ethnic steriotypes are often inspiration for slang; a real-world example would be referring to a bad deal as a "gyp" (from "gypsy"). Based on prejudices someone from Cheliax might have, here are a couple:

"This place stinks like an Ulfen in summer!"

"That sod's lower than a slip [ie, a halfling] and twice as yellow!"

"It's quiet as a Taldan whorehouse in here!"

"I trust that wench like a Varisian's coin [ie, not very much]."

"That guy makes promises like an Andoran consul [ie, he doesn't keep his word]."


Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Thanks! That's exactly the kind of sayings I was looking for, especially more on the national stereotypes to give an idea of the world. Although I'm looking forward to telling someone to pull their prow from their poop deck.

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