I've been thinking about a Delusions article I want to write when I'm done with the Encyclopedia and Field Guides and HTMLized Tales From Myth The Fallen Lords (I really need a partner/helper or something). But since I'm so busy, I think I'll just post some ideas here.
This is about unit names, their similarities and their origins. Some names have obvious European roots, such as those of Villagers, Peasants, Warriors and Bowmen. But other seem rather odd. What about the fir'Bolg, Mauls, and Warlocks? Where do their strange names come from?
Others still show striking similarities to eachother. The Ghols are named for actions; Basher, Killer, Beater, Mangler, and my favorite, Lamer. (Yes, 'lame' is a real verb, not just an adjective). Similarly, the Berserks are given a true name, and some verb-noun title, such as "Turgies with Burning Steel". And Myrmidons, being the dark kin of Berserks, have lost their true name and combined their titles to single strings, so Turgies above would become "Steelburn", or maybe the existing Myrmidon name "Ironflame". Igne Ferroque, anyone?
And speaking of Latin, what of the Trow names? Does anyone here speak Latin? Care to translate them for us?
One of my favorites is the Heron Guard naming scheme, as they are named after dates on the Bruig calender. Notice that the names are a number and a description of at least one thing. So I'm guessing that the Bruig calender is based on constellations and groups therof, such as:
Flint Deer, Eagle Falling Sun, Motion Bloody Jaguar, Heron Waiting Cactus, Pride Stalking Rabbit, Vulture Drum, Stone Reed, Serpent Seeking Shadow, Lizard Tongue, Eagle Red Skull, Flint Puma, Serpent Falling Eagle, Wind Lizard, Serpent Rising Puma, Crocodile Rain, Coyote Flower, Bloody Crocodile, Rabbit Fleeing Jaguar, Moon Jeweled Fan, Jaguar White Flower, Obsidian Heron, Serpent Green Talon, Seven Devil Puma, Monkey Bloody Stone, Vulture Dog Star, Deer Burning Skull, Serpent Bloody Sun, Vulture Fire Serpent, Eagle Burning Stone, Eagle Jaguar Claw, Flint Sun Collar, Devil Burning Wind, Rain Jeweled Fan, Wind Moon Stone, and Flint Moon Eagle
Maybe these contellations themselves are actually groups of constellations, like "Flint" and "Deer", "Eagle" and "Falling Sun". A few of them seem to break this rule, such as "Motion" and "Pride", as I can't think of how those would be displayed in images. But in general, this seems to be how Heron names work.
Did I miss anything? Please comment. I hope this gets things going again.
