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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Nov 4, 2012 6:45:24 GMT -6
KIMMERIAN (Kimmeri-Keltic) ARMS While some Kimmeri-Keltic tribes strongly favor one culture to the near exclusion of the other, in most the merger has produced a remarkably balanced approach to defense with strong Keltic infantry married to the Kimmerian love of horse archers and cataphracts. In large part, this has helped the tribes resist attacks by both Kimmerians and ordinary Kelts.
Melee Weapons Kimmeri-Kelt weapon use favors those of Kelts for footmen and those of Kimmerians for horsemen, retaining the typical Keltic anthropoidal hilt, but extending the figure’s arms to form a ring-shaped pommel.
Ranged Weapons The Kimmeri-Keltic tribes were quick to adopt the superior Kimmerian composite shortbow, though javelins are also still commonplace among footsoldiers and cavalry alike, with slings and staff-slings rounding out the ranged weapons of the former.
Armor The Keltic influence has led to the adoption of the shield even by many Kimmeri-Keltic cataphracts. Similarly, although the Kimmeri-Kelts make use of the full range of Kimmerian armor, including barding, the superior Keltic-style helmet has replaced the Kimmerian one in use even among cataphracts. In some Kimmeri-Keltic tribes the helmet has even developed further, becoming a deep pot-style helm with built-in rigid cheekguards and nasal, often decorated with bestial horns (see AS&SH Players’ Manual, pg. 33).
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Nov 3, 2012 2:17:34 GMT -6
ESQUIMAUX ARMSEsquimaux tribesmen are incredibly self-sufficient, able to craft and improvise their own weapons from local materials, using wood, bone, stone, copper, and ivory to craft implements, and gut to lash and affix things firmly. Despite this, they do trade for iron when possible, for although they can easily use natural materials, these do not possess the durability of metal. Melee WeaponsA double-edged knife is the most basic of Esquimaux tools whether cast in copper, iron or craft from stone or ivory. The ulu, a crescent-shaped blade attached to a horizontal wood or bone handle, can also be used as a weapon if necessary, but is chiefly a tool for gutting and skinning (treat as a dagger). Walrus ivory, bone (the long thingy bone of the walrus is highly favored), stone and wood are also used to create light clubs, these being short and paddle-like or slender. Such clubs are often carved to resemble local beasts, and are used as weapons of war, hunting implements, and to stun fish. A hatchet-sized adze of stone or iron is a common Esquimaux tool also used as a weapon (treat as handaxe) but the most common melee weapon among Esquimaux is the short spear, its tip normally carved from a walrus tusk or bone. Ranged WeaponsJavelins with carved barbed tips are extremely common, attached to cord to serve as harpoons, as are short bows and long bows backed with cable such as gut to increase their strength (treat as composite short bow and composite long bow). The effectiveness of the javelin is improved with a carved atl-atl. Prey is also captured with bolas made of bone weights and gut, or brought down with heavy boomerangs of carved driftwood or bone. ArmorThe thick sealskin, fur-lined clothing the Esquimaux wear provides some protection itself (treat as Leather), but when war is upon them, they don calf-length coats of thick leather reinforced with lamellar of walrus ivory, copper, or iron (treat as Scale armor), and a large, wing-like pauldron across the shoulders and back of the arms. A conical lamellar cap finishes the suit.
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 31, 2012 16:39:24 GMT -6
PICTISH ARMS The tattooed Picts are famed for their speed and agility in combat, their lack of armor, their astounding leaps, and their use of war dogs in battle. They are exceptional skirmishers, adequate horsemen, and their wolf and raven berserkers are duly feared.
Melee Weapons Like most people, Picts almost universally possess daggers, these being long-bladed, double-edged, and fitted with narrow guards and broad pommels. These are often used in the off-hand of those Picts who do not possess a shield, alongside the primary armament of a broadsword with a rounded tip, a hand axe with a square blade, a broad-headed short spear, or a ball-headed cudgel.
Less common in use are the broad-headed long spear, staff, battle axe, and great axe, the latter two with the distinctive Pictish-style square axehead.
Ranged Weapons Beyond the thrown use of any hand axes and spears a Pict might carry, they frequently bear two or three simple javelins too, whether mounted or on foot. Others carry simple short bows or light crossbows instead.
Armor Pictish society holds armor in low regard, considering a shield and possibly a helmet, all the protection a skilled warrior needs. This does not stop Pictish chieftains from wearing chain mail byrnies, however, though less wealthy and influential Picts will wear nothing more than a quilted tunic for warmth, if anything.
The shields used by Picts are small, wooden constructions fronted with leather or felt, those used on foot normally square, those used by horsemen typically round.
Pictish helmets are domed pots with simple hinged cheekguards, occasionally with a nasal and long neckguard or mail aventail fitted. Those of wealth are wont to fix a boar-shaped metal crest atop their helms too.
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 30, 2012 19:20:41 GMT -6
KIMMERIAN (STEPPE) ARMS The arms and armors forged by the Kimmerians of the steppes are dominated by a single Kimmerian ideal: the horse is all. Due to this outlook, cavalry are everything in Kimmerian society, and infantry are considered all but worthless.
Melee Weapons With Kimmerian infantry being composed entirely of hastily assembled peasants, these footsoldiers bring whatever they can scavenge or cobble together to the field, typically an assortment of crude light clubs, shoddy war clubs, hand axes, daggers, footman’s flails, and short spears.
The superbly-skilled Kimmerian cavalry is divided into two types: light horsemen, these serving as mounted archers and skirmishers, and cataphracts, heavily-armed and armored shock cavalry comprised of nobles and other wealthy, proven Kimmerians. Both sorts wield straight, double-edged longswords and daggers, both with ring-shaped pommels, the latter sheathed at the right thigh and an indication of worth in steppe Kimmerian culture. Beyond the ubiquitous sword and dagger, some light horsemen also carry a short spear, but the main focus of their armament is on ranged weapons. The same cannot be said of the cataphract. In addition to the sword and dagger, the Kimmerian cataphract always wields a long, spear-like lance, and often a further melee weapon such as a horseman’s flail, horseman’s hammer, horseman’s pick, or smooth, flat-headed horseman’s mace, all being crafted from beautifully-carved wood with a short, one-handed steel grip at the end of the haft.
Ranged Weapons Kimmerian infantry may use a motley assortment of slings, short bows, and even hurled stones, but all Kimmerian cavalry carry composite shortbows, light horsemen and cataphracts alike. Kimmerian horse archery is beyond compare, and their light horsemen make great use of the famed “parting shot” in combat. The bows are carried in open cases that include the quiver, and such cases may be intricately decorated. In addition to the bow, many light horsemen also carry two or three javelins to increase their options.
Armor The shield is not used in steppe Kimmerian culture as they prefer to keep both hands free for the use of a bow while mounted, and rely on speed or heavy armor to protect them in any case.
As beneath contempt as they are in Kimmerian society, peasant levies are not provided armor, and light horsemen eschew armor, relying instead on speed, mobility, and striking from range to keep them from harm. At most they might wear a quilted kaftan (treat as padded armor), as much for warmth as protection.
Kimmerian cataphracts invest in some of the best heavy armor in Hyperborea. Depending on wealth, they will wear a full suit of scale armor, chain mail, banded mail, or lamellar, sometimes combining elements of different types. A few highly-skilled Kimmerian smiths have also begun to manufacture plate mail, though this is rare, highly-coveted, expensive, and must be custom made, a process taking a considerable length of time even if the smith accepts a commission from any non-noble or non-Kimmerian.
Kimmerian helmets are simple domes affixed with scale or mail aventials to protect the neck, and also sometimes mail veils to protect the face. Most top the dome with a short spike from which a decorative horsehair plume hangs, the tail of a favored stallion.
Cataphracts also purchase scale, chain, or lamellar barding for their horses, resulting in a heavily-armored mount and rider both. Staunch traditionalists among the cataphracts only buy half-barding (half the cost, only provides the AC and DR vs. attacks from the front), barding that only covers the horse’s chest, head, neck, and forequarters, leaving the rear unprotected. Only cowards flee, they state, so barding is not needed behind the saddle. Fortunately for the horses, such diehards are becoming scare.
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 30, 2012 15:23:20 GMT -6
You have to love the Osprey books. Yep. Not too long ago my Osprey collection consisted of nearly 150 books, but as I've been pruning more and more of my library in preparation for the move to NZ, I'm now down to about 20. Colin
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 30, 2012 14:11:46 GMT -6
And here, courtesy of Wayne Reynolds, also published by Osprey, we see a well-equipped Keltic warrior of high blood:
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 30, 2012 14:08:37 GMT -6
I agree on both counts. I generally feel that Plate Armor = High Fantasy for me. I would rather use a Squamata / Scale type armor for the heavy Cataphract. Fortunately, 99% of cataphracts still will, but the best plate armour has already been mentioned in the official background material on Hyperborea as coming from the Kimmerians, so I'll be including a small line in that regard (but heavily, and I mean heavily, driving home the point that it's insanely rare, expensive, has to be custom-made, and takes a long time to manufacture, even assuming you can find a smith willing to make a suit for a random adventurer). Now, on to better things. Courtesy of Angus McBride and the fantastic Osprey military books, we see the results of a clash between the Vikings of Vikland and those of Thur:
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 29, 2012 20:12:49 GMT -6
Thanks, chaps. AMAZONIAN ARMSFamed for their hoplite phalanxes supported with light skirmishers, the Amazons have a varied approach to arms and armor that depends very strongly on their means and role. Melee WeaponsNo Amazon would be willingly caught unarmed, all carrying at the very least a straight, double-edged dagger with a narrow guard and pommel. Poorer and less experienced warriors support the hoplites as skirmishers, bearing such a dagger and a club or shortsword along with a ranged weapon. The heavily-armed hoplite defines the Amazon on the battlefield, equipped with a long spear as a primary arm and shortsword or kopis (the falcata’s inspiration) for close-in fighting. Few in number, and not highly esteemed, Amazonian cavalry are similarly armed, though their spear is a longer, appropriate for use as a lance. Amazonian viragos, those rare few warriors given to uncontrolled rage, traditionally bear double-bitted labrys great axes, and are justly feared. Ranged WeaponsAmazonian skirmishers select their missile weapons from a wide selection of arms. Some serve as short bow archers or slingers, both weapons with which the Amazons are considered highly skilled. Others carry a trio of light javelins or a handful of heavy, weighted darts. In defense of their fortifications, select warriors use heavy crossbows, though these are considered too slow for general battlefield use. ArmorAmazonian skirmishers seldom wear any armor, but sometimes wield small, round metal shields. The same cannot be said of hoplites and cavalry. These warriors carry large, circular wooden shields faced with a thin layer of metal, and wear either linothorax (a surprisingly effective layered fabric cuirass; treat as leather armor) or sculpted steel muscle cuirass (treat as laminated armor) along with leather pteruges, steel greaves, and a steel helmet of Attic or Corinthian style. Warriors individualize their helmets with dyed horsehair crests, and the wealthy may have highly-embellished or plated versions of the cuirass.
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 29, 2012 7:00:37 GMT -6
The approach I'm taking is that some developments have occurred, but these have mostly been in terms of materials more than styles. I'm having the cultures largely distinct and individualistic at their cores with particular ways of waging war, and this continues to influence their preferences and use of weapons. The Amazons, for instance, will employ psiloi (light infantry and skirmishers) alongside hoplites who operate in phalanx with longspear, short sword, and large shield. However, their muscle-style cuirass is no longer bronze, but steel, as is the thin facing of the wooden aspis shield. Those wanting lighter armour go for linothorax (which has proven surprisingly effective, and is treated as leather). That doesn't mean they will be completely and strictly historic, however, but they will be 99% recognizable. Plate armour (in-keeping with the rules and background, oddly) will be extremely rare, but has been developed by the culture most likely to do so: the Kimmerians. Like the Sarmatians, Scythians, and Parthians, they'd already made extensive use of sophisticated lamellar and banded mail alongside chainmail. If anyone was going to develop plate, it'd be them. Similarly, the Kimmerians are also the culture that would have developed more weapons we associate with mounted knights (though in truth, they already used many such weapons already). In areas where cultures border each other, there's more intermingling of ideas (and everything else), and in the great melting pot cities you'll find all manner of developments. However, before you can mingle on the fringes you need a good idea of what each culture is like, giving the GM a foundation to work from. Besides, dealing with every case where X village uses a mixture of Y and Z would be insane. Ultimately, if the cultures and approaches weren't distinct (while also being somewhat accessible due to familiarity), even bothering with them would be largely pointless. I feel that the recognizable cultures is a strong point for the game: if someone wants to play a Viking, they can play a Viking, likewise a Kelt, and so on. Having the cultures developed to the point where they're really not so recognizable anymore would be kind of counter-productive. Besides, time for development to occur isn't really an issue; many ancient cultures existed for long periods of time with only small or modest changes in terms of arms and armour, and slow development can always be partially attributed to the setbacks of the Green Death.
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 28, 2012 20:09:59 GMT -6
VIKING ARMS Despite their reputation for barbarity, Viking smiths craft fine steel weapons and armor, pattern-welding swords and knives and forging great axes and spears, creating a range of edged weaponry beloved of the local warriors. Viking warriors often give their weapons names such as “Foe-Biter”.
Melee Weapons No Viking, male or female, young or old, is ever without a utilitarian guardless dagger, some single-edged, some double-edged. A simple short spear with a leaf-shaped blade is the most common weapon among Vikings after the dagger. The greatest warriors are said to be able to throw two at once.
The sword is the most prestigious Viking weapon, a double-edged, straight-bladed slashing longsword with a short grip, broad pommel, and simple crossguard. A weapon of the wealthier warrior, the sword is often attributed mystical significance based on the pattern-welding it displays.
Less ubiquitous than the spear, and less beloved than the sword, the axe is nonetheless a popular Viking weapon. A hand axe with a slightly-curved axehead ideal for throwing is not unusual to find thrust through a warrior’s belt. The most common waraxe is the bearded axe, so named because of the downward hook of its blade, and is produced as battle axes and longer-handled great axes. Massive in size with a broad, cleaving axehead, the pale axe is a powerful great axe, but rarer than the bearded axe.
A very rare weapon, the hewing spear (atgeir) is a 6’ long wooden shaft with a long, narrow cutting and thrusting blade attached, somewhat like a narrow, thrusting bardiche, and is the only pole arm of Viking design.
Ranged Weapons Although they far prefer melee combat, or to hurl a good spear, Viking warriors are not averse to missile weapons, and when needed or when hunting, they often use a simple short bow made from yew or a sling.
Armor Even the poorest Viking warrior invests in a sturdy shield and helmet, and those with greater means purchase chain mail also; Viking warriors prefer the protection of a well-made chainmail hauberk or byrnie, when they can afford it, though berserkers are known to eschew these in favor of animal skins.
The standard Viking shield is a large, circular shield of wood covered in decorated fabric or leather with a reinforced rim.
A Viking helmet is a simple steel dome, sometimes with the addition of a protective nasal or visor around the eyes. A rare few also sport a mail veil.
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 28, 2012 20:08:34 GMT -6
KELTIC ARMS Keltic warriors invest much more in their weapons than their armor; indeed, it is not unknown for Kelts to enter battle skyclad, protected only by a shield, especially those prone to ríastrad (battle frenzy) akin to the Viking berserkers.
Melee Weapons Daggers with leaf-shaped blades and anthropoidal hilts are found everywhere in Keltic society, and the truly poor bring stout, carved wooden clubs to bear, but the short spear, with a leaf-shaped spearhead, is found in the hands of every Keltic warrior. Kelts have even been known to catch spears thrown at them by their foes, only to turn them around and cast them back at their enemies.
Nearly as frequent as the spear is the Keltic longsword with its long, narrow, double-edged blade, and anthropoidal hilt. A handful of warriors wield the Kelt-Iberian falcata instead, but it is very far from common.
Uncommon Keltic arms include a narrow-bladed hand axe, and a mace with a wooden shaft and simple flanged or studded iron striking head.
Following a history of skirmishes with Kimmerian horsemen, the Keltic tribes also developed the spiked staff, a cheap and effective anti-cavalry weapon.
Ranged Weapons Aside from a spear and sword, nearly every Keltic warrior is wont to bear two or three javelins for use at range, these resembling nothing so much as short, light spears.
Those unable to bear the cost of such weapons have been known to use handstones, fist-sized stones kept in the hollow of the shield until they can be retrieved and throw when opportune, though more make effective use of slings, staff-slings, and short bows.
Armor Keltic warriors bear shields in preference to any other armors. Keltic infantry shields are elongated wooden ovals or hexagons reinforced with a horizontal wooden spine, and faced with decorated leather or felt. Those wielded by the skilled Keltic cavalry are round instead, and fronted with a metal boss.
After the shield, the Keltic helmet is favored, a deep steel bowl with a narrow brim, neckguard, and broad hinged cheekguards. Unlike the Vikings, a few wealthier Kelts are known to purchase helmets with ornamental horns, feathered wings, horsehair plumes, and crests featuring the war symbol of a spoked chariot wheel.
Only the most well-to-do Kelts wear armor, inevitably a chainmail byrnie reinforced with an extra layer of mail over the shoulders and across the top of the back.
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 28, 2012 20:07:11 GMT -6
Rather than simply spring a finished article on everyone, I thought folks might appreciate me posting this as I develop it. It's intended to give a bit more cultural flavour to Hyperborean characters, especially in terms of what sorts of weapons and armours they are likely to begin play with. Of course, after play begins, what they bear will likely become a mish-mash of items, but it's also useful to know what you might encounter when you enter the realms of various cultures.
ARMS OF HYPERBOREA The varied cultures of Hyperborea strongly favor certain arms. Local smiths craft certain weapons and types of armor above others, and the cultures themselves enforce such manufacture and use by their approach to war and defense. Of course, all being human, they can and will use whatever they come across in their ventures beyond their realms, but for the most part, the arms presented below are what one might expect to encounter in the hands of a given Amazon, Viking, or other, especially one just left the secure confines of their native home.
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 20, 2012 8:02:32 GMT -6
For "Taken From Dunwich" I used the name generator to replace some of the Keltic character names to give them a more authentic ring:
Malvek the Druid: Marcán the Druid Olav the Jeweller: Olcán the Jeweller Brin: Brion Macc Donnan Droon: Donnan Finn: Fionn Ulster: Ultán Cooley: Conn
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 20, 2012 7:36:39 GMT -6
Glad you like it, mate. I'm a bit nuts in that I enjoy the kind of research I put into creating it.
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 19, 2012 16:47:20 GMT -6
I hope you guys enjoy it. Now, you just need to cajole Jeff into putting up the generators for character appearance, and the drunken debauchery pdf too.
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 17, 2012 14:44:33 GMT -6
Yes I feel stupid. Where are the ogre faced spider's stats? Ref's book, pg. 94 under "Spider, Giant". Colin
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 16, 2012 14:18:57 GMT -6
The pickled zombies are cool. You need to give someone a whip made from a writhing length of animated undead intestine attached to a bone handle, however. Only then will your level of cool rock the casbah.
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 16, 2012 1:14:17 GMT -6
Thanks for the files.
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 15, 2012 1:34:53 GMT -6
Nice work, thanks. I don't suppose you could upload the Word or whatever other format you used to create them with too, please? It'd make it easy then for folks to customize the charts for their own use too.
cheers! Colin
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 11, 2012 19:29:52 GMT -6
Didn't get around to reading this before now, but apart from wondering why "Gates were nuts", I love it. Great stuff.
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 10, 2012 14:20:10 GMT -6
I love Brown Jenkin and Slivikin; you can't go wrong with a too-human rat-thing for a familiar.
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 10, 2012 14:18:58 GMT -6
This will require some tinkering. As long as you keep your tinkering private; there are laws against public tinkering, doncha know. Colin
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 9, 2012 16:12:24 GMT -6
If I was a Magician, Pegomastax Africanus would be my familiar. What's not to love about a swift, cat-sized, spine-covered, vampire-fanged, bipedal dinosaur with grasping hands? What would your odd familiar be?
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Post by Cthulhu Colin on Oct 8, 2012 15:43:50 GMT -6
Plus, Jeff has two other AS&SH-related documents I created to put up for folks as well: one for drunken debauchery in the S&S vein, the other for randomly determining character eye colour, hair colour, and distinguishing features based on culture.
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Names
Sept 16, 2012 16:17:47 GMT -6
Post by Cthulhu Colin on Sept 16, 2012 16:17:47 GMT -6
I've already done the Keltic names. Basically, these are the remnant pockets specifically mentioned (Hellenic Greeks are also mentioned, but don't need separate coverage as the Amazons, Atlanteans, and Kimmerians all use Hellenic names anyway): Romans Anglo-Saxons Yakuts Moors Lapps (look for Sami or Saami) I have three guides on Roman names (it's a fairly complex naming system when you factor in patronymics, etc.) and there's a lot of material around for Anglo-Saxon too (such as HERE), but these cultures are so small in number in Hyperborea they didn't really warrant the full name treatment in the document I compiled. Colin
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Names
Sept 16, 2012 1:03:11 GMT -6
Post by Cthulhu Colin on Sept 16, 2012 1:03:11 GMT -6
One thing I haven't done, which someone else might be tempted to do, is create lists for the innumerable isolated pockets of remnant cultures you might find such as Anglo-Saxons, Romans, Yakuts, etc.
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Names
Sept 9, 2012 1:15:18 GMT -6
Post by Cthulhu Colin on Sept 9, 2012 1:15:18 GMT -6
Colin, looking forward to seeing both your Moorcock and Wagner lists. I think you meant Jason; my lists aren't Moorcock or Wagner, they're historical and fantasy lists and generators specifically selected and created for Hyperborea. There are 1380 distinct names, plus the generators for Common and Hyperborean add a few thousand more possibilities. Colin
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Names
Sept 8, 2012 8:32:41 GMT -6
Post by Cthulhu Colin on Sept 8, 2012 8:32:41 GMT -6
12 pages of names, finished.
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Names
Sept 5, 2012 14:59:17 GMT -6
Post by Cthulhu Colin on Sept 5, 2012 14:59:17 GMT -6
Just Common and Hyperborean names left to do. It's a beast of a document.
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Names
Sept 3, 2012 0:39:18 GMT -6
Post by Cthulhu Colin on Sept 3, 2012 0:39:18 GMT -6
Cthulhu Colin -- I have a great Tlingit resource, but it will require 25 pages of scanning that I will email to you. Cool. Look forward to seeing it. Just the Tlingit for the Half-Blood Picts, general Hellenic listings for the steppe Kimmerians, slightly tweaked Hellenic for the Atlanteans, and listings for the Hyperboreans and Common names left to do.
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