Fantasy Question about terminology and unit cohesion

[pyro-dragon]

Hey guys

So the term 'cohort'. Does it refer to everyone that spawns at once across multiple spawning pools or just to one unit that itself is spawned from one pool?

Also, given Saurus apparently stick with their units as they have a kind of psychic link with them, what happens when they become combat-ineffective? Like, after some battle you have a Saurus unit with like four guys left. Are they expected to go on to fight elsewhere as 4 guys or would the join another unit?

Finally, do Skinks have a similar thing about unit cohesion for those born together?

 

[Scalenex]

So the term 'cohort'. Does it refer to everyone that spawns at once across multiple spawning pools or just to one unit that itself is spawned from one pool?

In tabletop terms, a Skink Cohort is a group of Skinks that fight in a block as opposed to fight as skirmishers. We don't have a lot of fluff about them. In my fluff I have three broad castes of Skinks, worker caste skinks, beast caste skinks, and Sotek caste skinks.

Workers fight as cohorts, beast skinks ride Terradons or Stegadons or crew Salamanders, and Sotek caste Skinks run as skirmishers. They usually go into battle with their spawning brothers but they will form units with their "caste cousins" if its not practical to field with their spawning brothers. In most cases, skinks spawn in such large numbers that a single spawning can create multiple units.

Also, given Saurus apparently stick with their units as they have a kind of psychic link with them, what happens when they become combat-ineffective? Like, after some battle you have a Saurus unit with like four guys left. Are they expected to go on to fight elsewhere as 4 guys or would the join another unit?

There is two things they can do. One, if they are sufficiently experienced they can become Scar Veterans and go solo. Two, they can perform the Ritual of the Adopted Brother which in this article under "Spawning Rituals" or via this informal discussion or you can read about it in this short story "Brothers to Remember" written for the January-February 2020 Contest.

Finally, do Skinks have a similar thing about unit cohesion for those born together?

In my fluff at least. The answer is yes, the Skinks have a similar thing to Saurus, just not as intense or emotional. Saurus can only die from violence whereas Skinks can grow old, so they don't have centuries to grow attached to their brothers.

 

[Scolenex]

There is two things they can do. One, if they are sufficiently experienced they can become Scar Veterans and go solo. Two, they can perform the Ritual of the Adopted Brother which in this article under "Spawning Rituals" or via this informal discussion or you can read about it in this short story "Brothers to Remember" written for the January-February 2020 Contest.

I hope someone handsome and brilliant wrote those three articles...

 

[pyro-dragon]

Thank you very much! Lots to read through.

Saurus can only die from violence

Also disease and accidents too?

 

[Scalenex]

Also disease and accidents too?

True, but I suppose the majority of the time, diseases and accidents capable of slaying Saurus warriors originate from skaven or Chaos.

 

[J.Logan]

Also disease and accidents too?

True, but I suppose the majority of the time, diseases and accidents capable of slaying Saurus warriors originate from skaven or Chaos.

I've tended to write my lizardmen as being biologically different enough that the diseases that affect warmbloods are mostly ineffective against them, at most giving them the equivalent of a cold. The diseases of the skaven/Nurgle that do affect the lizardmen are typically purpose made with them as the intended recipient.

That isn't to say that the lizardmen aren't a potential danger regarding poxes and diseases that affect the warmbloods, however.

‘I’m not showing any signs of infection or illness, and I still feel perfectly able,’ Solin answered.

There was a sigh from the other side of the blocked door. ‘I had a feeling that would be the case.’

Solin let out a sound of curiosity.

‘We’ve actually seen this pox in the past,’ Eilswel explained. ‘We’re immune, the pox seems to only infect humans. But we can be carriers. You’re going to be trapped in that building for… two weeks after the boy passes.’

Immunity from the symptoms does not stop you from being able to spread the pox.

As for accidents? Well, sure, violent ones. I'd say a building collapsing on a saurus would be deemed pretty violent. The large predatory dinos do on occasion do harm, they're trained not domesticated. Granted, you tend to hear more often of skinks getting caught in the dinosaurs being feral beasts than you do saurus.

 

[pyro-dragon]

The large predatory dinos do on occasion do harm, they're trained not domesticated. Granted, you tend to hear more often of skinks getting caught in the dinosaurs being feral beasts than you do saurus.

I think there was a line in teh 7th or 8th ed army book about the occational saurus falling foul of Cold Ones when trying to aquire a mount or when they have a moment of confusion.

Also, it occurs to me that they don’t really have much of an integrated healthcare system. It must suck to catch some kind of jungle malady. He/She/It can’t call into work sick, still gotta go out marching into battle feeling like death.

Though I guess they can get some kind of tree bark equivalent of aspirin maybe. Licking toads to get through the day.

 

[pyro-dragon]

Resurrecting this as my questions-about-lizardmen-culture thread:

Names. Do individuals get a name right after spawning? Do they chose a name for themselves or have it imprinted in their heads by the spawning mechanism?
Or, are names only assigned after they have performed a deed worth of note?
Would there be a naming ceremony or perhaps a renaming ceremony should they be given a new title?

What systems or lore have you got in your own heads about this?

 

[J.Logan]

What systems or lore have you got in your own heads about this?

The Spawning Pool attendants, as well as the resident Slann (or if not available, his personal attendants) are responsible for naming individuals from spawnings. More effort is placed on blessed spawnings or ones that come with the sense that they are destined for great deeds.

 

[pyro-dragon]

The Spawning Pool attendants, as well as the resident Slann (or if not available, his personal attendants) are responsible for naming individuals from spawnings. More effort is placed on blessed spawnings or ones that come with the sense that they are destined for great deeds.

Skinks pointing at rank and file saurus as they emerge:
"Tepec One, Tepec Two, Tepec Three, Grym-Gor One, Grym-Gor Two, Grym-Gor Three..."

 

[J.Logan]

Skinks pointing at rank and file saurus as they emerge:
"Tepec One, Tepec Two, Tepec Three, Grym-Gor One, Grym-Gor Two, Grym-Gor Three..."

I was going to make that exact joke XD

Though I can also picture the spawning pool attendants, out of boredom, making a challenge to see what outrageous or silly names they can get away with giving rank and files.

"Bob'yus. Bigyus-Cloakus. Incontinentia'rump..."

 

[pyro-dragon]

"Bob'yus. Bigyus-Cloakus. Incontinentia'rump..."

I would hate to go to my grave fighting deamons while called Incontinentia'rump. I'd hate it even more to live long enough to become a Scar Veteran of note called Incontinentia'rump...

 

[pyro-dragon]

Ok, another question on lizardmen society - currency or money? Has there ever been any mention on it, what is used, how it's used, etc.

I imagine most stuff is provided as per required. No one is going hungry or sleeping outside due to a lack of personal funds. Similarly, I don't think anyone is getting paid to be soldiers, priests, craftsmen, etc.

However, what about the non-essentials? Getting a nice treat if honey roasted cockroaches, maybe getting a nicely embroidered poncho, some fine jewelry, etc. I can imagine this being something someone might spend some of their stipend on perhaps.

Maybe a visiting army or delegation uses currency to buy food and other items from a city as they are depleting their host cities resources and that host city needs a way to make up for it buying them from other cities later.

Maybe they use gold and silver tokens. Maybe cocoa seeds? Maybe coins they call seeds by some ancient tradition.

Anyways, thoughts?

 

[J.Logan]

Hmm, good question.

If we look at Total Warhammer, the lizardmen do actually use gold as currency. And that's not just because game mechanics, as some other factions have their currency renamed.

However, I find the idea of trade more appropriate. Bartering services or objects created by artisans. Gold as coins wouldn't hold any value to lizardmen, ingots might, but in the same way raw materials would, gold gets used for purposes, be it the crafting of anew plaque or the ceremonial wear, but not for petty monetary value.

And remember, some temple-cities held little enough value in gold that they literally gave it away a massive amount to warmblood explorers who struggled across them and didn't immediately become hostile. So no real value, as long as it wasn't a plaque at any rate.

However, with how scattered temple-cities can be, trade in other commodities, like region specific spices and herbs, and maybe even cocoa. Things that I've temple-city might have in surplus, another night not have any of, so I can imagine the temple-city of Hesinoxl might trade the Warhammer equivalent of Carolina Reaper Chillis to their kin in the temple-city of Osdiatl when passing by for their cocoa beans.

 

[pyro-dragon]

Ok, another lore question!
Is there a scale for how large Lustria is or how far apart some of the cities are? How many days march would it be from Xahutec to Tlaxtlan?

 

[J.Logan]

Is there a scale for how large Lustria is or how far apart some of the cities are?

Not that I have seen. Even most maps I've seen can vary in details, which on one hand is very authentic to hand-drawn maps in a setting where they can't just open Google Earth, but on the other can be very annoying to lore grognards like me who want to know some objective details for this that or the other. If just so that my own tales and interpretations feel authentic.

How many days march would it be from Xahutec to Tlaxtlan?

As long as the plot requires I suppose. It's an unsatisfying answer, but it is what it is.

 

[pyro-dragon]

Well, that's bothersome