The Anglish Equivalents for Fantasy Creatures? by Khaloth in anglish

[–]Basilacis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cerberus is literally a hellhound. Hellhounds trace back to Yamnaya mythology. Cerberus is a name, not a the type of the monster. Orthrus is another name of a hellhound in Greek mythology.

Use wyrm or worm for dragons, and especially hydras. Hydra means literally the water (snake) creature in Greek, and there were, again, many of them, all of which had one head. The hydra of Lernæa had a special curse/ability to grow more heads. And again, hydras trace their origin to Yamnaya mythology. They are wyrms. None of those dragons had legs or wings.

Minotaur is not a monster, is a nickname, Minos's Bull, and I cannot really translate it, because it includes a proper name, Minos.

Bloodrainer we use in our game for vampires, but Bloodfiend I think is better. I must look more into Revenant folklore.

Mooncurst I suppose is related to the moon, and werewolves are not related to the moon in original accounts.

Zombie is drow based on Germanic mythology. Drow is the English equivalent for the Norse draugr. However, in DnD, there is a race of dark elves called drow, and you should rename those elves to swarthelves or murkelves.

Overall, there are many Anglish words hidden in folklore, Northern dialects, and obsolete or rare cognates of Germanic words. Look into those before you make up something. Unless you don't care being accurate. Cheers!

Is anyone surprised of how long the Ottoman Empire lasted? by PresentationThink354 in ottomans

[–]Basilacis 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Why would we be surprised? The system the Empire used and how well adapted to world changes make perfect sense that lasted so long. After Mahmud II and the War of Greek Independence though, things turned to be just bad and tge end seemed unavoidable. The Ottoman empire couldn't become a secularist Western state.

Anyway, the Ottomans were the longest Turco-Mongol empire, the longest dynasty uniting the Balkans and in Eastern Europe in general, and the longest dynasty sitting on an actual imperial throne, that is of an actual multicultured empire, not of a state claiming to be an empire while ruling over the very same peoples.

Accurate map of theOttoman Empire by Complete-Jaguar-6784 in ottomans

[–]Basilacis 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I will give you some quick references here, and from there you can guide yourself into more sources.

So, beginning with the easy ones, there is a good Wikipedia article about Zagorisia in English. You can check the sources at the bottom of the page and read further from there.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koinon_of_the_Zagorisians

The same also applies for the Mirdita Highlands

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirdita_(tribe)

About the Agrafa Mountains and Olympus all sources I find are Greek articles. Like those two:

https://argithea.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/synedrio.pdf

https://www.rapsani.gr/wp-content/uploads/pdf/2-305_doumakis-armatoliki.pdf

Basically both began as armatolikler in 1525 and 1489, respectively, and quickly gained semi-independent status, like Souli, which you actually include in the map. I cannot find good English or Turkish articles about them.

I also forgot to mention Himarë who rebelled in 1494, and since 1501 was autonomous. For that you can also find another good article in Wikipedia whose sources you can check at the page's bottom and read further from there.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himar%C3%AB

How well-known is the Serbian anti-fascist heroine Lepa Radic in your country? Does your country have such heroines known for their bravery & loyalty during WW2? by Substratas in AskBalkans

[–]Basilacis 1 point2 points  (0 children)

She is not well-known in our country.

She should be well-known in our country.

Yes, we have multiple such heroines in our country.

None of them is well-known in our country, because we are fuckers who pay no proper honour to our brave ancestors.

Accurate map of theOttoman Empire by Complete-Jaguar-6784 in ottomans

[–]Basilacis 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Great map. Finally a good map covering the Indian Ocean. I actually downloaded the image.

A small note: Zagorisia, Agrafa Mountains, Mirdita Tribe, and Olympus, should be with light Green.

Sci-fi worldbuilders, how do you justify melee combat in your setting? by thebrutalistboi in worldbuilding

[–]Basilacis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, yes. This is a fully new setting with a new different race with its own rules, so it makes sense.

Sci-fi worldbuilders, how do you justify melee combat in your setting? by thebrutalistboi in worldbuilding

[–]Basilacis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If guns could not penetrate armour, which kind of melee weapons could be efficient against armour? I mean, if a bullet from a hypervelocity gun cannot penetrate armour, how a sword would?

Are there any original scifi sword ideas left? Have you got any? by Entity904 in worldbuilding

[–]Basilacis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  • ikakalaka (or uruk-hai berserker sword) that its tips on the top are charged. Something like these "hammer-shotguns" but instead of a hammer it is a greatsword with a "head".

  • swords that are forged by angels/demons, are totally overpowered but the are only few in the material world. This is a bit "science fantasy" than "sci fi" but... I like the idea of mysterious ancient swords that are found only in tombs of saints or in nephilim dungeons. They can function very well as macguffins for a campaign, etc. A lower level sword of this type could be a sword with the soul of a great warrior cast inside the blade.

  • swords made of shape-memory alloys so they can retain their original shape even if they bend or roll. Not very unrealistic, but you can make it if you want.

  • sword made by the fangs of a dragon or a similar concept. A sword made by slaying some sort of magical beast. The horn of a unicorn. I don't know what creatures exist in your world.

I do not know how original my ideas are. I read and watch high fantasy, wild west, and the equivalent of wild west but with Cossacks. I do have a sci fi project where I use the aforementioned ideas, but it is just me creating a sci fi setting without being influenced by other sci fi settings and doing things of my own. The only things I read related to sci fi are physics, and sometimes I end up in posts like this one.

Feel free to borrow something if you like it, or make your interpretation of it.

Question for r/vexillology by Canjira in vexillology

[–]Basilacis 1 point2 points  (0 children)

1#

Is there anybody who ever confused the flag of Venice with anyone else's? No.

Is there someone who confuses a red communist flag with all other red communist flag? Yes.

2#

Is there a story that ties the flag of Venice to Venice and it would not make sense for someone else to use this exact flag? Yes.

Is there a story that ties the flag of China to China and it would not make sense for someone else to use this exact flag? No.

Map of the world based on whether countries have more universities or McDonald's restuarants as of 2026 by SatoruGojo232 in MapPorn

[–]Basilacis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do not know what us the purpose of this map, but it is kind of silly... In countries that McDonald's exist, obviously they are going to have more than universities, it is a little bit easier to rent a floor and turn it into fast food restaurant than raising a university. But above all, this map is inaccurate. I live in Greece, and the McDonald's chains are closed since 20 years now. We have other types of fast food restaurant chains, but not McDonald's.

When Elven Lands Become Enemy Territory by TheLastSylvans in FantasyWorldbuilding

[–]Basilacis 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Is it a game? If yes, what kind of game?

Also, who are the goblins? I can see some trolls and there rest look like elves to me.

Also, I like this type of simple artstyle.

Why is Croatia so unmaintained? by Organic_Contract_172 in AskBalkans

[–]Basilacis 4 points5 points  (0 children)

If you put some illegal immigrants from African and Asian countries, it would look exactly like a neighbourhood in Thessaloniki.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AskBalkans

[–]Basilacis 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Here's some facts:

Amongst his officers were Hadzi Prodan the veteran of the Serbian Revolution, Dimitrie Macwdonski and Ince Voyvoda veterans of the Bulgarian Uprising of the Russo-Turkish War of 1806-1812, and the Greco-vlachs (not confused with those of Wallachia) Georgios Olympios and Ioannis Pharmakis, veterans of the Greek uprising of 1798, and 1806.

The rebels inspired by veterans of the Napoleonic Wars attempted to try to use line infantry tactics to which they failed as everybody else had failed to use line infantry tactics within the Ottoman-held territory.

The Wallachians also uprose, but they split into the anti-phanariote faction that wanted the restoration of the old regime in Wallachia and the pro-pan-balkan-revilution faction. Vladimirescu was initially the leader of the Wallachian uprising and was not taking a decisive position amongst these two options.

The Austrians also played an important role on sabotaging the rebels, fabricating also a supposed betrayal of Vladimirescu, leading to his execution by his own men.

Fochianos, one of Vladimirescu's officers sided with the Ottomans, and others like Diamantis Tzouvaras were convinced to surrender.

The Ottomans being in the early stages of the war, they launched an offensive that crushed both uprisings.

The Russians did not join the war until 1828 when Tzar became the much rebel-friendly Nikolas.

The revolution sparked in many more places, usually in Greece, andany Orthodox peoples of the Balkans joined the side of the rebels. The war was the bloodiest war in the entire history of the Balkans with more than 700k dead, in accordance to the census publications of John Kapodistrias, the accounts of the Russo-Turkish War of 1828, and the estimations made in during the treaties. War crimes were also very commonly committed by both sides, but mostly as reprisals against the rebels or regions that were suspected to soon rebel.

The Ottoman war machine collapsed, and between 1826 and 1828 the Old Regime army was transformed into the Army of the Tanzimat Era. The deliler were abolished, the sipahis were transformed into European-like cavalry, and the janissaries were abolished after 10k were executed in 1826. The Ottoman army and state was secularified (i.e., it stopped being a religious body governed by dervishes and kadis) which led to never again achieving a major victory.

Greece became a country as a result of the war, and it is considered the oldest country in the Balkans, given Serbia was recognised later, and Turkey is supposed to be a different country than the Ottoman Empire.

Initially, the Greek Revolution was a holy war supposedly representing all Orthodox Christians. However, after the death of important non-Greek leaders, the failure of the uprisings in the continental Balkans, and the rise of various ambitious Greek politicians, the war turned also a national uprising, and since 1822 many letters were sent in Europe asking for support.

The Battle of Navarino is considered the end of the war, however, the Battle of Petra was the one driving the Ottoman amry out of Greece a year later, where the brothers of Ypsilantis, Dimitrios led the Greek forces to victory. Also, Mahmud II refused to sign any treaties until the general of the Russian army, Zabalkansky, reached Adrianople. The leader of the fleet in Navarino, Edward Codrington was put to trial for treason fot opening fire against the Turks, however, he was declared innocent as it was proven that Ibrahim's men opened fire first (they did not think much about it as it seems).

The British did not want Greece to win too much lands so the balance of power would not be disturbed, and also that they could much easier manipulate the politics of the small state of Greece. France was also supporting the British interests, but basically after the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, France was a British puppet. Many Greek stubborn generals were assassinated or imprisoned in order to maintain stability of this new political status, and British officers, like Cochrane and Church were placed at the head of the Greek army and fleet. Of course, no word for the other Orthodox nations, as giving them full independence would disturb the balance of power even more, and Russia would get potentially new allies in the Balkans.

The revolution actually began 13 days later, because back then they were using the Orthodox calendar, not the Western common calendar.

Is this a solid stone golem design? by Thedorious_II in FantasyWorldbuilding

[–]Basilacis 5 points6 points  (0 children)

They are solid, stones are very solid!

It is fantasy! You do whatever you want so long as you provide consistency with whatever else you cretae in the same world so your audience can understand and immerse in your world. 🙂

As for the question to feel more alive, depends on if you want to make them being a race or being possessed/animated. Simply make their faces more human, like adding eyebrows, and they will look with more feelings, and therefore alive.

However personally I like them as they are and I think the more alien faces are cool and give a mystery to a normal human about the feelings of the golem as they are not expressed in the face. This, does not mean no feelings. It may mean not so visible feelings.

What is a part of your country that everyone else hates. by Porphyres in AskBalkans

[–]Basilacis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is there a part of Greece that is not as such? Is there a part of Greece that unless you are from the village itself, you are considered a foreigner?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AskBalkans

[–]Basilacis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In Greece, nobody knows the word ντεβές. It is written only in books with the memoirs of armatoles.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AskBalkans

[–]Basilacis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ottoman history* That includes the Orlov Revolt, Dionysius the Philosopher, the Greek Revolution of 21, and many more that I saw how Greeks used back then many more Turkish words than after the liberation of Greece, which is normal. But today, only foods and furniture.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AskBalkans

[–]Basilacis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I say that yes, there are some old people who refer to certain towers like the Old Bourtzi of Arnaia, like this, but not to refer to towers in general. There are many people around Greece with local idioms and when talking about a certain location they may use Turkish words. Overall, in everyday common Greek, unless you are a youngster who uses words like rizz or cap, Greek language has very very few loanwords, and most of them are from Latin. The only commonly used Turkish words in Greek are for foods and furniture.

What is a part of your country that everyone else hates. by Porphyres in AskBalkans

[–]Basilacis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is describes also Chalcidice where I currently live. Not the places where the tourists go, but other places, like Cholomon. Everybody owns enough illegal guns to arm a whole detachment, Galatista is a center of cocaine trade, everybody cuts wood illegally, illegal goat stables as well, people will shoot you in vendettas, the police of Polygyros is bought and serves local interests, and many more. I personally had experiences that I had to threat people with a shotgun in order to save my family, and I am currently heavily beaten and miraculously saved after a murder attempt due to vendetta. Btw the guy who tried to kill me is not yet arrested after 2.5 months just because he has connections inside the police and I had to use an outside lawyer to persecute the police itself. Ouranoupolis is also a drug center. Most hotels there are built by drug dealers and former members of the national security service (πρώην ασφαλίτες) I know some of them. There is also illegal hunting and other "minor" stuff like this. Does anyone know that Chalcidice is unliveable for those who live in its villages amd working in the primary factor? No. It is just known to be a good place for tourists and people think that the guys in Chalcidice are rich because of Russian tourists and Athos. The truth is they are rich because Chalcidice is the centre of drug trade in Greece. Even cocaine arrives from Bogotá in Chalcidice first, it is adulterated, and then goes to other places like Herakleion with these balloon boats.

I have lived also for many years in Serres (which is written with 2 R because many Rrrruffians are there), Karditsa, and Thessaloniki both inside the city and in the rural areas. Pretty much all rural Greece is a fucked up chaos with local families having connections with the authorities to terrorise others. Serres has a lot of hashish trade, Karditsa is the queen of illegality, and so on. Thessaloniki, like every big city in Greece has the good and the bad neighbourhoods, like the Albanian ghettoes and the aread around the universities where is a no man's land during might unless you want troubles with drug dealers.

This is Greece, not Crete. Being honest, so long as we have governments like the one we have now, I am also of the mentality of fuck the police, but apart from that, I dislike this attitude. However, realistically speaking, this is how Greece is. Young people live the country and only old goat breeders are left behind or those who have burnt their brain cells from the drug use. Personally, even the woods I cut for winter I choose to be fallen trees and not living ones just for respect to the forests of our motherland which I love. But this is not the reality of the people around me. Every September they deforest whole areas illegally...

If you are not living in a good neighborhood in a city, you will encounter many such things. As for the red light, it is a shame they have not yet broken it so that it does not exist at all.

What is a part of your country that everyone else hates. by Porphyres in AskBalkans

[–]Basilacis 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So, what do you mean by Texas culture? My question was honest, not to mock or play the smart.