View Full Version : Xvarts: mutant smurfs?
dtilque
2014-05-10, 03:51 AM
Well, they're both small blue humanoids, so it was the first thought that went through my mind when I learned about xvarts.
Anyway, what I'm really interested in is who invented them and, especially, where did the name come from? Was it a random coinage, derived from some obscure word, or a word from another language? Or perhaps something else like an acronym or portmanteau?
PS This probably goes in one of the D&D specific subforums, but I wasn't sure which one. Moderator feel free to move it (as if you really needed my permission for that).
The first thing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xvart)that popped up when I Googled it.
dtilque
2014-05-10, 04:34 AM
The first thing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xvart)that popped up when I Googled it.
Well, yes I saw that, but it doesn't tell me where the name came from.
The xvart, created by Cricky Hitchcock, first appeared as the "svart" in White Dwarf #9 (October 1978).
Wouldn't be too suprised if it's short for "svartalfar" or black elf, a kind of dwarf that also inspired drow and duergar.
Ravens_cry
2014-05-10, 09:00 AM
Which in turn is probably related to the term swarthy, at least, etymologically speaking.
Some literal mutant Smurfs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Smurfs) with, in the original story, black skin are part of a story that has startling resemblance to your typical modern zombie story, even though it's much older than Night of the Living Dead.
Yes, svart is the germanic root for black. English as always an exception.
Ravens_cry
2014-05-10, 10:24 AM
Yes, svart is the germanic root for black. English as always an exception.
English is a bastard, in both senses of the word. :smalltongue:
Kid Jake
2014-05-10, 07:25 PM
Next time I run D&D I think I'm gonna have a Xvart village lead by the venerable Papa Xvart who's constantly trying to capture and eat a local wizard and his familiar.
dtilque
2014-05-10, 08:06 PM
Wouldn't be too suprised if it's short for "svartalfar" or black elf, a kind of dwarf that also inspired drow and duergar.
This looks about right.
Thanks for the help, everyone.
Next time I run D&D I think I'm gonna have a Xvart village lead by the venerable Papa Xvart who's constantly trying to capture and eat a local wizard and his familiar.
That's just xvartastic. Don't forget Xvartette.
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