Steve Jackson Games Forums - Real-Life Weirdness

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- - Real-Life Weirdness (https://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=38975)

Re: Real-Life Weirdness

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason taylor (Post 1909414)

Our ancestors were the one's who survived to be our ancestors. In a world that often looked like it was built specifically for the prevention of such.

So? What on earth does that have to do with an ancient folk remedy helping against a modern antibiotic resistant infection?
Ancient medicine wast still wrong FAR more often than right.
Being diabetic, I do love hearing about possible treatments for things I'm at higher risk for getting than the general public.

Re: Real-Life Weirdness

Quote:

Originally Posted by somecallmetim (Post 1882077)

Saddam Hussein, as you may know, had a Quran printed in his own blood. He also had his name inscribed in the bricks used for the reconstruction of Nebuchadnezzar's city of Babylon. In real life, it is pretty obviously narcissism and megalomania. In an RPG setting though, it seems like a desperate magical gambit. Maybe trying to use nationalistic magic or cause a reality quake that unearths Haroun al-Rashad's Baghdad (whether it ill be full of History-B irruptors or not, who can say.) It actually seems like the sort of thing a lunatic leader of a rogue state might do as part of an Esoterror plot.

Any sanctity it might have once had should I think make it even more unclean by the circumstances. It is like the time when the Mossad team that kidnapped Eichmann was shocked to hear him quote, "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one."

However I should think it is a Muslim's job to decide what should be done with it.

Re: Real-Life Weirdness

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anders (Post 1883223)

9th century woman found buried with a ring that says "for Allah" on it.

Were there muslims living in Sweden in the 9th century? Obviously not many, but still...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anders (Post 1883369)

The thing is, the ring showed little or no sign of wear and tear so it's probable that it hadn't passed through many hands before the woman got it. That's why they think it was bought from the craftsman, not taken in a raid.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason taylor (Post 1909416)

Perhaps a thrall or two. Or a trader that couldn't get back or preferred to marry locally. Sweden was after all at the North end of the river routes and both were cultures that roved about a lot in those days.

The vikings traveled at least as far as the Mediterranean as traders, which easily brings them in contact with people who trade with Muslims, and possibly directly in contact with Muslims.

Just because someone is wearing an item with religious messaging on it, doesn't mean that person shares that faith, or can even read it. Consider the number of people who get tattoos of Chinese characters [1] without being able to read Chinese, or wear jewelery with same. Presuming whoever traded for it even recognized it as writing, rather than abstract decoration, they may have had a confused understanding of the meaning, or not even cared. Writing can be pretty just for being writing, and stuff from far away tends to have more value simply for being far away.

[1] Or even Alleged Chinese Characters that turn out to be entirely nonsense.

Re: Real-Life Weirdness

People may value objects for who gave them rather than what they are.
I have a cherished crucifix given by a relative.
My uncle has a pendant of a mundane quarter as it was the last thing my father gave him before dying. He's worn it every single day since '88.

Re: Real-Life Weirdness

In Venezuela the Catatumbo river basin is peculiarly attractive to lightning. What lies imprisoned, trying to break out?

http://io9.com/5871791/one-place-in-...ikes-per-night

Re: Real-Life Weirdness

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Johnston2 (Post 1912041)

In Venezuela the Catatumbo river basin is peculiarly attractive to lightning. What lies imprisoned, trying to break out?

http://io9.com/5871791/one-place-in-...ikes-per-night

I picture a munckin player getting a huge discount on Energy Pool: only recharges in lightning storms.
So that's where the real lightning thief lives.

Re: Real-Life Weirdness

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Johnston2 (Post 1912041)

In Venezuela the Catatumbo river basin is peculiarly attractive to lightning. What lies imprisoned, trying to break out?

http://io9.com/5871791/one-place-in-...ikes-per-night

In the In Nomine world, this sounds like an ancient Tether of Jean's.

Re: Real-Life Weirdness

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh (Post 1912192)

So your adventurers decided to buy a tank . . .

Maybe you guys should buy a bunch of these. Wouldn't that be ironic, in eastern Ukraine?

Re: Real-Life Weirdness

Quote:

Originally Posted by tshiggins (Post 1912356)

Maybe you guys should buy a bunch of these. Wouldn't that be ironic, in eastern Ukraine?

"Bought ze drirving carr, bought ze drriving license, not bought ze drriving skill!"
(On a more serious note, more modern stuff is probably higher priority. E.g. people seem real happy getting brand new NVG, UAVs, and are really trigger-happy to get better antitank weaponry. I have no idea what the current situation with tanks is.)