Saturday August 9, 2003
Book 3: Under New Management — Part III: Board of Accidental Tourism
Readers may have noticed the tattoo on Captain Tagon's right bicep, and wondered whether there's a story behind it. Well, there is.

(One important point about tattoos -- there's ALWAYS a story behind them, even if it's just "I had some money to burn and decided to get myself dermally scarred for fun.")

Tagon's tattoo hearkens back to his time in the infantry among the Oatmeal Peacekeepers on Celeschul. It's a cereal bowl with a spoon sticking out of it, and it's framed by a pair of olive branches.

You might be thinking that an eagle or a dragon would be a more appropriate symbol to emblazon the arm of a warrior like Kaff Tagon. What you'd be forgetting is that the symbol is not nearly so important as what it stands for. That bowl and spoon represent The Oatmeal Peacekeepers, who are an elite unit, skilled in the arts of war, disciplined in the keeping of peace, and fully able to feed you your heart with a spoon should you unwisely persist in making fun of the one on their arms.

Transcript

Reverend: Sir, before we leave I think you and the native leader should exchange gifts. That way you can give him the uplift robot.
Reverend: You need to be careful to accept whatever they give you as graciously as possible, though. That will ensure that our gift is well-treated.
TRBoE:
Tagon: I'm being gracious. Are you happy?
Schlock: Not until we have pictures.
Uplift Bot: