It sure would explain Caligula...
Romans + Druids + Cthulhu
- Thread starter ssampier
- Start date
It sure would explain Caligula...
Good question.
I toyed with the idea of making elves Zorasterists. That would make them culturally Persian. I liked the Persian myths about Damavand. It reminded me of Meneltarma in Numenor. Whether or not Persian elves makes sense I don't know.
Shooting from hip here:
Gnomes = Germanic tribes?
How could I make humans different? Those from fantasy Gaul (France) would be different than fantasy Iberia (Spain) or fantasy Turkey?
I like the Gnomes as Germanic...especially if you play up their mystic nature, possibly even making them the mystical "Little People" of legend...complete with a civilization that is largely out of phase with the rest of the world- a version of Underhill, if you will. Give them a bit more innate Fey magic and Tuoborg forest makes a lot of sense.
African nations like Carthage and/or Egypt could be populated by Dark Elves, Hobgoblins or Xeph. Or if you want to go a bit more wahoo on that, Thri-Kreen.
The peoples of the Asian steppes? Centaurs.
As for humans themselves, just go somewhat down the route that FR did: give them Regional feats, preferred cultural weapons & skills, and so forth.
Danny your ideas make a lot of sense.
Here's some very muddy ideas so far. I welcome thoughts and constructive criticism
One and Many Gods
I like that Ptolus shoves a Christian like savior deity to compete with the dozens of other gods. In Ptolus, that is Lothian. Lothian was a martyred saint who was crucified on a Ankh cross. In the Ptolus book things are different, but I figured I would make that culture my fantasy Egypt.
Natural disasters ensued after crucifixion and resurrection to godhood. "Egypt" is now a small bit player.
The country could be overrun with a variety of nasty things.
Carthage and the Ghouls
Rome's greatest enemy. What if Carthage uses an army of the undead? Carthaginians wouldn't like undead being in their city all the time. What if I play with geography a little bit and say this army actually resides in Egypt most of the time?
The Egyptian mummies may not like Carthage's undead ruining their slumber....
Atlantis
I am reading the Stephen R. Lawhead book, Taliesin, and I really like the Atlantis culture. I think I will develop this sometime in the future.
The Cthulhu connection
England = Eihort
Rome and the Italian Peninsula = Hastur
Iberia = Nyarlathotep
Carthage = Mordiggian
Atlantis = Dagon
Races of Eyrie (the Known World of the "Mediterranean")
Germany = Gnomes
Scandinavia = Mountain Dwarves
Persia = None. Elves were forced from their ancestral home and live anywhere.
Huns = Orcs
Atlantis = Sea elves
Scotland = Celtic Wild Elves
Ireland = Giants
Religion of Eyrie
This is my weakest part, I think.
Iberia = Lothian zealots
Scandinavia = Dwarf version of Norse deities, called the Dwarf-Fathers
England = nominally Lothian, but raiders from Scandinavia are bringing the faith of the Dwarf-fathers to Londinium/Ptolus
Scotland = Celtic gods
Elves = Zoroastrian duality of god and evil "spirits", gradually assimilating to other faiths
France = Pillage, raid, kill, ask for forgiveness on "Sunday"
Churches in Eyrie
I really like how Eberron emphases churches, rather than specific gods, and alignment freedom. I can do this for most of my religions. Again, I don't want to get too carried away.
Here's some very muddy ideas so far. I welcome thoughts and constructive criticism
One and Many Gods
I like that Ptolus shoves a Christian like savior deity to compete with the dozens of other gods. In Ptolus, that is Lothian. Lothian was a martyred saint who was crucified on a Ankh cross. In the Ptolus book things are different, but I figured I would make that culture my fantasy Egypt.
Natural disasters ensued after crucifixion and resurrection to godhood. "Egypt" is now a small bit player.
The country could be overrun with a variety of nasty things.
Carthage and the Ghouls
Rome's greatest enemy. What if Carthage uses an army of the undead? Carthaginians wouldn't like undead being in their city all the time. What if I play with geography a little bit and say this army actually resides in Egypt most of the time?
The Egyptian mummies may not like Carthage's undead ruining their slumber....
Atlantis
I am reading the Stephen R. Lawhead book, Taliesin, and I really like the Atlantis culture. I think I will develop this sometime in the future.
The Cthulhu connection
England = Eihort
Rome and the Italian Peninsula = Hastur
Iberia = Nyarlathotep
Carthage = Mordiggian
Atlantis = Dagon
Races of Eyrie (the Known World of the "Mediterranean")
Germany = Gnomes
Scandinavia = Mountain Dwarves
Persia = None. Elves were forced from their ancestral home and live anywhere.
Huns = Orcs
Atlantis = Sea elves
Scotland = Celtic Wild Elves
Ireland = Giants
Religion of Eyrie
This is my weakest part, I think.
Iberia = Lothian zealots
Scandinavia = Dwarf version of Norse deities, called the Dwarf-Fathers
England = nominally Lothian, but raiders from Scandinavia are bringing the faith of the Dwarf-fathers to Londinium/Ptolus
Scotland = Celtic gods
Elves = Zoroastrian duality of god and evil "spirits", gradually assimilating to other faiths
France = Pillage, raid, kill, ask for forgiveness on "Sunday"
Churches in Eyrie
I really like how Eberron emphases churches, rather than specific gods, and alignment freedom. I can do this for most of my religions. Again, I don't want to get too carried away.
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Y'know...the displaced Elves might make for an interesting nomadic culture, becoming kind of a proto-Romani culture...
Waitaminit...
Halflings = Gypsies! Nearly all of the stereotypes of RW Gypsies map nicely with the stereotypes of Halflings.
I might be tempted to cede almost all of northern Continental Europe/Asia to various factions of Dwarves. That would mean your seafaring Vikings would be short, stocky little mo-fos with a penchant for axes and hammers. Over time, the various Dwarven hordes settled down, but following a variety of similar but slightly different faiths- some would be Teutonic, some Slavic, some Icelandic, etc.
The British Isles & Atlantis become the final outposts of true Elven culture. Britain becomes the outpost/buffer zone of Atlantis, and is largely the home of the (now) Wild Elves.
Waitaminit...
Halflings = Gypsies! Nearly all of the stereotypes of RW Gypsies map nicely with the stereotypes of Halflings.
I might be tempted to cede almost all of northern Continental Europe/Asia to various factions of Dwarves. That would mean your seafaring Vikings would be short, stocky little mo-fos with a penchant for axes and hammers. Over time, the various Dwarven hordes settled down, but following a variety of similar but slightly different faiths- some would be Teutonic, some Slavic, some Icelandic, etc.
The British Isles & Atlantis become the final outposts of true Elven culture. Britain becomes the outpost/buffer zone of Atlantis, and is largely the home of the (now) Wild Elves.
More Muddy Ideas
High Elves
Since the destruction of their Temples and sacred forests, High Elves are without a permanent homeland. The diaspora has forced elves to be adaptable. They live wherever suits them, sometimes in large elven communities in the forest, but not often. Each elf develops a Life Pursuit, a goal to attain in their lifetime. Elves are individualistic and have a variety of Life Pursuits including the arts, music, magic, faith, or warfare.
The diaspora hasn't changed High Elven religious belief. High Elves frequently build large elaborate "Fire Temples" wherever they go. The Temples are beautiful structures, white, clean and simple.
In the terms of stats, Life Pursuit probably gives bonuses to skills and feats. I haven't decided how to implement this yet.
The Elf God is a NG deity granting at least Fire and Water cleric domains.
The Shadow kin is an LE malevolent force that opposes the Elf God and other good.
Dark Magic
Evil, vile, twisted stuff. The stuff of the Necronomicon and other books.
Ideally anyone, even fighters and rogues, should be able to cast Dark Magic.
I haven't figured out the stats yet. I didn't like changing divine or arcane magic to fit. Dark Magic should be a third magic source.
As for the other ideas...
Halfling gypsies could make sense. I will need do a little bit of research since I know next to nothing about the culture; it should be fun.
As for elves, I them pictured as part of a common religious and ethnic diaspora. They worship a monotheistic god, but is different from the Lothians in tone and alignment.
I was thinking the Wild Elves aren't so nice. The Wild Elves are generally a Chaotic Neutral alignment and frequently work with "Dark Magic". But just like most things the extreme ones are the ones who get the most attention. The wild elf preferred class is druid.
High Elves
Since the destruction of their Temples and sacred forests, High Elves are without a permanent homeland. The diaspora has forced elves to be adaptable. They live wherever suits them, sometimes in large elven communities in the forest, but not often. Each elf develops a Life Pursuit, a goal to attain in their lifetime. Elves are individualistic and have a variety of Life Pursuits including the arts, music, magic, faith, or warfare.
The diaspora hasn't changed High Elven religious belief. High Elves frequently build large elaborate "Fire Temples" wherever they go. The Temples are beautiful structures, white, clean and simple.
In the terms of stats, Life Pursuit probably gives bonuses to skills and feats. I haven't decided how to implement this yet.
The Elf God is a NG deity granting at least Fire and Water cleric domains.
The Shadow kin is an LE malevolent force that opposes the Elf God and other good.
Dark Magic
Evil, vile, twisted stuff. The stuff of the Necronomicon and other books.
Ideally anyone, even fighters and rogues, should be able to cast Dark Magic.
I haven't figured out the stats yet. I didn't like changing divine or arcane magic to fit. Dark Magic should be a third magic source.
As for the other ideas...
Halfling gypsies could make sense. I will need do a little bit of research since I know next to nothing about the culture; it should be fun.
As for elves, I them pictured as part of a common religious and ethnic diaspora. They worship a monotheistic god, but is different from the Lothians in tone and alignment.
Your ideas intrigue me and I wish to subcribe to your newsletter.
I was thinking the Wild Elves aren't so nice. The Wild Elves are generally a Chaotic Neutral alignment and frequently work with "Dark Magic". But just like most things the extreme ones are the ones who get the most attention. The wild elf preferred class is druid.
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grufflehead
First Post
Well, you've avoided the obvious 'let's make the dwarves Scottish' so it's got something going for it!
(I'm writing this on my Mom's Droid- she's asked me to figure out some stuff while she's getting her hair done- otherwise I'd edit this more...)
I'm glad to help. I get most of my kicks here by using my creativity to help others in their creative efforts!
Hmmmmmm...a newsletter.
Geography
Scandinavia = Jord, Dragon Empire*
England = Danan**
Scotland = Alban
Spain = Iberia
France = Bretonn
Germany = Ebreni
Eastern Europe = Avar.
Roma = Toran, Atoran is the Italian peninsula and people
Turkey/Anatolia = Roj (ROW-ja) city-state. People Rojan (ROW-gan).
Background
In my imaginary world Avar is a title given to a respectable warrior chieftain or king. But my fantasy world, the Atorans (Romans) don't know or don't care. Toran, in the fantasy Latin language, means gateway, portal, or door.
* I haven't quite figured out why I named Scanadavia the "Dragon Empire" as dwarves mostly live there, have no empire, or have any dragons.
** gotta love Willow
Scandinavia = Jord, Dragon Empire*
England = Danan**
Scotland = Alban
Spain = Iberia
France = Bretonn
Germany = Ebreni
Eastern Europe = Avar.
Roma = Toran, Atoran is the Italian peninsula and people
Turkey/Anatolia = Roj (ROW-ja) city-state. People Rojan (ROW-gan).
Background
In my imaginary world Avar is a title given to a respectable warrior chieftain or king. But my fantasy world, the Atorans (Romans) don't know or don't care. Toran, in the fantasy Latin language, means gateway, portal, or door.
* I haven't quite figured out why I named Scanadavia the "Dragon Empire" as dwarves mostly live there, have no empire, or have any dragons.
** gotta love Willow
Just like the Holy Roman Empire was not Holy, not Roman, and not much of an Empire, perhaps? They chose the name to borrow glory.
The Dragon Empire...perhaps they killed all of the dragons in the region, but in order to appease their spirits, they have made a pact to carry on in their stead, as 2 legged dragons. As such, they have dragons on their sails, on their ships' prows, use alchemical weapons based on dragon's breath weapons, and go into battle behind an iron standard shaped like a dragon in flight.
Good ideas. From my armchair historian POV the Viking did have a lot of dragon iconography. So that makes sense.
These two legged dragons, Draconians perhaps?
I pondered stealing an idea from Oblivion and say that fantasy China invaded fantasy Scandinavia at one point. I think it's cliche to make China the Dragon Empire over and over again. I'll keep this one on the back-burner.
These two legged dragons, Draconians perhaps?
I pondered stealing an idea from Oblivion and say that fantasy China invaded fantasy Scandinavia at one point. I think it's cliche to make China the Dragon Empire over and over again. I'll keep this one on the back-burner.
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