#lumog

25 Days of TES cheer: Feast

Lumog, presenting a delicious New Life feast. I can't do perspective to save my life 😭

2.  Is there a meaning behind their name, or a particular reason why they have it? (either in the story, or why you as the author decided to give them their name)

I'm afraid Lumog was a creation of the fantasy names generator (blessed be that site) as I didn't yet know any real life language sounding like TES' orsimer names…

However, in universe there is a reason: Poor Lumog is actually Lumog junior. I'm afraid Lumog's dad didn't inherit his father's biting wit and creativity. It's a good name, so why not reuse it? 

Lumog's fellow "Merry Maces" loved to tease him about it.

6.  Do they have any tattoos? What are they, and why did they get them?

Lumog has exactly one tattoo. 

After hearing about it from Abzag the Monster, the Maces set out to help Keeper Cirion bind the spirit of High Kinlord Rilis in the Banished cells. Surely those uppity altmer can pay well…

Anyway, Lumog, although very strong and generally fearless, distrusts magic and doesn't like dealing with anything daedra, so entering a high security prison full of conjurers and daedra wasn't something he was thrilled or optimistic about. He was fool enough to proclaim that, if they made it through, he'd allow Buzag, the most artistic of his fellow maces, to tattoo him. 

Needless to say, they made it through and Lumog had to own up to what he said. Buzag was usually a pretty good artist and she already had some experience with tattoos, having tattooed her own body for every successful contract, however, Lumog squirmed so much that the lines turned out all wobbly. 

As the traveller approaches, they can see an orc sitting by the campfire. He is sharpening a massive axe whose edges gleam in the warm light like thin crescents of molten steel. When he notices the traveller, he pats an empty spot beside him, beckoning them to come sit with him.

"C'mon, no need to be shy," he calls out. "There's still some sausage left, and a bedroll, too. Got some mud caked on the outside but, y'know, still better than the ground."

Nervousness bubbling in their stomach, the traveller sits down next to the orc. In the warm firelight, his skin seems olive green, though the tone must be cooler by day. His hair, shaved off save for a slim strip, is tied back into a loose, messy ponytail, whereas his beard is artfully woven into a single braid that reaches just above his chest. His arms are as thick as the branches of an oak, and his belly as big as its trunk. 

"Name's Lumog," the orc says, lets go of the whetstone and reaches out to the traveller. The traveller, however, doesn't realise. Their eyes are transfixed on the axe in the orc's -Lumog's- lap.

"Ah, 's an heirloom, that axe," Lumog explains, full of pride. "Pretty thing. Trusty thing. Served me well when I was still with the Merry Maces, though I s'pose the boys must've been blind - 'cause it's an axe, get it?" He laughs and also regards the double-edged battleaxe. An orcish masterwork in every regard, though marred with scratches. A pair of headbutting echateres adorns its silver cheeks.

"Lashga's her name, after my grandma, y'know, the bandit queen Lashga gra-Kagol. Long story, that one: She was good with the forge - but better still with the axe. When the time came to marry, she was s'posed to become some chief's forgewife. But my gran was a proud, independent woman - didn't want no chief, didn't want no forge to tend to. Not all the time, at least. 

So, after nightfall, under skies as black as tar, she made off with her axe -her dowry; self-made to show how good of a smith she was-, some coin and some elk jerky. Many years she spent travelling, bashing in heads along the way. Became infamous. Founded a bandit clan and terrorised the mountain passes between Wrothgar and Skyrim. Two things people knew 'bout her: She was a fearsome leader and she was filthy rich. Bandit Queen, indeed! 

When she decided she wanted a husband, she posed a challenge:

The man who'd best her in battle would get her hand in marriage.

Many challengers came and many challengers died. For years, none could beat her - and she even let 'em choose their own weapons. She did. And they all still died," he laughs gruffly and shakes his head. 

"Bloody fools they were. Then, one day, Makub, my future grandpa, arrived to challenge her. Scrawny lad, half her height and width - well, not quite - but a wimp, that one - not someone who could beat the terrifying Lashga gra-Kagol. When she saw him, she laughed and demanded that he choose his weapon and face death. 

And then - you wouldn't believe it -, then, from out of his backpack, he produced a game of 'Dragon's Duel'.

Ha! That sly fox challenged her to a battle of wits. He did! He really did!

Ayy, thanks for asking!!!

1.What OC has the biggest family? How do they get along?

The OC with the biggest family is Rethul. The Balasi family is an offshoot of house Hlaalu that, long before Hlaalu was stripped of its status, established itself in Cyrodiil. Rethul is the second oldest of four (!) siblings and has a large number of cousins, second cousins, cousins-in-law, etc. The exact number eludes him because they're scattered throughout Cyrodiil and Morrowind. He has a favourite aunt though and regularly visited her and her children whenever Rethul and his close family stayed at their summer residence near Anvil.

The relationship between Rethul and his parents is tense and, by the time of Skyrim, nonexistent. He was put under a lot of pressure to honour the family name and trade. After he got into gambling and started with his material fraud(s), Rethul became the black sheep of the family. When he was caught and jailed, his parents paid the bail but cut him off the family. Whether he was ever officially disowned is unclear; he fled to Skyrim before finding out.

Rethul loved his siblings and was a caring older brother to his younger brothers and a slightly annoying but well-meaning younger brother to his older sister, with whom he was closest. 

After Rethul was bailed out, she was the only one who refused cutting off contact with him and actively helped her brother, who feared the noblewoman he screwed over might want him assassinated, flee to Skyrim. 

Rethul misses his family but is too scared to contact them - "they won't answer," he tells himself. 

He also dreams of having his own family someday, but knows that, given the circumstances, that's unlikely.

12. Which two OCs are the most different from each other?

Ulandaril and Kanshah.

The former is an Ayleid vampire and former high priest of Molag Bal responsible for countless atrocities while the latter is the purest cinnamon roll to ever roll - Kanshah is the kind of person who wouldn't even kill a mosquito. The only thing they have in common is they're both not very brave.

16. Which OCs don’t know each other, but would get along great if they did?

Valcarion and Tulondil really should meet. Tulondil is a very calm, down to earth guy and a breath of fresh air among Summerset’s nobility. They also share a love for music and dancing, although Valcarion doesn't play any instruments and Tulondil isn't a good dancer. They could teach each other a thing or two.

However, he's a great practical learner and easily picks up on the steps or the tools needed to achieve a specific result. Lumog struggles with abstract concepts; it's hard for him to get invested when there's no obvious practical application and therefore he's got trouble memorising such things.

Say hello to Lumog