Let's roll some dice, watch some movies, or generally just geek out. New posts at 6:30 pm ET but only if I have something to say. Menu at the top. gsllc@chirp.enworld.org on Mastodon and @gsllc on Twitter.
Once again, the hubbub over the OGL inspires a particular video for Mythology Monday, care of our pals at Mythology & Fiction Explained. Today, it’s the Greek, Hermes, who was the patron of everything that the rest of the pantheon doesn’t already cover. So, he covers both commerce and thievery. Perhaps he should be the patron god of Wizards of the Coast. He also delivers messages regardless of the quality of its content.
Even Hermes occasionally needs to take a breather.
Judge, attorney. Same thing. In light of all the hubbub over the OGL, for Mythology Monday, let’s dive into Greek titan/goddess of justice, the personification of law, care of our pals at Mythology & Fiction Explained.
I know Christmas is over, but I have the day off because Christmas was on a Sunday, so today still counts. Sort of. So, for Mythology Monday, let’s dive into the legend of Krampus care of our pals at Mythology & Fiction Explained.
Today, I fly to Las Vegas for my annual blackjack trip, only this time there will be some major disruptions. I usually go on Columbus Day week, and last year I went in September. This week it was delayed to the Christmas build up week because I had some friends going there. I figured it was about time I do something other than blackjack when I’m there. For example, I’ve always said I was going to see Penn & Teller‘s show at the Rio but never did. Well, I already have tickets for the Friday night show, so that’s finally going to happen (sans Teller, who’s recovering from health issues).
Nevertheless, I’ll still be playing some blackjack. I’m getting there a day before they are so that I’ll have at least one day to game. Overall, I’ll make sure I have two full days to gamble, so it can’t hurt to ask for help from the gods. The luck gods? No, I don’t need them. Blackjack is more a game of skill. I’ve practiced at a local casino over the course of three Sundays and Thanksgiving Day since October 9th. I’ve brought in just over $4,000 in winnings, having started with $800 or less each of those days. (I don’t mind mentioning this because I will be reporting these winnings to the IRS.) At this point, I’ve sharpened my system to so fine a point that it’s like taking candy from babies, only I have no moral qualms with taking this candy from casinos.
That $4,000 pays for my airfare, Penn & Teller, and the resort fee as well as bankrolls my play. As for food, that’s covered through my gambling comps. I’ll be eating at steakhouses all week and won’t have to pay for anything but the tips.
So, with that in mind, here’s a video of Ebisu, the god of luck through hard work . . . sort of. He’s really just a luck god and master fisherman from Japanese mythology, but in Deities & Demigods for 1st Edition Dungeons & Dragons, he was characterized as the god of “luck through hard work.” Considering how rough a childhood Ebisu had, and considering that I’m an RPG nerd, I’m going with that.
But I don’t like fish, so here’s another one. This is a video about Daikokuten, the Japanese god of wealth.
Lugh, the Irish god of skill and law (among other things).
Hey, a divine lawyer? How can I not get behind that?
As for the rest of this week, I’ll be busy, so my posts will be filled with limited content.
Dungeons & Dragons is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast, LLC, who neither contributed to, nor endorsed, the contents of this post. (Okay, jackasses?)
Yesterday, I posted druid-related memes, so you’d think the next day would be a great day to post a video on druidic folklore. The problems is I’ve already done that. Instead, I’m posting a video on Gwyn ap Nudd (sometimes Gwynn ap Nudd), the Welsh figure associated with the traditional “Wild Hunt” (among other things).
There are several figures from mythology and folklore associated with this tradition, but Gwyn ap Nuddm and his supernatural hounds, the Cŵn Annwn, seem to be the one that provided the closest inspiration for the Celtic “Master of the Hunt” from the 1st Edition Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook, Deities & Demigods. This is why I chose him.
A while back, I shared a video on North American cryptids by Mythology & Fiction Explained. With the recent crash of the cryptocurrency exchange, FTX, I thought I’d revisit cryptids. I think they offer a compromise between those concerned about a lack of regulation on crypto currency and those that want to stick it to Uncle Sam.
Behold! Cryptid Currency!
Okay, obviously this isn’t my idea, but I support it.
As the holiday season continues, I give you yet another god that embodies the season’s spirit. Depending on who you ask, Baldr represented a lot of different things. The only commonality among these interpretations is that he was clearly the most beloved god. Everyone liked him.
Here’s a video on his tragic end.
Don’t feel sad, though. Baldr “returned” when Christianity spread through Scandanavia.
I hope Baldr’s joy reaches you during this holiday season.
Play What You Want 