Author Topic: Supernatural Grunts or Soldiers, where do I find them?  (Read 6309 times)

Offline Dresdenus Prime

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Supernatural Grunts or Soldiers, where do I find them?
« on: September 24, 2012, 03:27:04 PM »
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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Offline Quantus

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Re: Supernatural Grunts or Soldiers, where do I find them?
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2012, 05:31:50 PM »
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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Offline THE_ANGRY_GAMER

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Re: Supernatural Grunts or Soldiers, where do I find them?
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2012, 05:36:27 PM »
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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Offline Quantus

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Re: Supernatural Grunts or Soldiers, where do I find them?
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2012, 05:48:48 PM »
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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Re: Supernatural Grunts or Soldiers, where do I find them?
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2012, 06:25:24 PM »
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.

Offline Galvatron

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Re: Supernatural Grunts or Soldiers, where do I find them?
« Reply #5 on: September 24, 2012, 07:28:25 PM »
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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Offline Aminar

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Re: Supernatural Grunts or Soldiers, where do I find them?
« Reply #6 on: September 24, 2012, 07:30:57 PM »
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.

Offline Quantus

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Re: Supernatural Grunts or Soldiers, where do I find them?
« Reply #7 on: September 24, 2012, 08:25:42 PM »
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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Offline OZ

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Re: Supernatural Grunts or Soldiers, where do I find them?
« Reply #8 on: September 24, 2012, 09:45:01 PM »
Quote
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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Offline gatordave96

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Re: Supernatural Grunts or Soldiers, where do I find them?
« Reply #9 on: September 25, 2012, 02:03:47 AM »
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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Offline Galvatron

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Re: Supernatural Grunts or Soldiers, where do I find them?
« Reply #10 on: September 25, 2012, 02:36:36 AM »
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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Offline The Corvidian

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Re: Supernatural Grunts or Soldiers, where do I find them?
« Reply #11 on: September 25, 2012, 02:56:32 AM »
Take an inspiration from Dr. Who, and have animated mannequins.
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Offline meg_evonne

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Re: Supernatural Grunts or Soldiers, where do I find them?
« Reply #12 on: September 25, 2012, 04:06:33 AM »
Were havelinas?  ;D ;D ;D

you know the more I think about that. . .
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Re: Supernatural Grunts or Soldiers, where do I find them?
« Reply #13 on: September 25, 2012, 04:17:13 AM »
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%]
[/size]
[size=78%]Second thought: terracotta warriors.[/size]




Offline Quantus

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Re: Supernatural Grunts or Soldiers, where do I find them?
« Reply #14 on: September 25, 2012, 12:20:26 PM »
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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