Big Alba's New Writeups

Vandal (thing)

2004-01-31T08:10:36Z

The Vandals were a Germanic tribe that first appeared in C.E. 166, settling between the Elbe and Vistula, in the east of Germany. Their origins are uncertain and there are widely differing opinions on this subject. It seems the most popular theory is that they originated from Poland, but it is also claimed that they originated from Denmark, Sweden or Norway. Their name is derived from the Latin term Vandilli, the name by which Tacitus referred to the tribe in his book Germania. While their beginnings are nothing to marvel over, they would become the strongest German tribe to challenge Roman imperialism, and would eventually be the final push to tip Rome over the edge.

Early Vandal history is rather mundane. They did not engage in much activity with Rome, posed no threat and were simply one of the free Germanic tribes. This all began to change in c. 370 C.E. as the warlike Huns from Central Asia began to move through Southern Russia. They first…

Sparta (place)

2003-08-05T14:29:04Z

Sparta is a rather complicated, and rather interesting, Greek city state. Sparta spawned five ferocious tribes of the finest peloponnesian warriors in Hellen history, and was responsible for many modern day inventions including an early form of democracy.

Original Settlers

The Spartans were one of the very first Hellen tribes in Achaea. As early as 2000 B.C. there are records of the Dorians from Eastern Anatolia (Asia Minor) migrating across the sea to the Achaean peninsular. The Dorians landed on the south eastern coast of Achaea, and found it to be rather mountainous and unsuitable for settling. Thus, the Dorians continued further west, over the mountains, until they came to a large, fertile valley.

They descended into the valley and found a river, which is today known as the Eurotas River. Here they settled beside a fork in the river, and founded five small camps, one for each of the tribes. After this, no…

Immortals (thing)

2003-08-04T00:51:02Z

Persian: Amrtaka
Greek: Athanatoi
English: Immortals
Also: The Ten Thousand

The Immortals were a corp of elite Parthian troops that served as the staple shock troops in any Parthian assault. They were made of ten thousand of the best Parthians, hence the nickname The Ten Thousand was derived, and no matter how many lived or died, this number was unchanging. It was this that brought the name Immortals, as no matter how many died, there always seemed to be a constant number of them, and also due to the formations they used which made it seem as if a fallen soldier instantly rose from the dead to fight again.

The golden age of Parthia was around 5^th Century B.C., and the golden age of the Immortals was respectively at the same age. They were used to great effect in the peloponnesian wars, even against the fearsome Spartans. In fact, the Immortals were not unlike the Spartan hopliota. As Parthia…

Runic Magic (thing)

2003-07-13T13:41:34Z

Introduction

Runic Magic is the practice of using Nordic Runes, otherwise known as Futhark, for mystical purposes. The practice is divided into two categories: Runecasting, used for divination, and Runescribing, used for magical practices. Both of these require at least a passing knowledge of one, or all, of the Futhark rune sets, and a deep faith in the Nordic religion of Asatru.

Thus, before proceeding, the reading of the following is necessary to grasp the concepts of Runic Magic:

A Brief History of Runic Magic

Runic Magic stems all the way back to the Stone Age. Here it first began as a few simple carvings in stone walls, this system was developed and finally adopted by the Nordic tribes as a system of magic, not as an alphabet as commonly…

Immigrant Song (idea)

2003-07-09T11:51:24Z

Ah-ah-ah-ah,

This is a bit inconsequential, but I liken this to the "cry of the Berserkrgangr" if you will. A broader definition could be taken as the "cry of the Viking warrior" even.

We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.

Maybe this was inspired by Led Zepplin's tour of Iceland, but Iceland isn't the only "land of the ice and snow". Greenland, Scandinavia, Denmark, even the north of Scotland, are lands of ice and snow. The "midnight sun" and "hot springs" are found in some parts of Scandinavia also. Due to other reasons I shall detail below, I believe this particular land of ice and snow is Scandinavia.

The hammer of the gods,

This is a reference to mjolnir, Thor's hammer. For all of those who aren't too versed with Viking religion, this belongs to the norse pantheon of Gods, otherwise known as Asatru or Norse Heathenism./p>…

futhark (thing)

2003-06-26T15:17:46Z

Futhark is the Runic language of the Norse. Much of its meaning is lost today, and the old Nordic meanings for the Runes are incredibly obscure, if not impossible to find at all. The current meanings described for the Futhark Runes are used based on late Gothic writing and Guido List's Secret of the Runes. All the meanings today are written in proto-Germanic script, thus much of the meaning is lost/altered. Though, just like Asatru, it is an ancient practice that was largely eradicated by the rise of Christianity, and so a modern interpretation is all that can be made of it. There are five different Runic sets, they include Elder Futhark, Younger Futhark, Anglo-Saxon Futhark, Gothic Futhark, Medieval Futhark and Armanen Futhark.

Elder Futhark

This was the original Nordic Rune language. It was not intended to be spoken, and was used purely for Runic Magic. In certain combinations the Runes would create…