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McAnally's (The Community Pub) => Author Craft => Topic started by: Dresdenus Prime on September 24, 2012, 03:27:04 PM
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Hello peoples!
For my current book, I am in need of some grunt workers in the Supernatural field, although I guess soldiers would be a more appropriate title for them. In my book they are pretty much scattered throughout the land as the empire/government/whatever's militia and backbone, so I need a force that is large and plentiful. I don't want to use Vamps, or wolves. There are the Norse mythological Einherjar, which could work, but I wanted to know if anyone else knew of anything that was similar to them? Thanks!
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Trolls? Large and plentiful would indicate to me something that can reproduce quickly, and some brands of troll are like starfish: cut em in half and you get two. They are big, strong, durable as hell, and as intelligent (or not as you want them to be).
Zombies would work equally as well.
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Goblins and orcs would work, and be fresh, too, since you don't often see them in UF. The good thing about Orcs in particular is that they can be as competent as you need them to be.
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non-wolf were creatures could be fun, like were-boars or something.
Homunculii (ie artificially created doll-people) would make a decent faceless armies of terror; they could be something that is grown in crops more than born, with little personal identity (a supernatural Clone Army).
Something with a Hivemind, could be a large-scale mind control thing.
Giant insects.
Flying Monkeys?
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Homunculii (ie artificially created doll-people) would make a decent faceless armies of terror; they could be something that is grown in crops more than born, with little personal identity (a supernatural Clone Army).
This to me screams of Cadmus and the dragon's teeth.
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what I like about Orcs/Trolls/Goblins is that there are a bajillion and two ways you can make each creature, you can always add your own spin to them, but still everyone at least has a general idea what you are talking about.
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I would look at some of the things Greek Myth allows. You could have quite a bit of fun with Minotaur's(Read werecattle) hiding in Cow pastures until needed, practicing their sword skills at night.
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This to me screams of Cadmus and the dragon's teeth.
I would look at some of the things Greek Myth allows. You could have quite a bit of fun with Minotaur's(Read werecattle) hiding in Cow pastures until needed, practicing their sword skills at night.
that would fit nicely. Greek origin, and an endless supply of muscle
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Zombies would work equally as well.
This was the first thing that came to my mind. It would all depend on what you are trying to do with your stories
If you have ever read the Bazil Broketail books by Christopher Rowley, the bad guys have some pretty horrific methods of generating grunts for their army.
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Were-rabbits? You know, because they breed like . . . well . . . rabbits. Think of what an army of Monty Python rabbits from The Holy Grail could do as shock troops.
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Were-rabbits? You know, because they breed like . . . well . . . rabbits. Think of what an army of Monty Python rabbits from The Holy Grail could do as shock troops.
lol love this idea!
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Take an inspiration from Dr. Who, and have animated mannequins.
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Were havelinas? ;D ;D ;D
you know the more I think about that. . .
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grunt workers in the Supernatural field, although I guess soldiers would be a more appropriate title for them. In my book they are pretty much scattered throughout the land as the empire/government/whatever's militia and backbone,
Two thoughts since my last post:
[size=78%]I am a bit bothered by the strong link to [/size][size=78%]government [/size][size=78%]of these supernatural grunts; and I'm starting to think that the supernatural qualities of these grunts should perhaps be tied to ideas about the legitimacy of the government/empire. [/size]
[size=78%]
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[size=78%]Second thought: terracotta warriors.[/size]
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Prime, what sort of "Government" will these guys be working for? Who/What is in charge of it? That will help whittle down the possibilities into something more specifically fitting
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Are you looking for what kind of magical creature your main characters are going to be, or just background characters, like a magical SWAT team who back up the lead detectives?
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Thanks for all the ideas guys. A lot of really nice ones!
Prime, what sort of "Government" will these guys be working for? Who/What is in charge of it? That will help whittle down the possibilities into something more specifically fitting
It's going to essentially be a Supernatural government. In a way the mythological boundries are being taken down, so beings from norse, greek, japanese etc, etc. will be banning together. As to who is the "Big Guy In Charge," that is still somewhat up in the air. I'm considering having Zeus, Odin, the big guys of their respective mythos be "Governors" of their areas, and create the big guy myself. That's up in the air.
Are you looking for what kind of magical creature your main characters are going to be, or just background characters, like a magical SWAT team who back up the lead detectives?
It's more appropriate to think of the land as a prison, the main and supporting characters would be prisoners and slaves. The creatures I'm looking for would be the guards keeping the "Peace". (But it's not as black and white as that - The slaves and prisoners are the good guys)
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Thanks for all the ideas guys. A lot of really nice ones!
It's going to essentially be a Supernatural government. In a way the mythological boundries are being taken down, so beings from norse, greek, japanese etc, etc. will be banning together. As to who is the "Big Guy In Charge," that is still somewhat up in the air. I'm considering having Zeus, Odin, the big guys of their respective mythos be "Governors" of their areas, and create the big guy myself. That's up in the air.
If thats the case, maybe each "governor" has his own police force. Like Odin uses Einherjar, while Zeus uses Dragons Teeth warriors, and Ameratsu uses shadow ninja's, etc. Then you can have the big bad use some super Secret Police of Awesome (maybe poltergiests that possess others as flesh puppets) that even the other police forces are afraid of. Establishing tiers of power is always helpful
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Cool idea. Have you considered magical constructs like enchanted suits of armour or golems?
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If thats the case, maybe each "governor" has his own police force. Like Odin uses Einherjar, while Zeus uses Dragons Teeth warriors, and Ameratsu uses shadow ninja's, etc. Then you can have the big bad use some super Secret Police of Awesome (maybe poltergiests that possess others as flesh puppets) that even the other police forces are afraid of. Establishing tiers of power is always helpful
Nice. Ties into the 'cult of personality' type of populace control real nicely.
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If thats the case, maybe each "governor" has his own police force. Like Odin uses Einherjar, while Zeus uses Dragons Teeth warriors, and Ameratsu uses shadow ninja's, etc. Then you can have the big bad use some super Secret Police of Awesome (maybe poltergiests that possess others as flesh puppets) that even the other police forces are afraid of. Establishing tiers of power is always helpful
Cool idea. Have you considered magical constructs like enchanted suits of armour or golems?
Thank you both for your suggestions! I think I know exactly what to do now! I'm squeeing with excitement. This book is shaping up nicely, now the trick is to convince my 10 month old and 3 year old to let me write the darned thing ;D
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Wow, good luck with that! My wife has twins on the way so editing my second novel next year is going to be a challenge!
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Wow, good luck with that! My wife has twins on the way so editing my second novel next year is going to be a challenge!
First off, congratulations! Being a father is an amazing feeling! As to how to balance writing and life with kids, I think the trick - though I haven't tested it for myself - is learning to live off of little to no sleep ;D 8)
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Thank you both for your suggestions! I think I know exactly what to do now! I'm squeeing with excitement. This book is shaping up nicely, now the trick is to convince my 10 month old and 3 year old to let me write the darned thing ;D
sweet! anything you are comfortable sharing? Cool if not, but my curiosity is piqued