Rjurik Monsters/Cultures

[Sidhain]

>> During my visit to Scandanavia and at other Scandanavian stores in the US
I've
>> seen wood-carved statues of trolls. Now these trolls aren't much like
your
>> typical 9' tall AD&D troll. Has anyone ever though of introducing a
Pygmy
>> Troll or something like that that lives in the forests of Rjurik and eats
>> children (or whatever those scadanavian trolls do)? I'm not expert on
>> Scadanavian mythology so I though I'd just bring up the idea and let
someone
>> else form it up.
>>
>
>The trolls from Scandenavian mythology are hardly small, that is just
>the cute impression for tourists. They are very similar to the trolls of
>Tolkien, large hulking brutes with most of the time little brains who
>love to eat human flesh or rob them. In other stories, they could be
>seen as hill giants, ogres or even ugly mean humans. For short, it is a
>rather general term for all scary ugly evil humanoids of man size or
>larger. It certainly is never the TSR troll, which I have never read
>about outside AD&D. Those of smaller size are kobolds (if I remember
>correctly) and roughly equal human size would be goblin.


And also opposed to the Trolls of the Vyking/Norse Peoples whose Trolls were
sorcererous small and very Dwarf like (some of them at least)

The poem Beowulf is also one of the earliest recorded trolls and its huge
lumbering semi-aquatic monster that kills everyone easily until Beowulf
beats it to death with its own arm (18/00 strength anyone?)

As for Rjurik/Anuirean/Vos peoples

Rjurik Comes across more as a Welsh/Scots Cross in beliefs and attitudes
with some Scandinavian traits.
Anuireans are more akin to the Franks, and in fact I have a suspicion that
the Empire is meant to reflect Charlemagnes.
Vos are indeed Russian in feeling, but I also get a distinct Steppe nomad
influence as well Mongol invading Russia?
Etc...I wonder if the lost Masetians will show up
Maybe they are in Jakandor? or Maybe they will show up as an oriental race
at a later date.

[the Falcon]

> Etc...I wonder if the lost Masetians will show up
> Maybe they are in Jakandor? or Maybe they will show up as an oriental race
> at a later date.

I always thought of the Masetians as resembling the ancient Greek... does
that sound right to you people?

Masetian fire... the only fire that can burn in water... makes sense...

[Sidhain]

>
>I always thought of the Masetians as resembling the ancient Greek... does
>that sound right to you people?
>
>Masetian fire... the only fire that can burn in water... makes sense...



Well Greek Fire burned in or out of water, not just in water, if they have
fire that only burns in water (where did ye get that information) Id think
they are a wee bit more advanced than the Brecht making themselves at leas a
late Renaissance culture. However they do sound more Egyptian, or even
Hebraic.

[Solmyr]

>> Etc...I wonder if the lost Masetians will show up
>> Maybe they are in Jakandor? or Maybe they will show up as an oriental
race
>> at a later date.
>
In case nobody noticed, there *are* Masetians still living in Cerilia - the
ones on the Serpent's Isle.

******************
Aleksei Andrievski
aka Solmyr, Archmage of the Azure Star
aka Azure Star Dragon
solmyr@kolumbus.fi
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Fortress/2198/index.html

[geeman]

Sidhain wrote:

> >I always thought of the Masetians as resembling the ancient Greek... does
> >that sound right to you people?
> >
> >Masetian fire... the only fire that can burn in water... makes sense...
>
> Well Greek Fire burned in or out of water, not just in water, if they have
> fire that only burns in water (where did ye get that information) Id think
> they are a wee bit more advanced than the Brecht making themselves at leas a
> late Renaissance culture. However they do sound more Egyptian, or even
> Hebraic.

It seems to me that most of the BR cultures are a combination of two major RL
cultures with a smattering of other things tossed in. The Vos, for instance,
are Russian steppe nomads + Mongols (two cultures that already have a
significant influence upon one another) while the Khinasi are African/Arabs. I
think the hypothetical Masetians should be a similar cultural combo. I like
Greece as one. Maybe Minoa or something more towards the southern or eastern
Mediterranean would be good....

Gary

[the Falcon]

> >Masetian fire... the only fire that can burn in water... makes sense...
>
> Well Greek Fire burned in or out of water, not just in water, if they have
> fire that only burns in water (where did ye get that information) Id think
> they are a wee bit more advanced than the Brecht making themselves at leas a
> late Renaissance culture. However they do sound more Egyptian, or even
> Hebraic.

If you'll look at my post again, you'll notice I said "the only fire that
can burn in water" and not "the fire that can only burn in water", mind
you...