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Author Archives: Confanity
Fire Down Below teaser
“Your community sits at the mouth of a cave that stretches impossibly far into the unknown depths of the earth. Since time immemorial, your heroes have been guardians of the surface world against the horrors beneath. “But now an age … Continue reading
Posted in Rules, Setting, World-Building
Tagged fire down below, house rules, mythic underworld, RPG
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Nothing but boss fights
(Pun) 人の振り見て我が振り直せ (Hito no furi mite waga furi naose; “Observe the behavior of others; correct your own”) Definition: An admonition to grow and improve by observing those around you. When you see good behavior, you should copy it; when you … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged Analects, classical Japanese grammar, 直す, 論語, learning, mirror, negative example, positive example, 孔子, 人の振り
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The best defense is a good stylin’
眉に唾を付ける (Mayu ni tsuba wo tsukeru; “to rub spit on your eyebrows”) Definition: To be on one’s guard against lies and trickery. A catchphrase meaning that somebody is likely to try to fool or deceive you in some way. Breakdown: … Continue reading
Hot air rises
意気揚揚i.ki.you.you Literally: mind/heart – spirit – raise – raise Alternately: In high spirits; triumphant, elated… by extension, boastful; proud unto arrogance; full of oneself. Often used with the ironic or critical nuance that someone’s inflated self-esteem is not actually in … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged arrogance, bullies, pride, Records of the Grand Historian, triumph, 史記, 史记, 意気, 揚々, 揚揚
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A journey of 10,000 coughs starts with a single sniffle
風邪は万病のもと (Kaze wa manbyou no moto; “A fever is the root of ten thousand diseases”) Definition: Even if a disease seems to be mild (“just a cold”), don’t just brush it off. Things can get bad if complications arise, so … Continue reading
Exceeding fines
信賞必罰 shin.shou.hitsu.batsu Literally: fidelity – prize/reward – inevitable – punishment Alternately: Sure reward and certain punishment. Strict, unfailing, and proper apportionment of just deserts, both boons and banes. Notes: This phrase comes to us from the Han Feizi (the『韓非子』= Japanese … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Chinese Antiquity, 韓非子, politics, prize, punishment, reward, rulership, 必罰, 信賞
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A fabled foray into interactive fiction
Longtime readers will remember that I’m interested in tabletop role-playing games and have even dabbled in a bit of design and setting-creation, but it was still with some surprise that back in October, I found myself visiting the local university’s … Continue reading
The damage a jade can do
Worse yet when its herd pretends that it’s a noble stallion even though it could hardly be meaner or more broken-down 一匹の馬が狂えば千匹の馬も狂う (Ippiki no uma ga kurueba senbiki no uma mo kuruu; “When one horse goes mad, a thousand horses … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged bad apple, counter words, 狂う, 馬, herd mentality, horse
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landofnudotcom 
In loco?
心神耗弱 shin.shin.kou.jaku Literally: heart – soul – decrease – weak Alternately: Decreased mental capacity. Having lost the ability to judge right and wrong and act accordingly. This is actually a legal and medical term indicating diminished responsibility: that someone cannot … Continue reading →