Slave Brands / Tattoos - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Slave Brands / Tattoos

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Jan 07, 2006 23:33:36 I really loved the thread that we had on "Athasian Heraldry," and I was wondering if folks might like to share ideas about the ways in which slaves are marked as property.

Specifically, what would a slave tattoo or slave brand look like?

Where would such a mark be placed?

Exactly who gets to apply the mark? Do all slaves in the same city-state bear a mark indicating that they are slaves in that city-state? Or do slaves only bear the mark of their owners (noble houses or trading houses)? Or would slaves have multiple marks indicating location and ownership?

I am curious to hear about what other people think.

itf
#2
zombiegleemax
Jan 08, 2006 0:06:04 i'm guessin' they would have to do it OLD SCHOOL tribal...perhaps witha bone needle...that'd be pretty bad ass. Another thing which would probably be common is branding. "that L on his asscheek means he's mine". Tattooing might be a little time consuming so i would have to guess branding would be the most common practice...just look at cows as an example.

I would have to guess it would be with that of noble orientation depending on which slaves. If i am not mistaken, there are merchant houses which have slaves, and it would be sort of redundant to have a brand for every city state. The only exception might be that of Glug...but even then, they might not use branding or tattooing for it might 'disrupt the natural beauty' or 'natural state' or whatever you would like to throw in. Since everything is owned by the Oba, and everyone gets a monitered share, i could see slaves being practically extinct. Look at the soviet's version of communism...very few get to taste the luxury of living large while everyone else, no matter occupation, gets to taste poverty. The Jugada (i believe that is what they are called) and the Templars along with the Oba herself might rake in all of the goodies and give the rest scraps...but that's just a theory.

Tyr...well obviously a lot of people are branded, so having a mark would be little more then goin' "oh, you grew up in the same neighborhood as me" or it could be something as a symbol of pride, that you no longer have to fear tyranny or the crack of your masters whip, and you are able to appreciate Tyr's new condition with an appreciation no one else can match.

In other city states, i would assume that if you're a criminal, your going to become a slave...that or die, so i'm sure they would do somethign that would be extremely easily noticed...perhaps back of the hand, or face/neck. This would make it exceedingly difficult to escape without intervention of Templars...that or even somebody serving the noble. Just an idea though

I could see something as a certificate of release being given to that of an ex-slave (if the case happens that they are released legally). They could be something similar to say "oh i'm not a slave" sig - noble It'd be very hard to forge on the amount of slaves which know how to read on average (not excluding the artists however). This could lead to if you have an ear thrown off by a sword by a crazy, you could get a document declaring that you are not a slave, u wouldn't be able to read it, but you'd know it's your ticket to not being in somebody's slave pens

Just some ideas however

Edit: I am not an expert on DS material however, I still have much to learn about the setting...as i have not read any of the novels and the material has just come into my possession...
#3
squidfur-
Jan 08, 2006 0:38:10 seems like I'm remembering, from City-State of Gulg, that the slaves there are given full body tattoos to mark them as such. IIRC these full body tattoos are always dark blue.
#4
zombiegleemax
Jan 08, 2006 0:47:05 good thing people on the boards know these things, i'd be left in the dark without them

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Jan 07, 2006 23:33:36	I really loved the thread that we had on "Athasian Heraldry," and I was wondering if folks might like to share ideas about the ways in which slaves are marked as property. Specifically, what would a slave tattoo or slave brand look like? Where would such a mark be placed? Exactly who gets to apply the mark? Do all slaves in the same city-state bear a mark indicating that they are slaves in that city-state? Or do slaves only bear the mark of their owners (noble houses or trading houses)? Or would slaves have multiple marks indicating location and ownership? I am curious to hear about what other people think. itf
#2 zombiegleemax Jan 08, 2006 0:06:04	i'm guessin' they would have to do it OLD SCHOOL tribal...perhaps witha bone needle...that'd be pretty bad ass. Another thing which would probably be common is branding. "that L on his asscheek means he's mine". Tattooing might be a little time consuming so i would have to guess branding would be the most common practice...just look at cows as an example. I would have to guess it would be with that of noble orientation depending on which slaves. If i am not mistaken, there are merchant houses which have slaves, and it would be sort of redundant to have a brand for every city state. The only exception might be that of Glug...but even then, they might not use branding or tattooing for it might 'disrupt the natural beauty' or 'natural state' or whatever you would like to throw in. Since everything is owned by the Oba, and everyone gets a monitered share, i could see slaves being practically extinct. Look at the soviet's version of communism...very few get to taste the luxury of living large while everyone else, no matter occupation, gets to taste poverty. The Jugada (i believe that is what they are called) and the Templars along with the Oba herself might rake in all of the goodies and give the rest scraps...but that's just a theory. Tyr...well obviously a lot of people are branded, so having a mark would be little more then goin' "oh, you grew up in the same neighborhood as me" or it could be something as a symbol of pride, that you no longer have to fear tyranny or the crack of your masters whip, and you are able to appreciate Tyr's new condition with an appreciation no one else can match. In other city states, i would assume that if you're a criminal, your going to become a slave...that or die, so i'm sure they would do somethign that would be extremely easily noticed...perhaps back of the hand, or face/neck. This would make it exceedingly difficult to escape without intervention of Templars...that or even somebody serving the noble. Just an idea though I could see something as a certificate of release being given to that of an ex-slave (if the case happens that they are released legally). They could be something similar to say "oh i'm not a slave" sig - noble It'd be very hard to forge on the amount of slaves which know how to read on average (not excluding the artists however). This could lead to if you have an ear thrown off by a sword by a crazy, you could get a document declaring that you are not a slave, u wouldn't be able to read it, but you'd know it's your ticket to not being in somebody's slave pens Just some ideas however Edit: I am not an expert on DS material however, I still have much to learn about the setting...as i have not read any of the novels and the material has just come into my possession...
#3 squidfur- Jan 08, 2006 0:38:10	seems like I'm remembering, from City-State of Gulg, that the slaves there are given full body tattoos to mark them as such. IIRC these full body tattoos are always dark blue.
#4 zombiegleemax Jan 08, 2006 0:47:05	good thing people on the boards know these things, i'd be left in the dark without them