Human! I mean sentient, I mean... mortal?

Aepas

So, the one problem I randomly come across is the word that we commonly know as "human."

for instance, "It's only human nature." or, "I am only human."

Things like this cause a bit of a problem when humans are only a small sect of the playable races.
Sentient is also a problem because Aepas still thinks the forest is sentient but Mhaldorians do not.
Mortal is problematic because almost everything is technically mortal.

What is the word you use in these situations?

Iocun

Most of the time "mortal" fits, as the term "human" in such sentences often serves to describe a certain fallibility which would distinguish them from gods. I guess technically gods aren't "immortal" either, as they can die, but from the perspective of an Achaean adventurer, they still qualify as beyond the normal mechanics of life and death.

Mortal is also a simple, short word which I find generally sounds more natural than using a construct like "sentient being" in a light phrase as "It's only ... nature".

Vayne

I use mortal too in place of the more broad cosmological usage of the word. Though human nature is probably fine in the metagame, even though the races all have very different natures despite their relative similarities in most other ways.

Blujixapug

I love this type of analysis of common real-world cliches and idioms, and considering whether their phrasing has a place in Achaea, and what the Achaean etymology might be. A phrase like "jump the gun" doesn't belong because, hey, no guns in Achaea. Terms like "spartan", "sapphic", or "pyrrhic victory" don't strictly belong either, as the historical analogies upon which they're based didn't occur in Achaea's world. But then what word or phrase would you use instead? I think if you can substitute a metaphor taken specifically from Achaea, it can sound really cool, very worldbuildy, as long as you can get the phrasing to sound plausibly natural. Or you might decide that's all too pedantic and use 'spartan' anyway.

Aepas

Iocun said:

Most of the time "mortal" fits, as the term "human" in such sentences often serves to describe a certain fallibility which would distinguish them from gods. I guess technically gods aren't "immortal" either, as they can die, but from the perspective of an Achaean adventurer, they still qualify as beyond the normal mechanics of life and death.

Mortal is also a simple, short word which I find generally sounds more natural than using a construct like "sentient being" in a light phrase as "It's only ... nature".

The problem I have with "Mortal" is actually its meaning in general, being subject to death.

However, as I check the defenitions via dictionary.com, it seems that mortal also has the direct relation to "human".
(of a living human being, often in contrast to a divine being) subject to death. (dictionary.com)

Sooo, I'm right intentionally, wrong wrong in usage.  Problem I have is that I still see mortal as simply "subject to death" and less "human"
Perhaps I will start using this though.

I also agree greatly with Blujix, Idioms are something that are very strange in acheaa, and using proper ones that are Ic make a huge difference.

Trevize

Mortal works best in my opinion - not for the meaning, but the implication of 'as opposed to [an] immortal.'

Iocun

"Mortal" is a common word in classical mythology as an antithesis to the gods, even when "being subject to death" isn't particularly relevant to the context it is being used in. "Being subject to death" is, in this sense, simply a "pars pro toto": a symbol for the general imperfection of humans, such as lacking in knowledge, wisdom, or power.

Lianca

I like Sapient for this sort of thing, it defines PCs from NPCs too, for the really pedantic people who try to bring that sort of nonsense up in debate.

Iocun

Many npcs are sapient though...

Trevize

Iocun said:

Many npcs are sapient though...

And some PCs aren't...

Daslin

Lianca said:

I like Sapient for this sort of thing, it defines PCs from NPCs too, for the really pedantic people who try to bring that sort of nonsense up in debate.

Sounds like you dealt with a certain Cyrenian when Phaestean....

Faur

Speak for yourself, traitor.

Shirszae

I think saying "Mortal nature" is enough. I think the meaning gets carried that you are talking about sentient mortal nature.

Daslin

Hey now. Ease on the traitor bit. I still live an hour from you. I can go to the mall in your area and scream FAUR ILL GET YOU! Till you show up.

Faur

Ha, good luck. I don't go to the mall.