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Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
This update will focus on a very important facet of The Hyborian Age - the faction leaders. Whilst in other mods you can feel like a god commanding the fate of civilization, I'd like the player to feel more personal and close to the mortals they command, and especially the leaders of their chosen faction.
Robert E. Howard's characters were rich and varied, and all the Conan stories are marked by their surprising depth and intrigue. Each character has their own agenda, which is frequently very different from the agenda of others, even their own allies. With that in mind, let's have a look at at some of the kings, queens, warlords and war-chiefs whom you will meet, befriend or (more likely) slay mercilessly in The Hyborian Age: Total War.
“Behind an ivory, gold-inlaid writing-table sat a man whose broad shoulders and sun-browned skin seemed out of place among those luxuriant surroundings. He seemed more a part of the sun and winds and high places of the outlands. His slightest movement spoke of steel-spring muscles knit to a keen brain with the co-ordination of a born fighting-man. There was nothing deliberate or measured about his actions. Either he was perfectly at rest – still as a bronze statue – or else he was in motion, not with the jerky quickness of over-tense nerves, but with a cat-like speed that blurred the sight which tried to follow him.” – The Phoenix on the Sword
One of the most infamous figures of the Hyborian Age, and undoubtedly the one most known about from the Nemedian Chronicles, Conan the Cimmerian is a legend in his own lifetime. Born on a battlefield during a battle between his northern tribe and Vanir raiders, Conan was the son of a blacksmith who would live a storied life. Even early on he was the talk of campfire folklore: he has boasted of breaking the neck of a Cimmerian bull bare-handed, and considering his later might and forthright manner this is not likely to be mere hyperbole.
Although his grandfather took part on raids into the Hyborian lands, coming back with many tales to fire young Conan’s imagination, Conan’s first recorded contact with Hyborian civilization was a dark one. Conan was present at the destruction of Venarium, a one of the blackest days in Aquilonian history – and one which certain spheres of his subjects yet find cause for resentment. Conan’s wanderlust would lead him through Asgard, Vanaheim, and Hyperborea, fighting with the locals in blood feuds and clan wars. At one point Conan was captured by Hyperboreans, and his experiences with them would lead to a hatred of those northerners that have lasted all his life thus far. He would then spend a few years of successful thievery in Brythunia, Nemedia, Koth and Zamora – his adventures in those realms the stuff of local legend even today. Conan joined various mercenary companies in Corinthia and Koth before ravaging the east as a member of the Free Companions. A disastrous battle against Shah Amurath resulted in Conan’s first acquaintance with leadership, as the captain of a pirate galley on the Vilayet. It was during this time that that Yezdigerd became King of Turan and embarked on his grand imperial expansion to the west and east.
After some rough times in the east, including an encounter with Olgerd Vladislav and his Zaporoskans, Conan enlisted in Amalric’s mercenary army, and quickly became captain of the spearmen. Conan’s first taste of battlefield leadership would come next, when he was appointed general of Khoraja’s military in the nation’s conflict against Natohk. After the magnificent defeat of Natohk’s horde at Shamla Pass, Conan’s lust for battle brought him to Messantia after hearing news of a possible war. A series of events resulting in trouble with Argossean law led to Conan joining the notorious pirate-queen Bêlit, and during the following two years the two would wreak havoc along the Black Coast, sacking Abombi and burning the Stygian Fleet in it’s harbour. After the loss of his ship, crew and arguably only love, Conan rode north to Shumballah, and then on to Koth. Again he enrolled in the mercenary army of Koth, this time under Prince Almuric, to fight in an uprising against King Strabonus. The rebellion, however, was crushed, and Conan was cast with the army down through Shem, Stygia and Kush, annihilated to a man save Conan and a young Brythunian named Natala. After some adventures in the Southern kingdoms and Stygia, Conan found himself in Khauran. There he would serve as captain of the guard, until conspiracy would see him cast out and nailed to a cross. His direst circumstances yet, he would gain a reprieve from an unlikely source: Olgerd Vladislav, riding as chief of the Zuagir. After characteristically seizing command of his army (although showing gratitude by allowing Olgerd to live), Conan stormed Khauran, and remained as chief to raid Turan and eastern Shem for a time.
After leaving the Zuagir for unknown reasons, Conan made his way east and became hetman of the local Kozaki, and formed an alliance with the Red Brotherhood to make fast and powerful raids around the Vilayet. The sack of Khawarizm would prove serious enough for Yezdigerd himself to take notice of this red-handed barbarian. Again this alliance failed, possibly due to Yezdigerd’s machinations. In any case, Conan fell in with the Afghuli ill tribes, forming an alliance of several clans as war-chief to raid Turan and Vendhya.
Conan gave up his attempt to form the Afghuli into an army, and after adventures in Zamboula he again joins with a mercenary army, this time under Prince Zapayo da Kova. In a failed invasion by Argos into Stygia stemming from Koth’s betrayal of Argos, Conan ended up stranded in the Southern Desert, only he and a young Aquilonian named Amalric remaining of the Argossean army. Adventures in Tombalku and as leader of the Bamula would follow, and after being picked up by a Barachan ship, a pirate. Becoming a pirate captain in his own right, he became one of the most legendary pirates of the Hyborian Age, terrorizing the Western Sea for years. This success would prove his downfall, as several pirate lords sought to remove him as a competitor. He escaped the trap, and would continue his predations on the Western ports among the Zingaran Freebooters. He never matched his notoriety among the Barachans, as his ship was scuppered on the Pelishtic coast. Conan spent his time recuperating at the Pelishtic capital of Asgalun, learning the language and meeting with the long-lived wise men.
A few years pass, and Conan’s first time in Aquilonian employ would see him as a forest runner in the Westermarck, about the time of Namedides’ coronation. Conan himself was pivotal in the Pictish conflict, and though Conajohara was lost, he managed to kill the wizard Zogar Sag, and saved the town Velitrium from the Pictish torch. His victory was short lived, as he was captured by the Wolf Picts soon after. After a wild adventure in the Wilderness, Conan managed to return to civilization (along with Belesa da Korzetta and her niece Tina), and rejoined the Red Brotherhood. After a Zingaran fleet sank his ship, Conan signed up with Zarallo’s Free Companions and marched to Stygia. After an adventure with the Aquilonian pirate Valeria and a stint as the general of Keshan, Conan would return to Aquilonia, where his journey to the crown would begin.
King Namedides’s tyrannical reign left the land in bitter civil conflict. Conan joined the Aquilonian army, and quickly became commander of his regiment. He became famous among the people of Aquilonia and particularly Poitain, and it wasn’t long before Namedides feared him a threat to his throne. Conan escaped the Iron Tower, and formed an army from his old comrades and his allies in Poitain. After a series of brutal battles, Conan marched onto Tarantia, and strangled Namedides himself on his throne, and crowned himself as king of Aquilonia, finally realizing a life-long dream.
Conan’s reign has not been quiet: in addition to the tedious affairs of statecraft, he has had to survive attempts on his life by high-station conspirators, invasions, betrayals, rebellions and even as collateral damage in the wrath of terrible sorcerers. Still, he is an immensely popular king among the outer provinces and common people, even if the majority of the nobility resent his blunt conversation and barbarian heritage. He is currently unmarried, but has made a promise to make the Nemedian girl Zenobia Queen of Aquilonia: whether he makes good on this promise remains to be seen. At the moment the kingdoms around Aquilonia are at an uneasy peace, though war is never absent long in the Hyborian lands, and Aquilonia is frequently the target of such conflict. Conan has few friends among the nobility, but his chosen generals are loyal and trustworthy. The Nemedian Chronicles are sketchy about Conan’s later fate: they say that he traveled far even as king, and had a turbulent reign. Where he travels, and how turbulent his reign is, remains lost in the mists of the Hyborian Age...
“Tarascus did not flee… Most of his knights were fleeing and the Aquilonians were riding them down; Tarascus knew the day was lost, but with a handful of faithful followers he raged through the melee, conscious of but one desire – to meet Conan, the Cimmerian. And at last he met him.
Formations had been destroyed utterly, close-knit bands broken asunder and swept apart. The crest of Trocero gleamed in one part of the plain, those of Prospero and Pallantides in others. Conan was alone. The house-troops of Tarascus had fallen one by one. The two kings met man to man.” – The Hour of the Dragon
Tarascus was born the second son of the King of Nemedia, only a few years younger than his older brother Numa. This position filled him with resentment, as unless Numa and his heirs died Tarascus would forever remain a Prince, and never see kingship. He spent his formative years constantly trying to better his brother in any way he could: he became a master swordsman famed throughout the western nations, and would try to outdo his brother at every turn.
Tarascus’ ambitions would get the better of him, when he entered into an alliance with Amalric of Tor, the rebel prince Valerius and the fallen priest Orastes in a diabolical plot to alter the balance of power in the Hyborian lands. Resurrecting the ancient mummy of the Acheronian sorcerer Xaltotun, King Numa and his heirs were slain by a black plague, paving the way for Tarascus’ ascension. Tarascus then lead the Nemedian army to a stunning victory over the Aquilonian host at the Battle of the Valkia, when the cliffs collapsed upon the Aquilonian charge, decimating them and causing the army to route. Tarascus's forces rampaged through Aquilonia, and Valerius was established as the new King in Conan's absense. However, Tarascus soon discovered that Xaltotun was planning to manipulate the conspirators himself, and the alliance fell apart as each man sought to outsmart the other. Eventually only Tarascus survived of the conspiracy, and heroically sought to face Conan himself at the Battle at the Valley of Lions: though he fought bravely, he was ultimately defeated by Conan.
After the battle, Tarascus was humbled by King Conan. In a battle that he should have won with ease through military might and sorcerous power, his plans to finally conquer Aquilonia were thwarted by a combination of chance and his own strategic errors. Although the armistice was relatively generous, losing the taste of what he thought would be a clear victory and subsequent ransom of his person stung far sorer than the defeat itself: he was exchanged for Zenobia, a concubine in his seraglio, who was to be made Queen of Aquilonia! To be exchanged for a mere harlot enraged Tarascus, and resentment towards Conan, Zenobia and Aquilonia itself gnawed at his mind incessantly. Even in total defeat, thoughts toward retribution began to gather in his stormy mind. He no longer trusted in magic, instead focusing on conspiracy and planning. He had already tasted victory over Aquilonia before, and he swore to himself that he would savour that taste again before he died.
Of all this Olivia was but mechanically cognizant. Her overwrought brain was almost ready to collapse. Left alone and unprotected, she realized how much the protection of the Cimmerian had meant to her. There intruded vaguely a wonderment at the mad pranks of Fate, that could make the daughter of a king the companion of a red-handed barbarian... Olivia sighed; at least she knew that the Cimmerian still lived. Fresh determination steeled her. As soon as night fell, she would steal to those grim ruins and free him or be taken herself in the attempt. And she knew it was not selfish interest alone which prompted her decision." - Iron Shadows in the Moon
Olivia was a daughter of the King of Ophir, who callously sold her to into slavery when she refused to marry the King of Koth (presumably the ever-unpopular Strabonus), and eventually found herself taken to Turan. There she suffered incredible humiliation and abuse at the hands of the Hyrkanians, and is used as a pawn against the Kozaks. She is rescued by Conan, and after escaping Turanian soldiers, pirates, supernatural iron statues and a Grey Ape, Conan commandeers a pirate vessel, and promises to make her "Queen of the Blue Sea".
(The Nemedian Chronicles do not speak further of Olivia, so the following is extrapolation:)
After Conan had left the Red Brotherhood for adventures further afield, Olivia grew close to Conan’s second-in-command Ivanos. Together they terrorized the Turanian and Hyrkanian ports, and the Red Brotherhood attained a status rivaling even that of the Barachans. Eventually Olivia retired from the pirate life, taking Ivanos with her home to Ophir.
Just before the war between Ophir and Aquilonia, Olivia’s brother declared war on Amalrus. Olivia and Ivanos initially sided with Amalrus, but after the mysterious assassination of her uncle – no doubt the work of Tsotha-Lanti – they decided to distance themselves, returning to their home of Chelkus. After Amalrus’ death at the hands of Conan at the Siege of Shamar, the rule of Ophir was passed to Olivia.
After Olivia’s ascension to the throne of Ophir, Ivanos became her consort, and quickly proved an effective leader. As Argos dominated the sea, Olivia used the knowledge gained from her time in the Red Brotherhood to subsidize the many mines and merchants of Ophir, creating a vast industry that could rival even the shrewd businessmen of Shem.
(tentatively titled Gwaen from Hyborian Wars)
(Little is known for sure about Brythunia, and nothing about it's king, so for the purposes of the mod I've made up the character, whose biography will be fleshed out further)
Brythunia is a kingdom only in name: although Gwaen Lounacea is recognized as monarch, in reality each region governs itself regardless of the king’s commands. Brythunia is a non-centralised nation where every village is its own government, and their economy is entirely based on farming and the export of the uncommonly beautiful womenfolk. Gwaen faces a great struggle to unite Brythunia under his banner, for both his own personal glory and for Brythunia’s survival: with the ever-present threats of Hyperborea, Nemedia and Turan, a strongly unified Brythunia would at least stand a chance should one of those countries decide to take Brythunia’s pastures and women for their own.
“… the first Hyborian kingdom has come into being – the rude and barbaric kingdom of Hyperborea, which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack. The people of this tribe soon abandoned their horse-hide tents for stone houses, crudely but mightily built, and thus protected, they grew strong. There are few more dramatic events in history than the rise of the rude, fierce kingdom of Hyperborea, whose people turned abruptly from their nomadic life to rear dwellings of naked stone, surrounded by cyclopean walls – a race scarcely emerged from the polished stone age, who had by a freak of chance, learned the first rude principles of architecture.” – The Hyborian Age
(Tomar exists only as a name in the notes of Robert E. Howard, where he lists the kings of various nations at the time of Conan's reign. I have fleshed him out for the mod's benefit)
Tomar is a mighty warlord, and has reigned as King of Hyperborea for many years. Being of the royal house who trace their roots to Elder Hyperborea, Tomar is almost alien compared to the average Hyperborean: he has silvery blonde hair, light green eyes, and tremendously tall and gaunt. Like others of his race he is slow of speech, though this is not a reflection on his intellect, which is sharp and cunning.
Tomar has long had to deal with bandits, tribes and even invasions into his kingdom. Yezdigerd has sent Turanian squadrons to harass his eastern borders, already blackened by the torches of the Kozaks. The western borders resist bands of Aesir and Cimmerians wandering their hills in retribution of Hyperborean slave raids. And the ice from the north encroaches ever further south, threatening their agricultural economy. With Aquilonia and Nemedia both crippled from their war, Tomar has decided the time may be ripe to expand through those kingdoms.
"I have seen the strange madness of futility fall upon them when a little thing like a spinning dust-cloud, or the hollow crying of a bird, or the moan of the wind through bare branches brought to their gloomy minds the emptiness of life and the vainness of existence. Only in war are the Cimmerians happy." - The Phoenix on the Sword
(Cumal exists only as a name in the notes of Robert E. Howard, where he lists the kings of various nations at the time of Conan's reign.)
Cumal was already a noted chieftain by the time of the Aquilonian push into Cimmeria, and he was among those Cimmerians who put aside their incessant blood-feuds to drive the colonists from their southern lands. Long-lived by Cimmerians standards at 64, Cumal has shown no sign of slowing to age, and is as intelligent and wily as he was as a lad, and any contenders to his position are soundly thwarted by his strength and
Cumal is perhaps the archetypal Cimmerian: dour and gloomy, his dark melancholy is only lifted in the heat of battle, which is frequent in his homeland, be it against roving bandits or invading hordes. Many chants and dirges of his victories sing in the ears of his tribesmen, and he has seen more of those in a year than most men in a lifetime. Perhaps more than any other, Cumal has seen much sadness: he has seen countless allies, lovers and children die before him on the battlefield, and often his dirges can be heard echoing in the grey hills. Yet the tragedies of his life were never allowed to drag him to despair, for there were plenty of opportunities for Cumal to drown his sorrows in battle and bloodshed. These days, however, the borders are quiet, the sounds of battle far away, the hated Vanir and Picts disgustingly peaceful. If battle does not happen in Cimmeria, perhaps bringing war to the soft Hyborian lands will suffice to lift the suffocating bleakness of existence that Cumal suffers so much...
“Just so we of the Æsir laughed to hear their threats - deep thunderous laughter from broad and mighty chests. Our trail was laid in blood and embers through many lands. We were the slayers and ravishers, striding sword in hand across the world, and that these folk threatened us woke our rugged humour. We went to meet them, naked but for our wolfhides, swinging our bronze swords, and our singing was like rolling thunder in the hills.” – The Valley of the Worm
(Tyr exists only as a name in the notes of Robert E. Howard, where he lists the kings of various nations at the time of Conan's reign.)
King Tyr was elected as High King of the Æsir some ten years before Conan took the throne of Aquilonia, and became renowned as one of the greatest statesmen among the Nordheimir. A peerless guarantor of treaties and guardian of oaths, he has settled centuries-long blood feuds and bitter rivalries lasting millennia through his negotiations, and has gained the respect and admiration of even the most proud Vanir. Despite his unique diplomacy and discretion, he is no less feared as a warrior: he is particularly ferocious against oath-breakers, traitors and betrayers, no matter the triviality of the sin, almost to the point of savagery.
In one of his most famous legends, Tyr met with Fenrir, a neighbouring Æsir king, who had been preying on migrating settlers. Tyr endeavoured to establish peace with Fenrir, who was notoriously brutal and barbaric even among the Nordheimir. In a tremendous show of trust, Tyr met with him alone, unarmed, at the castle of Fenrir. Despite his negotiations, Fenrir would prove utterly untrustworthy: as Tyr extended his hand to seal the agreement, Fenrir gripped it, and wrenched it so violently that he ripped it off Tyr’s arm. With the adrenaline and fury of a slighted Æsir, Tyr went berserk, and ripped the fully-armoured Fenrir to bloody pieces with his teeth and left hand. This incident more than any other proved to any dissenting Æsir that Tyr is not one to trifle with, and even some Vanir treat him with unusual courtesy.
Long after his time, Tyr would be deified as a god in his own right in various guises among the Æsir’s descendents. Some knew him as Tiw, some as Tîwaz, and some in his old name, but always as a mighty champion of justice and war. Perhaps the greatest honour he would receive was as the name of one of the days of the common week: truly a fitting tribute for such a figure.
“The clangor of the swords had died away, the shouting of the slaughter was hushed; silence lay on the red-stained snow. The bleak pale sun that glittered so blindingly from the ice-fields and the snow-covered plains struck sheens of silver from rent corselet and broken blade, where the dead lay as they had fallen. The nerveless hand yet gripped the broken hilt; helmeted heads, back-drawn in the death throes, tilted red beards and golden beards grimly upward, as if in last invocation to Ymir the frost-giant, god of a warrior race.” – The Frost Giant’s Daughter
(Horsa exists only as a name in the notes of Robert E. Howard, where he lists the kings of various nations at the time of Conan's reign.)
Horsa was born on a battlefield with his brother, a great omen that the child will grow up a mighty warrior. His mother dying bravely while fending off Æsir, he and his brother managed to crawl under her furs, and somehow survived until the battle ended, the Vanir only discovering them many hours after their birth. Surviving a battle their mother and father did not made them local heroes among their clan, who saw this test of their constitution a success.
Horsa and Hengest became formidable fighters, and more than lived up to their legend. The two brothers shared a great bond, and the death of Hengest was a terrible blow to Horsa. In retaliation, Horsa went on a rampage along the border of Asgard, torching and destroying instead of pillaging. This act made him legendary among the Vanir, who chose him as the High-King.
Horsa harbours a terrible hatred of the Æsir, like all his kin, and battles furiously with them at the slightest provocation. In addition, Horsa feels threatened at the possibly precarious position of Vanaheim, with three hostile foes on one side, and the sea and glaciers on the other. Vanaheim is trapped, and the Vanir must constantly push into Asgard, Cimmeria and the Pictish Wilderness if they hope to survive the coming glacial drift. Horsa perceives this, and is determined for the Vanir to not only survive, but prosper.
"Beyond the river the primitive still reigned in shadowy forests, brush-thatched huts where hung the grinning skulls of men, and mud-walled enclosures where fires flickered and drums rumbled, and spears were whetted in the hands of dark, silent men with tangled black hair and the eyes of serpents. Those eyes often glared through bushes at the fort across the river. Once dark-skinned men had built their huts where that fort stood, yes, and their huts had risen where now stood the fields and log cabins of fair-haired settlers, back beyond Velitrium, that raw, turbulent frontier town on the banks of Thunder River, to the shores of that other river that bounds the Bossonian marches. Traders had come, and priests of Mitra who walked with bare feet and empty hands, and died horribly, most of them; but soldiers had followed, men with axes in their hands and women and children in ox-drawn wains. Back to Thunder River, and still back, beyond Black River, the aborigines had been pushed, with slaughter and massacre. But the dark-skinned people did not forget that once Conajohara had been theirs." - Beyond the Black River
Little is known of Teyanoga, save that he was a young Pict during the time of Conan's usurpation of the throne of Aquilonia.
(more details to come)
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
great looking profiles and great info
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Totally, can't wait to see the profile of Yezdigerd, and the leaders of the East, or that of Shem or Stygia
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Looks very good, I liked the pictures as well. Keep the good stuff coming. :2thumbsup:
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Cheers lads, the portraits will be shrunk down for use in the game, but they'll be used in the opening splash screens of the campaign too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Helgi
Totally, can't wait to see the profile of Yezdigerd, and the leaders of the East, or that of Shem or Stygia
Those profiles are a ways off yet, sadly: I'm concentrating on the Western kingdoms for the first release, but the second release will certainly feature characters like Yezdigerd, Yasmina and Ctesphon.
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Is it wrong I though you'd have pic of Arnold for Conan ?
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Quote:
Originally Posted by russia almighty
Is it wrong I though you'd have pic of Arnold for Conan ?
Yes it is russia, yes it is. :beam: (kidding on)
Although I can enjoy the movie on it's own merits, the literary character of Conan bears little resemblance to the cinematic character. While the film Conan spent his childhood pushing a giant wheel, Howard's Conan had formative years consisting of hunting mountain beasts, slaying Aquilonian invaders and breaking the necks of wild bulls.
I mean, don't get me wrong, it was a fun movie: but it's kind of like making a Tarzan film where Tarzan was raised by rabbits.
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
I thought it made him way too much into a barbarian . After watching the first movie I read a couple of the short stories . I was surprised how much smarter the dude was .
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Well there you go, I betcha never thought Conan could speak multiple languages :beam:
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
It would be fitting that he takes the most civilized kingdom as him realm . Non-barbarian born in barbarian's body definitely eh?
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Poetic irony at it's finest.:yes:
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
So anyway is there a full collection of the stories ? These two I kinda got from not so legal sources or are they public domain ?
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
All the Conan stories, unedited, plus a few drafts and fragments can be found in the following books:
The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian
The Bloody Crown of Conan
The Conquering Sword of Conan
Generally these three are all you need when it comes to Conan.
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Quote:
Originally Posted by russia almighty
So anyway is there a full collection of the stories ? These two I kinda got from not so legal sources or are they public domain ?
Besides the three that Taranaich mentions, there is a series of books you can check out as well.
1. Conan
2. Conan of Cimmeria
3. Conan the Freebooter
4. Conan the Wanderer
5. Conan the Adventurer
6. Conan the Buccaneer
7. Conan the Warrior
8. Conan the Usurper
9. Conan the Conqueor
10. Conan the Avenger
11. Conan of Aquilonia
12. Conan of the Isles
Then the Illustrated Novels
1. Conan and the Sorcerer
2. The Treasure of Tranicos
3. Conan the Mercenary
I've read most of the 12 list and the third book of the Illustrated Novels.
The 12 list are from ACE books (had my copies since 1981 and may need to break down and pick-up new copies)
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
If you're a big enough fan of Conan, then there are certainly the pastiches too - Conan the Rebel, The Road of Kings and any by John Maddox Roberts are particularly good - but this mod is specifically Howard oriented, so I'd be including non-Conan Howard material like Marchers of Valhalla before pastiche material. This is purely personal preference on my part, but I certainly shan't stop you from reading more stories about our favourite Cimmerian.
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
I haveall of the original 1960's Lancer PB's with purple edged pages, and a couple are in very good condition, plus all the recent PB's by other authors except those released in thelast 2-years, if any more have been released, and a couple of harcovers and the very rare Gazeteer etc.
Trouble is, I haven't been on a Conan kick in a few years.
Chris
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Same here, have not been on such a kick in a long time, still on a Dune kick, the 2nd to last book "Sandworms of Dune" just came out today.
:england: :france: :denmark:
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Yeah, about 3 or 4 years I was on a Conan kick, but that was mainly in finding and buying all the books on Ebay, but I have not read all of the new ones and haven't read the originals in many years. I was making a map based on an already made map of hyboria, and adding in more cities etc., but I think it is on my crashed and inaccesible old HD, but I may have a copy on another HD. It was a BMP map and was only partially done.
Never got into Dune, except for the Spice.
Chris
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
If you like Star Wars, Then give Dune another few chances, According to George Lucas, he based most of series on Dune.
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Yeah, Dune is interesting and I saw the movies and had a Dune PC game but only started to read the novels, and now I really don't have the time, but Dune is interesting.
Chris
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Brilliant. Especially the Tyr and Fenrir part. I was going to suggest something similar myself, untill I read it.
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Well, Howard did like to inject mythological incidents into his stories in new lights, and with such an evocatively named character as Tyr I simply couldn't resist.
I'm sorely tempted to based the King of Brythunia on King Arthur, or perhaps Vortigern or Uther Pendragon if Arthur's too obvious. He'd be based on a mixture of celtic Arthurian legend, with some gallic and polish stuff thrown in for good measure. Basically I want all the faction leaders to be characters, but with enough strong good and bad in them for the player to take them down whatever path they like. :2thumbsup:
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Good idea about the King of Brythunia and Arthur!!! Fits in with what Howard and others wrote about Brythunia.
Same for the Border Kingdom more or less.
Chris
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
The Border Kingdom will be a very interesting kingdom to play as, considering the only routes of expansion will require either invading another more powerful faction, or going into the dark lands of Cimmeria. Like the lowland Scots were stuck between England and the Highlands, they will be stuck between Hyborian chivalry and feudalism, and Cimmerian tribalism and clan warfare.
They'll have a bit of a break early on as Nemedia subsidizes them as a buffer between Cimmeria and their border, generally giving a few tributes each year in order to keep the kingdom running (and the Cimmerians out). However, should Nemedia be in trouble financially, focus on other priorities or be wiped out, the Border Kingdom will be in a heap of trouble. They will be the hardest faction to play by far, so hopefully ideal for a real challenge. Units will be a mix of classic Hyborian units, plus outlaws, bandits, and some barbarian warriors.
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Yeah, that sounds good for the Border Kingdom!!
Also, a few Rebel Provinces within the Border kingdom would give it the flavor that Howard writes about, and maybe only have the capital and one other province as strong $$ producers. that way, with the rebel Provinces the BK would have to really fight to survuve, but it would also be interesting give the player something to do in the early game without provoking a war with its more powerful neighbors, plus, once the BK united all its provinces then you could have an event occur where the BK would maybe get some $$ and a couple or few units of new troops signifying the importance of the unification, and then have it so the Happiness goes up across the country 5% and maybe each governemnt building or temple or whatever, even a barracks, gets a permanent 5% increases in Public aw or whatever. Something like that.
Chris
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
This is exactly the sort of thing I'm doing for Zingara: when all the Zingaran counties are (re)united, there will be great improvements in happiness, law, and productivity while the nation rebuilds itself after tumultuous civil war. I think this would be highly suitable for the Border Kingdom to give the players a bit of flexibility considering their dangerous start position.
Brythunia and Corinthia *might* get similar treatment, with rebellious city-states and fiefdoms having possibly broken away from the original countries (like Khauran and Khoraja did with Koth), so that the player can do some conquering without taking on an established, powerful neighbour. It would also account for the nameless city state of Rogues in the House, which is meant to be west of Zamora, but the only thing west of Zamora on Howard's own map was Corinthia. If one of the cities was "in" Corinthia but not necessarily part of the nation, this could explain that little oddity a bit.
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Taranaich, You know actually, if you gave all the kindoms at least 1, 2 or 3 provinces/counties that were in revolt at the start of the game that would be realistic per Howard as there was always some minor rebellion or major bandit etc. infestation happening everywhere. Plus that would give the player of any nation a chance to experiment and get familiar with the game and get some more experience for their troops and traits and retunie for their characters.
Chris
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
You know, you're right. My original idea was to have the nations pretty much all united at the start of the game, but your post (and playing Europa Barbarorum) made me think this would be a better idea. Rather than placing it two years after Hour of the Dragon, placing it a pretty much immediately after it would off up a lot more fun for the player.
In this case, Aquilonia would still be pretty split. Although Tarascus should give over his current holdings in Aquilonia, there's no reason why a strong general or baron would prefer to keep what he and his men fought tooth and nail for, so a few of the western provinces would be held by rebel Nemedians. After the disastrous War of the Dragon, I think some of Nemedia's provinces would rebel against their incompetent king too, particularly Tor: since Amarlic was killed, the new baron could defy the new regime outright.
Koth and Ophir's civil conflicts are pretty well documented, so perhaps even though Amarlus and Strabonus were killed a few years back, this could be a bigger "War of the Roses" dynastic conflict for those kingdoms. The only two "whole" nations will be Hyperborea and Argos, because they could be able to annex rebellious Nordic/Zingaran provinces before their neighbours. Same with Stygia, it could just nab Shemite/Black kingdom provinces before Pelishtia or Kush get their acts together.
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Wasn't there a rebel prince or noble in Stygia that howard reffered to??
You have this down good.
Chris
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Quote:
Originally Posted by christof139
Wasn't there a rebel prince or noble in Stygia that howard reffered to??
You have this down good.
Chris
Yes, this Rebel Stygian Prince allied his forces with Natachok fanatics against Khoran, I forget the name of the story, but Prince dies as does his Stygian soldiers.
:england: :france: :denmark:
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Ah, Prince Kutamun. He was slain by Conan himself in a pretty bloody scrap, but given Stygia's treacherous reputation I doubt he was the only rebel prince.
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Quote:
Originally Posted by Taranaich
Ah, Prince Kutamun. He was slain by Conan himself in a pretty bloody scrap, but given Stygia's treacherous reputation I doubt he was the only rebel prince.
'The only two "whole" nations will be Hyperborea and Argos, because they could be able to annex rebellious Nordic/Zingaran provinces before their neighbours. **Same with Stygia, it could just nab Shemite/Black kingdom provinces before Pelishtia or Kush get their acts together.'
So Sytgia can have a rebel province or two and not just sttack the Black Kingdoms at the start!!! Might make it more balanced and interesting and challenging. :yes:
Chris
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Quote:
Originally Posted by christof139
'
So Sytgia can have a rebel province or two and not just sttack the Black Kingdoms at the start!!! Might make it more balanced and interesting and challenging. :yes:
Chris
Eh, why not. The regions can be made rebel relatively easily, once I get started on the map properly I can toy about with whatever seems most balanced for gameplay and Howardian accuracy. The "Keshatta" region of Stygia will probably be rebel, and I might add a few fictional rebel regions too. Not all the Black Kingdoms will be factions though, a couple of independent tribal settlements will be along the Stygian border. Normally Stygia would just send a general down to recruit tribal mercenaries, but if needed the settlements could themselves be taken over.
I might also give Hyperborea a few rebel regions in the north too, representing a few backwards Hyperborean communities that stick to the old nomadic lifestyle.
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Yeah!!!!! And the Hyperborea and other places could have some wandering Rebel Ape-things or whatevers!!!! Monsters!!! Demons!!! Ghouls!!!
Out and about the countryside looking for fresh meat, shuffling around on their big nasty feet. Neat!!!
Chris
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Hmmm, the Hyperboreans DID have problems with snow-apes early in their history, perhaps there could be an abandoned town or two in the north overrun by the beasts, a chance for the Hyperboreans to prove their military might and gain some experience for their armies :book:
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Re: Bloody Crowns and Jewelled Thrones - Faction Leaders
Yup. Don't make too many of them wandering about though please, I don't want to be supper for any of the things.
Chris
