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Christopher_Heath
Eternal Champion
      
Date Joined Oct 2005
Total Posts : 1156
| Posted 12/26/2007 5:35 PM (GMT -5) |   | In a millitaristic sense, what is the fantasy version of a bugler? I don't really want to use that word to describe a barbarian sounding a war horn. It just doesn't have the right tone for my setting.
Christopher M. Heath
"Azieran: Claimed by Birthright" in Return of the Sword
"Azieran: Oathbreaker's Promise" in Flashing Swords
"Azieran: The Hollow Kings" in Flashing Swords
"Azieran: The Harvester" in AlienSkin
"Azieran: Adairos" in Tower of Light Fantasy
"Azieran: Savior in a Flask" in Magic and Mechanica by Ricasso Press
"Azieran: The Travelers Four" in Black Dragon, White Dragon by Ricasso Press
"Azieran: The Breaking of Hell's Bones" in Black Sails by 1018 Press
"Azieran: Distilling the Essence" in Sails and Sorcery by Fantasist Enterprises
"Azieran: Crestfallen in Mal'kyrrik" serialized novella in Forgotten Worlds
+ others
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crystalwizard
Forum Moderator
Date Joined Nov 2006
Total Posts : 5194
| Posted 12/26/2007 5:53 PM (GMT -5) | | | | |
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MattDempsey
Neophyte
Date Joined Dec 2007
Total Posts : 57
| Posted 12/26/2007 5:56 PM (GMT -5) | | I think I might be inclined to make a word up here to denote the profession of bugler.
....
Birka watched from the battlements, his hands clenched around the shaft of his hammer. "Too late, they are too late. Jarlbard, sound the advance."
The young boy raised his trumpet to his lips and blew a series of short sharp notes.
Damn this leg, I should be down there with them.
The reserve was committed. The die cast.
It was too late. The Saxon's line had held. The gamble was for nothing.
"Boy. Sound the retreat. Its over."
The child looked into his king's eyes and prepared to blow. Across the battlefield the sad notes of retreat came from the Jarlbard. The day was lost.
.........
Mind you, what about something like a piper or battlebard. | | Back to Top | | |
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MichaelEhart
Sage
Date Joined Jul 2005
Total Posts : 2352
| Posted 12/26/2007 6:01 PM (GMT -5) | | Lur--- a form of trumpet used back to 1500 BC. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lur
BTW, trumpet is fine--- the word is used as the translated word in the Bible, and in the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Arabic is Naffir.
Latin Buccina.
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Christopher_Heath
Eternal Champion
Date Joined Oct 2005
Total Posts : 1156
| Posted 12/26/2007 8:04 PM (GMT -5) | | Thanks everyone. I may have stumbled upon something:
Even though a "skald" is a poet, that might work. These barbarians are offshoots of a viking-like culture, so maybe I could just call him that. I realize bugles and trumpets have been around for ages, but calling a barbarian a "bugler" just seems to ring oddly, even if he is sounding a war horn.
How's this read:
The clan-king gazed back toward the coastline, to the sailing galley he captained. He shook his head in disgust, knowing the enclave was in no condition to press the attack, and so must retreat to the ship. He quickly retrieved a bronze horn from the blistered hand of his skald, and bellowed a long, low-pitched dirge of an odd cadence best described as the merging sounds of a boar being slaughtered and the wyvyrn’s moaning rut.
Christopher M. Heath
"Azieran: Claimed by Birthright" in Return of the Sword
"Azieran: Oathbreaker's Promise" in Flashing Swords
"Azieran: The Hollow Kings" in Flashing Swords
"Azieran: The Harvester" in AlienSkin
"Azieran: Adairos" in Tower of Light Fantasy
"Azieran: Savior in a Flask" in Magic and Mechanica by Ricasso Press
"Azieran: The Travelers Four" in Black Dragon, White Dragon by Ricasso Press
"Azieran: The Breaking of Hell's Bones" in Black Sails by 1018 Press
"Azieran: Distilling the Essence" in Sails and Sorcery by Fantasist Enterprises
"Azieran: Crestfallen in Mal'kyrrik" serialized novella in Forgotten Worlds
+ others
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crystalwizard
Forum Moderator
Date Joined Nov 2006
Total Posts : 5194
| Posted 12/26/2007 8:29 PM (GMT -5) | | | | |
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Christopher_Heath
Eternal Champion
Date Joined Oct 2005
Total Posts : 1156
| Posted 12/26/2007 9:11 PM (GMT -5) | | Thanks for asking! The plot is only half-formed but I have a good ending. I generally like to outline the entire story first, but when I get excited about an opening scene sometimes I jump the gun and start putting down words first. I ended up having to cut a scene when I decided to take the plot in a different (and much more interesting) direction. The only good thing about doing it this way is the "happy accident" factor, which has definitely happened on this one. Should be a decent story with a solid ending. I'm not sure when I'll have it finished, as half the time I sit down to write I still end up playing Bloons Tower Defense (thanks to you!!!). It's such a simple game, not sure why I can't stop playing. I wish they'd update with some new versions.
Christopher M. Heath
"Azieran: Claimed by Birthright" in Return of the Sword
"Azieran: Oathbreaker's Promise" in Flashing Swords
"Azieran: The Hollow Kings" in Flashing Swords
"Azieran: The Harvester" in AlienSkin
"Azieran: Adairos" in Tower of Light Fantasy
"Azieran: Savior in a Flask" in Magic and Mechanica by Ricasso Press
"Azieran: The Travelers Four" in Black Dragon, White Dragon by Ricasso Press
"Azieran: The Breaking of Hell's Bones" in Black Sails by 1018 Press
"Azieran: Distilling the Essence" in Sails and Sorcery by Fantasist Enterprises
"Azieran: Crestfallen in Mal'kyrrik" serialized novella in Forgotten Worlds
+ others
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Rob Mancebo
Adept
Date Joined Jul 2005
Total Posts : 987
| Posted 12/28/2007 2:01 PM (GMT -5) | |
Christopher_Heath said...
Thanks everyone. I may have stumbled upon something:
Even though a "skald" is a poet, that might work. These barbarians are offshoots of a viking-like culture, so maybe I could just call him that. I realize bugles and trumpets have been around for ages, but calling a barbarian a "bugler" just seems to ring oddly, even if he is sounding a war horn.
How's this read:
The clan-king gazed back toward the coastline, to the sailing galley he captained. He shook his head in disgust, knowing the enclave was in no condition to press the attack, and so must retreat to the ship. He quickly retrieved a bronze horn from the blistered hand of his skald, and bellowed a long, low-pitched dirge of an odd cadence best described as the merging sounds of a boar being slaughtered and the wyvyrn’s moaning rut. - From the descriptions of raiding action in the sagas, I don't believe Vikings utilized a bugler. They used animal horns to communicate commands (Bronze Lir horns were used during the migration era centuries before.) But I believe that would indicate that numerous people were carrying horns. And in groups as small as a handful of men.
- Rather than the modern idea of a commander blasting out orders,(Drop the wenches and get back to the boat!) they would be more of a signaling device for scattered raiding parties to talk back and forth with.
- You can, of course, use them anyway you want in a fantasy. (And your displayed paragraph looks effective in your use.)
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Christopher_Heath
Eternal Champion
Date Joined Oct 2005
Total Posts : 1156
| Posted 12/28/2007 7:12 PM (GMT -5) | | Thanks everyone.
Hearthweru:
I like the sound of blaedhorn, and will use that for the instrument.
Rob:
The clan-king learned state- and warcraft in a civilized nation, so he's bringing those practices to his leadership skills.
Christopher M. Heath
"Azieran: Claimed by Birthright" in Return of the Sword
"Azieran: Oathbreaker's Promise" in Flashing Swords
"Azieran: The Hollow Kings" in Flashing Swords
"Azieran: The Harvester" in AlienSkin
"Azieran: Adairos" in Tower of Light Fantasy
"Azieran: Savior in a Flask" in Magic and Mechanica by Ricasso Press
"Azieran: The Travelers Four" in Black Dragon, White Dragon by Ricasso Press
"Azieran: The Breaking of Hell's Bones" in Black Sails by 1018 Press
"Azieran: Distilling the Essence" in Sails and Sorcery by Fantasist Enterprises
"Azieran: Crestfallen in Mal'kyrrik" serialized novella in Forgotten Worlds
+ others
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