Epics, Sagas, Fantasies, Mythos, Legends, Nations.

JimMorrison · #1 June 19th, 2008, 03:42 PM

Pythium is Byzantium. That strange hybrid lovechild between Rome, Greece, and Turkey.

I'd be curious to see a nation themed around Aboriginal mythology, from Australia. I know very little about it, but it seems to have an interesting flavor.

Also, a Native American nation that perhaps had things like the bear tribe and deer tribe recruitable in their castles, with a late game that revolved around various totemic animal spirits, with Coyote being one of the most powerful, and needing high Astral, of course.

My favorite that I would like to see though, is something based off of the Sumerian Annunaki. Some believe that they were alien visitors, and the mystery shrouding the mythos makes it very compelling to me. The Annunaki were said to be giants (not huuuuge, but say 10ft tall), and had godlike powers with which they ruled the Sumerians. The stranger websites claim that they educated humans, and they were the reason that we developed civilization, in exchange for using us as slaves to mine gold that they needed to repair/fuel their spaceship and get off of this planet, or some such thing.

It's pretty far out, but even just using the stuff that we can reason to be true, it's very interesting (and no reason not to include hints of alien visitation, it's fun!).

Anyway, the wiki has an interesting taste of it, unfortunately the only websites I have bookmarked, are kind of crazy. >.> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anunnaki

VedalkenBear · #2 June 19th, 2008, 04:26 PM

I'll point out that Caelum is very Iranian/Zoroastrian in its flavoring. Also the Mountain aspects of it are quite Himalayan.

As I've stated elsewhere, the Japanese nations (Yomi, Shinuyama, and Jomon (Hepburn romanization looks so weird to me now)) are based off of Japanese folklore, not their religion or their mythology. My Wakoku mod is almost ready for testing, and I hope that it reflects a more 'mythohistorical' view of Japan.

MaxWilson · #3 June 19th, 2008, 05:04 PM

Jim,

Isn't that the source for Hinnom/Ashdod/Gath? Huge alien beings with godlike powers that educated humans for mysterious reasons and spawned a race of giants?

-Max

JimMorrison · #4 June 20th, 2008, 01:35 AM

Quote:

MaxWilson said:
Jim,

Isn't that the source for Hinnom/Ashdod/Gath? Huge alien beings with godlike powers that educated humans for mysterious reasons and spawned a race of giants?

-Max

Ehh, I am pretty sure Hinnom et al are Jewish. Actually, I just looked it up, that is certainly the case. Did IW throw in the Annunaki to get the giant aspect? Not sure, as the Annunaki mythos in Sumeria does not include things like flesh-eating and such.

And as far as I know, there was no evidence that in Sumerian tradition, there was any interbreeding. In fact, from what we know, the Annunaki did not let ordinary people even into their presence, they had "temples" erected where they would take audience using their "priests" as mediators, IIRC.

sector24 · #5 June 20th, 2008, 01:47 PM

Something about Dom3 I found interesting. The spell Streams of Hades summons a Kokythiad; but such a thing does not exist in Greek mythology. It is a perfectly reasonable type of naiad that could have existed, but apparently it didn't. It's very cool to blend mythology and fantasy in such a seamless way that you almost feel like the Greeks were the ones who messed up.

The idea could be futher expanded. Here's a little excerpt from wikipedia:

"These rivers had names and symbolic meanings: the five rivers of Hades are Acheron (the river of sorrow), Cocytus (lamentation), Phlegethon (fire), Lethe (forgetfulness) and Styx (hate)"

Cocytus (Kokytos -> Kokythiad) and Styx are the popular rivers, but there's room for additional content to be created around the other rivers.

Ague of Acheron - Ritual that spreads disease and sorrow through a province by poisonous water bubbling up from Hades. (Same alliteration as Claws of Cocytus, just a different effect. Could be Agony of Acheron if you don't like the word Ague.)

Summon Phlegethiad - W/D path to summon a F/D or F/W mage

Alright, no more brainstorming. I'm keeping the rest of these ideas to make my own game.

MaxWilson · #6 June 20th, 2008, 02:29 PM

Quote:

JimMorrison said:
Ehh, I am pretty sure Hinnom et al are Jewish. Actually, I just looked it up, that is certainly the case. Did IW throw in the Annunaki to get the giant aspect? Not sure, as the Annunaki mythos in Sumeria does not include things like flesh-eating and such.

And as far as I know, there was no evidence that in Sumerian tradition, there was any interbreeding. In fact, from what we know, the Annunaki did not let ordinary people even into their presence, they had "temples" erected where they would take audience using their "priests" as mediators, IIRC.

Good point. I tend to equate early Hebrew <=> Sumerian (it sure looks like they're drawing on the same source material, filtered through different lenses) but they don't have to be the same thing from a game perspective. And you've pointed out one big difference between the Annunaki and Hinnom's Grigori.

-Max

Omnirizon · #7 June 21st, 2008, 12:24 AM

Quote:

JimMorrison said:
My favorite that I would like to see though, is something based off of the Sumerian Annunaki. Some believe that they were alien visitors, and the mystery shrouding the mythos makes it very compelling to me. The Annunaki were said to be giants (not huuuuge, but say 10ft tall), and had godlike powers with which they ruled the Sumerians. The stranger websites claim that they educated humans, and they were the reason that we developed civilization, in exchange for using us as slaves to mine gold that they needed to repair/fuel their spaceship and get off of this planet, or some such thing.

It's pretty far out, but even just using the stuff that we can reason to be true, it's very interesting (and no reason not to include hints of alien visitation, it's fun!).

Anyway, the wiki has an interesting taste of it, unfortunately the only websites I have bookmarked, are kind of crazy. >.> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anunnaki

that just gave me a great idea for a race based off of scientology mythology

JimMorrison · #8 June 21st, 2008, 12:49 AM

Hahaha, I love it!

There needs to be a Xenu pretender too. 8 )

HoneyBadger · #9 June 21st, 2008, 01:00 AM

Lingchih: Are you familiar with Project Gutenburg?

http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/d#a2685

It's an amazing resource.

That's where I found The Gods of Pegana, as well as quite a few other writings of his.

Lingchih · #10 June 21st, 2008, 01:12 AM

Oh my. I had forgotten about Project Gutenberg. There they all are. And I had been about to spend over $100 buying them online.

Thanks Honeybadger!

(alhtough I am still glad I bought a copy of the King of Elfland's Daughter... the cover is beautiful, and I much prefer reading from a book than reading onscreen). And it appears that it is not available on the Gutenberg site anyway.