I've had reason to revisit Thomas Kinsella's 'The Tain', his wonderful translation of the Irish cattle raiding epic 'Tain Bo Cuailnge'. The feats descripted therein are a prime source and inspiration for Hero Wars feats. So I thought I'd share these quotes...
'So Cuchulainn's training with Scathach in the craft of arms was done: what
with the apple feat-juggling nine apples with never more than one in his
palm; the thunder-feat; the feats of the sword edge and the sloped shield;
the feats of the javelin and the rope; the body feat; the feat of the Cat
and the heroic salmon leap; the pole-throw and the leap over a poisoned
stroke; the noble chariot-fighter's crouch; the gae bolga; the spurt of
speed; the feat of the chariot wheel thrown on high and the feat of the
shield-rim; the breath feat, with gold apples blown up into the air; the
snapping mouth and the hero's scream; the stroke of precision; the
stunning-shot and the cry stroke; stepping on a lance in flight and
straightening erect on its point, the sickle chariot; and the trussing of a
warrior on the points of spears.'
The listing of feats is repeated again later...
'It happened that Cuchulainn was trying his special feats of arms-the apple
feat, the feats of the sword edge and the sloped shield; the feats of the
javelin and the rope; the body feat; the feat of Cat and the heroic salmon
leap; the pole throw and the leap over a poisoned stroke; the noble
chariot-fighter's crouch; the gae bolga; the spurt of speed; the feat of the
chariot-wheel and the feat of the shield-rim; the breath-feat; the snapping
mouth and the hero's scream; the stroke of precision and the stunning-shot;
stepping on a lance in flight, and straightening erect on its point; and the
trussing of a warrior.'
And the description of Cuchulainn by his friend and enemy Fergus wouldn't be a bad HW character description...
'You'll find no harder warrior against you-no point more sharp, more swift,
more slashing; no raven more ravenous, no hand more deft, no fighter more
fierce, no one of his own age one third as good, no lion more ferocious; no
barrier in battle, no hard hammer, no gate of battle, no soldier's doom, no
hinderer of hosts, more fine. You will find no one there to measure against
him-for youth or vigour; for apparel, horror or eloquence; for splendour,
fame or form; for voice or strength or sternness; for cleverness, courage,
or blows in battle; for fire or fury, victory, doom or turmoil; for ,
scheming or slaughter in the hunt; for swiftness, alertness, or wildness;
and no one with the battle-feat 'nine men on each point'-none like
Cuchulainn.'
Cheers
John
nysalor_at_... John Hughes
A merciless war I will declare!
I will make incursions through the fertile land of Ireland,
my battalions all in arms / my amazons beside me
not just to steal a bull / not over beast this battle
but for an honour price a thousand times
more precious - My Dignity!
I will make fierce incursions.
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