Story background from my game: Few Cimmerian women take on the roles of men among the folk of the Blue Fox Clan, but those that can find no predjudice against them. But, they find no lower expectation as well.
Occasionally, a woman comes along that can physically hold her own along side the male warriors, and this person is not praised nor shunned--merely accepted.
Drachena is such a woman, and on her 15th year, she ventured forth from the clan, alone, on the path of the deasghnath--the ritual journey where one leaves the clan a child but returns, death in hand, an adult.
On the deasghnath, the young warrior must venture alone into the wilderness and return with a kill. Status within the clan is determined by the type of kill made. Usually, animals are returned. Occasionaly, a fierce warrior will return with a dangerous animal head, such as that of a wolf or even a bear. And, only so rarely, a young warrior will return with the head of an enemy warrior (and these people are destined to become the greatest warriors among the Foxmen).
Drachena is a hunter, and on her deasghnath, she tracked a bear. But, she was set upon by Vanir raiders, reaping havoc in northern Cimmeria that year. She was taken, beaten, starved, and gang raped over a three day period. She almost died.
But, Foxmen scouts had already picked up the trail of the Vanir. The howling Cimmerians decended upon the redhairs and decimated them.
Drachena was freed and nursed back to health.
From that Vanir raid, the clan chieftain, Finn Elder, took the shield of the Vanir leading the raiding party. It is a fine, large round-shield of quality make.
And now, in my game, Finn Elder is about to offer this shield, these 10 years later, to the victor of a warrior competition occuring at the clan's next summer festival, the Beltain.
I want to call this shield something "cool", but I'm out of ideas.
Anybody want to have a go at what I should call this thing?
EDIT: An idea sparked as I posted this--the title of another thread. I'm thinking of calling it "Golden Ice". It sounds "cool", but at the same time, could be what Finn calls it because he pisses on the day his clansman (actually, his adopted daughter) suffered under the hands of the Vanir.
Thoughts?
Occasionally, a woman comes along that can physically hold her own along side the male warriors, and this person is not praised nor shunned--merely accepted.
Drachena is such a woman, and on her 15th year, she ventured forth from the clan, alone, on the path of the deasghnath--the ritual journey where one leaves the clan a child but returns, death in hand, an adult.
On the deasghnath, the young warrior must venture alone into the wilderness and return with a kill. Status within the clan is determined by the type of kill made. Usually, animals are returned. Occasionaly, a fierce warrior will return with a dangerous animal head, such as that of a wolf or even a bear. And, only so rarely, a young warrior will return with the head of an enemy warrior (and these people are destined to become the greatest warriors among the Foxmen).
Drachena is a hunter, and on her deasghnath, she tracked a bear. But, she was set upon by Vanir raiders, reaping havoc in northern Cimmeria that year. She was taken, beaten, starved, and gang raped over a three day period. She almost died.
But, Foxmen scouts had already picked up the trail of the Vanir. The howling Cimmerians decended upon the redhairs and decimated them.
Drachena was freed and nursed back to health.
From that Vanir raid, the clan chieftain, Finn Elder, took the shield of the Vanir leading the raiding party. It is a fine, large round-shield of quality make.
And now, in my game, Finn Elder is about to offer this shield, these 10 years later, to the victor of a warrior competition occuring at the clan's next summer festival, the Beltain.
I want to call this shield something "cool", but I'm out of ideas.
Anybody want to have a go at what I should call this thing?
EDIT: An idea sparked as I posted this--the title of another thread. I'm thinking of calling it "Golden Ice". It sounds "cool", but at the same time, could be what Finn calls it because he pisses on the day his clansman (actually, his adopted daughter) suffered under the hands of the Vanir.
Thoughts?
