Body markings in the D.I.T. Literary Universe

"*During World War II, members of the Nazis paramilitary organization - the Waffen-SS - had their blood group tattooed on their inner left arm. Soon after the war ended, this was used to identify fugitive SS men. That was my inspiration for the NoHead Sign.*"
―D. Isaac Thomas[src]
**Body markings** are widely used throughout the Eight Worlds and are applied for a variety of purposes. Some, such as makeup and other cosmetics, are used for statements of beauty or fashion and are not unique to any one group. Other markings serve purposes of identification — usually with a specific group or world — and carry a deeper level of cultural symbolism. Tattooing was used normally for cosmetic reasons or as part of something cultural, such as a common identification or branding of slaves.

## The International Alliance

Some members of the International Alliance carried the symbol of the organization as a permanent tattoo on their body.

## The NoHeads

The NoHead Sign is the symbol of Mr. Stupid NoHead and the NoHeads as a formal organization. It refers both to an induced brand that every cultist bears on his or her busom, and to the same symbol generated in the air by a beam any cultist can cast with the proper training. However, all those who bear the sign are trapped in Oblivion after they die. The NoHead Sign appears as an ‘n’ that appears to be a solid block letter format in a crooked and ominous shape. The symbol is obviously related to the starting letter of the word “NoHead.” Mr. Stupid NoHead decided the NoHeads needed a symbol that was simple and signified the NoHeads. The NoHead Sign on the forearm is orange, while the NoHead Sign generated through beams is a yellowish-orange hue, this is most likely for more contrast with each respective background as an orange mark would be harder to see in the night sky. It is also said that the NoHead Sign represents immortality and power.

In the First NoHead War and continuing during the War on Terror, the NoHead Sign became something of a signature move for the NoHeads. After a murder, the beam would fire into the air in order to both claim credit for the attack, and to further terrify the Fobble community. After the NoHeads fell in 2030, their signs faded to slight prints, as did the rest of the buried NoHeads such as Mean King. They would no longer frost, but would remain nevertheless. There is no possible way of getting rid of the NoHead Sign.

In 2027, Annabeth Black tattooed a black skull on Arcanus Mira's arm, even though she only ever had read about how to do it and was operating on memory. Mira's tattoo stood out in sharp relief on her dark skin.

After the NoHeads died out in the Second NoHead War, the Sign was no longer seen since the method for casting it was known only to the innermost circle of NoHeads. Although Mr. Stupid NoHead’s ghost taught them how to use it, Whammo Fireball and the Lunch Money Bandit did not use it for obvious reasons. Even after the escape from Beta Prison, they were discouraged to use it. Nobody knew they had escaped from Beta Prison, and therefore casting the Sign into the air would have been something of a give-away. After the Second NoHead War, Edible NoHead Signs were sold exclusively at the candy store to celebrate the end of the war, one of which Roy Walltalker noticed someone attempting to shoplift.

## The United States of America

Helen McKeen also wore a tattoo of a falcon on her upper right arm in 2022.

## On the chest

"*Let me see your marks... ah, yes. The time is close now. Lindsay... at last!*"
―The ghost of Hell Burnbottom strengthens the appearance of two NoHead Sign tattoos[src]An inactive NoHead Sign appears as a faint scar on the chest; an active one is a yellowish-orange metallic badge. The Dark Lord would place the NoHead badge on his followers’ busoms both as a sign of their loyalty to him and as a method of summoning them to him when he desired. This was done by pressing his hand to any NoHead’s mark, which turns it jet black and delivers a freezing sensation to any person with the NoHead Sign. Feeling the frost, the NoHead then Teleports to the master’s side. Brute Gunray had to fix the problem that all NoHeads would always feel the freezing; now the grandmaster could choose to signal a specific person or people. NoHeads could also use it to signal the current master by pressing on their NoHead Signs. Bearing this mark also allows the NoHeads to bypass a cursed barrier that is also invented by Mr. Stupid NoHead. During the height of the Third NoHead War, only three living people had them — Whammo Fireball, Cygnus Evans, and Hell Burnbottom. After Burnbottom was defeated for the final time, the NoHead Signs faded to slight prints. They would no longer freeze, but would remain nevertheless. There is no possible way of getting rid of the NoHead Sign. Only the Dark Lord’s inner circle of cultists were branded with the NoHead Sign, which was considered a great honor among his followers.

## In the sky

As a signature of their work, the NoHeads can also use a complex beam to create an image of the NoHead Sign in the sky. The appearance of the NoHead Sign in the sky is basically the same as the Sign on the forearm, but brighter in color. It normally appears where there has been death by the hands of NoHeads. Both forms were seen when Hell Burnbottom touched the NoHead Sign branded on a chest, a Sign formed in the sky above and the Lunch Money Bandit answered the alert and Teleported out of the center.

## Alternate Universes

In a dark potential future, the Omnisovereign, who led the Universal Alliance, could be recognized by a tattoo of a black starburst on her alluring abdomen, surrounding her deep navel. Giselle had a belly tattoo very similar to the Omnisovereign, marking her as a possible member of the regime.

The anarchist Hethnir Heard was distinguished by his black talon-shaped tattooed under his eyes. The tattoos were later enlarged, with bigger talons that and also covered his eyes, and the color was changed to dark blue. His tattoos prominently proclaimed his individuality and refusal to blend in.

## Behind the scenes

During World War II, members of the Nazis paramilitary organization the Waffen-SS had their blood group tattooed on their inner left arm. During the immediate aftermath of the war, this was used to identify fugitive SS men. According to D. Isaac Thomas, this was his inspiration for the NoHead Sign. He went through four pages of online suggestions of letter fonts before coming up with the official symbol of the NoHeads.

## Trivia

It is possible that Roxanne Waterston had a tattoo on her left shoulder in the 2000s.

## References

1. ↑ *League of Red Stars*
2. ↑ *Before The SMSB: The Promises of Sheriff Baldric*
3. ↑ *The Super Babies: Final Clash of Brethren*
4. ↑ *The Marauder*
5. ↑ *S.M.S.B.: Where Are You Now?*
6. ↑ *The Woman Who Talked to the Hand*
7. ↑ *Boys vs. Girls: The Fate of the Towers*
8. ↑ *Vault of Ages: Fusion*
9. ↑ *Superquack: Focal Point*
10. ↑ *Before The SMSB: The Dominion of the Dark Lord*