Greetings!

Here in this video of Tiana Frolkina performing a Tribal Fusion style belly-dance, the music she is dancing to is a song called "Three Sisters". This apparently is an old Russian folk song. The song's subject "Three Sisters" is also as I recall a reference to the mythological elements of Russian Pagan religions embracing the worship of three major goddesses. Or something like that. Tiana Frolkina puts on a mesmerizing performance here for sure. The song and the music, as well, are outstanding. Also, it again, is all sung in Russian. I apologize for not being able to provide an English translation.



Listening to the music, however, as I was going over some notes for my campaign concerning different Pagan religions and mystical customs, it got me to thinking about spellcasting, not merely for Bards, but also for other kinds of spellcasters, whether such are priestesses, witches, or wizards.

You will notice that the woman singing the song "Three Sisters" frequently makes these kinds of "YIPPING* noises throughout the song.

It also made me wonder, who teaches women singers to *YIPP* like this? Women making these kinds of *YIPPING* noises seems to be pretty common--especially so in Medievalesque, Folk-kinds of tribal music. It seems less popular in more modern styles of singing, for example.

I also wonder if these women *YIPPING* noises actually have some kind of meaning in the Russian language?

Then, of course, I thought about what if in the game, different kinds of mystical spellcasters--say Priestesses, Witches, and Bards--had *YIPPING* as part of their rituals involved in casting spells? Definitely seems like a kind of difference between different spellcasting and magical traditions, which can be expressed in the game.

In my Thandor campaign, magical characters from different magical or mystical traditions have different kinds of rituals and components involved in their spellcasting. For example, Vallorean Witches would speak Vallorean, and use Vallorean rituals and specific components to cast a Choking Fist spell, or Fireball, or whatever. Meanwhile, a Nambar Witch would speak Nambar, and use specific Nambar rituals and components, to cast the same spell. Or perhaps the spell would be somewhat different in effect, like range or duration, or whatever. In a similar manner, Rusava Witches would speak Rusava language, and use specific Rusava rituals and components.

It is more work for me as the DM, but it creates realistic and historically-based differences in different cultural mystical traditions. The players definitely love this kind of detail as well.

I appreciate your thoughts, my friends!

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

QuoteIt also made me wonder, who teaches women singers to *YIPP* like this?

Consulting the player's handbook, it's a YIPPer of greater level than the learner, and it takes one week of training per level of Yippist to be gained, and costs 3 gold pieces per week of YIPP training.

Ed Greenwood was talking about his Spell Singers today in a short video.

Greetings!

Interesting video, LordBP! Ed Greenwood is very talented and interesting designer and writer. Not surprising, considering he created Forgotten Realms and so much more. He's been involved with D&D forever. I think it is interesting too, when he discusses different kinds of spellcasting and spell-singers, for example.

I have also been inspired in my own work and study of real-world history and mythology. In our own real world, there are so many different cultures, and different magical and mystical traditions. Each has many different details and aspects, often in common with others, of course, but also different. Within the game campaign, I love drilling down into different mystical and cultural details, and creating something that is new or different from the norm. That can be very exciting, and fun! However, mechanically, I think, a good DM should also be prepared to put the breaks on some of it, because everything can become way too detailed and convoluted, that it then becomes more of a  frustration to deal with. So, there is definitely I think an important stylistic and mechanical balance to be striven for there. In my Thandor world, or example, I have many very well-developed cultures spread out over different continents. The scope or different details involved with the different mystical and magical systems screams out--and there are even some excellent detailed aspects that I could use to further flesh out those distinctions--there could easily be  half a dozen different magic systems! In practice, though, I try to provide some brief lip-service to lots of distinct traditions, but maintain fairly mechanically straight-forwards system application, so it doesn't  get too convoluted in detail and become frustrating.

I think it is beneficial and cool though to at least create some shorthand details and discussion, with some occasional light rule-adjustments or tweaks, to provide a framework for different mystical systems, without needing to create a whole huge thing from scratch. Having such a basic framework, at least provides some measure of depth to emulate such wild and different mystical traditions from all over the world. I think having such mystical frameworks enhances and improves any campaign.

Maybe women making *YIPPING* noises in music or in mystical practices has some kind of meaning. *Laughing* Just an interesting detail I have noticed over and over in many tribal songs, and some elements of mystical rituals as well. That reminds me also of how you can hear similar *yipping* noises from Maria Franz of Heilung, when she sings and they perform ancient Germanic mystical rituals. Pretty interesting stuff!

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

Greetings!

Here is Sylvia Yssei, a Tribal Fusion dancer, doing her thing with fire-dancing to some kind of Spanish song. I think. Whatever she is dancing to--damn. Is she performing some kind of magic spell? *Laughing*

Added Note: After a bit of research, I think the band is called Tanxugueiras that is performing the song "Figa". The video seems to be set in Mexico, where a huge crowd of rural farmers gather together and have three Mexican women burned as Witches. Of course, in the band's official music video for "Figa"--the three Witches are the three women singers of the band. Very cool song.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

Here's an American version of dance from the last century with the singer making strange yipping noises similar to the ones my wife makes.
I think this is another native ritual spell and the fair haired guy in the video has fallen under its power.

Quote from: SHARK on March 11, 2023, 09:07:41 PM

You will notice that the woman singing the song "Three Sisters" frequently makes these kinds of "YIPPING* noises throughout the song.

I hear "HEY!" rather than "Yip" but ymmv.

OTOH, maybe we now know what a "Dhole Chant" is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXHGlhrfLbQ

Quote from: SHARK on March 11, 2023, 09:07:41 PM
You will notice that the woman singing the song "Three Sisters" frequently makes these kinds of "YIPPING* noises throughout the song.

It also made me wonder, who teaches women singers to *YIPP* like this? Women making these kinds of *YIPPING* noises seems to be pretty common--especially so in Medievalesque, Folk-kinds of tribal music. It seems less popular in more modern styles of singing, for example.

It's probably the same thing that makes Rob Zombie incapable of writing a song without saying "Yeah" every few seconds.

But seriously, I think it might just be an emulation of a musical instrument. The part in the song where the "yips" were layered under the vocals reminded me of brass-hits or violin twangs (like in Venus In Furs by Velvet Underground).

@SHARK:
"YIPPING" doesn't mean anything in the language, and neither does it emulate an instrument. it's, basically, just like squweaking and houling by Michael Jackson - a sort of "vocal percussion".

here's a google translated text, in case you are interested: https://lyricstranslate.com/ru/three-sisters-three-sisters.html
it's kinda non-sensical

insidentally, are you looking to mine eastern europe slavic folklore for game material? Witcher games, apart from being excellent as games, are also an excellent source to pulfer from, imo - and it's all already translated for you.

Is the Triple Goddess the same Maiden/Mother/Crone as in Celtic and other Indo-Euro-Aryan religions?

Quote from: Venka on March 11, 2023, 09:28:41 PM

QuoteIt also made me wonder, who teaches women singers to *YIPP* like this?

Consulting the player's handbook, it's a YIPPer of greater level than the learner, and it takes one week of training per level of Yippist to be gained, and costs 3 gold pieces per week of YIPP training.

Greetings!

*Laughing* That's outstanding, Venka! So fitting within the Player's Handbook! I love it. I'll have to incorporate that ruling into the mystical traditions of the campaign.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

Quote from: S'mon on March 13, 2023, 02:21:00 PM
Is the Triple Goddess the same Maiden/Mother/Crone as in Celtic and other Indo-Euro-Aryan religions?

if you are asking me - i don't know. religion is not my forte. or history for that matter.
i would say, though, given how much of this stuff seem to have travelled around, i wouldn't be surprised if there was a connection.

Quote from: Klava on March 13, 2023, 01:25:14 PM
@SHARK:
"YIPPING" doesn't mean anything in the language, and neither does it emulate an instrument. it's, basically, just like squweaking and houling by Michael Jackson - a sort of "vocal percussion".

here's a google translated text, in case you are interested: https://lyricstranslate.com/ru/three-sisters-three-sisters.html
it's kinda non-sensical

insidentally, are you looking to mine eastern europe slavic folklore for game material? Witcher games, apart from being excellent as games, are also an excellent source to pulfer from, imo - and it's all already translated for you.

Greetings!

Klava! I see. *Yipping* is used as "Vocal Percussion". Very nice, Klava. Since I have gradually become more educated on singing, dancing, and musical details, I remember now how important "Vocal Percussion" can be as a technique. That all makes sense now, Kava. I know it seems like a minor thing, but, strangely, as I have learned more, I have gotten to a point where I notice these kinds of details, and think about them. If that makes any sense. *Laughing*

Even with the dancing--I watched some kind of tutorial dance instruction video, by Sylvia Yssei. OMG, right? Super technical, move your finger here, shift your hip there, then move your legs in a circle here, and on and on. It blew me away. She of course, damn. She does it like she is breathing. Incredible amounts of training, skill, discipline, and focus goes into that dancing stuff. Definitely mind blowing.

As to developing my game campaign--*Laughing* Oh yeah, my friend. I have been doing a campaign with an Eastern European Slavic theme for awhile now. It has been an outgrowth of some of my unorthodox studies while at the university. I got a lot into Dark Ages study, from Ancient studies, and I was always interested in regions and topics that are typically, sidelined in Western Education. Eastern Europe and Slavic history isn't ignored, but it is almost like an afterthought for many Western scholars. Certainly off the radars of most professors here in America.

So, yeah, getting into Eastern European History and Slavic culture has been a real thrill and a great experience for myself, as a Historian. But also as a gamer and GM. I'm naturally interested in authenticity and realism, so getting immersed in the languages, the culture, the music, all of it, is very important to me, an also useful. And, of course, fun and entertaining, too! I've become so inspired by my studies into Slavic culture and Eastern European history that I have been working on a game book that focuses on an Eastern European theme and highlights Slavic culture, mythology, religion, and history.

I even bought a translated copy of the Russian "Primary Chronicle". I have a personal library collection of probably over 50 scholarly books on Eastern European and Slavic history, culture, and mythology. Tales, lore, and history about the Kievan Rus, the Russians, Poles, Hungarians, Serbs, Bulgarians, the Tatars, all awesome and very interesting! I also got into learning about the Baltic Peoples--the Latvians, Estonians, and Lithuanians. And the Finns! That of course, also opened doors for learning about the whole connections going on with Siberian tribes, Asian peoples, and all of the awesome things going on up there in the Ural Mountains region, and the Siberian forest regions. Just wow, you know? The cultures, the tribes, the languages, all mind blowing and very interesting. It has also been fascinating to learn about the different cultural clothing styles of the different Russian and Slavic tribes and peoples. Some of these traditions go back hundreds and hundreds of years. And, far from being muddy, dirty, depressing, and drab--most of them are absolutely white, clean, and embracing such brilliant colours, and fine embroidery and craftsmanship. These tribal or traditional clothing--different styles for men and women--oh yeah. They were or are, you know, considered very important. Status markers, but also functional, beautiful, and celebratory. So many occasions, and also different seasonal clothing. And well, how can you not LOVE the Ushanka?

Such studies have also introduced me to different Slavic mystical and magical traditions and customs. It is also very interesting to see how popular more traditional-based Folk music, and styles of dancing like belly dancing, tribal Fusion, and more have become so popular throughout Eastern Europe. From what I have seen and read, medieval or tribal music and belly-dancing and other forms of traditional dancing and musical styles are HUGE in Eastern Europe. Very interesting! I love it all!

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

My goodness, SHARK. Those dances certainly are......mesmerizing.

I want to play in your campaign. LOL

I immediately thought of the David Eddings books The Belgariad. Can't remember which book but there is a Nadrak woman, whom Beldin marries, who does a dance. The Nadrak's always reminded me of Russianesque culture. Fourth book maybe.....hmmmm. Now I need to track it down.

Quote from: Thorn Drumheller on March 13, 2023, 03:41:59 PM
My goodness, SHARK. Those dances certainly are......mesmerizing.

I want to play in your campaign. LOL

I immediately thought of the David Eddings books The Belgariad. Can't remember which book but there is a Nadrak woman, whom Beldin marries, who does a dance. The Nadrak's always reminded me of Russianesque culture. Fourth book maybe.....hmmmm. Now I need to track it down.

Greetings!

*Laughing* Yeah, Thorn! Mesmerizing, indeed!

Here is an avatar of a Slavic Fertility Goddess, come to earth to bless us all with her beauty and wondrous talents. Kira Lebeveda is a word-famous Tribal Fusion dancer. She has been doing this stuff for I thin, 12 years now. Interesting also to note, her "Mama Boss"--her mother--hand-crafts all of Kira's costumes, including the amazing headdresses or tiaras that she often wears in performances. As I recall from my studies, the particular headdress that Kira is wearing in this performance is a callback to an ancient Ukrainian/Russian style of headdress for young women. Amazing stuff. Nobles of course had jewel-studded headdresses, but even the peasant women had very beautiful headdresses, finely embroidered, made of rich colours, all just stunning to look at. 

Watch Kira Lebedeva *lay it down*



Semper Fidelis,

SHARK