One of the things that makes FF fun is the cast of characters who inhabit the world you're adventuring in. I'm not just talking about the Big Bads or those helpful if slightly annoying good wizards you start off many adventures dealing with. As I mentioned in my introductory post, my favourite FF character is someone called Beshbalik. Ever heard of him? If not, that's because he's not a very major character at all; he's just one of the interesting people you may chance to meet whilst adventuring in Titan, in this case in the land of Kazan, as described in Luke Sharp's book Dagger of Darkness.
So, who is he? Well, even if you don't know him, you might just recognise him...
Yes, that's him, the crazy-looking bald dude with the tash, eye-patch and dodgy cod-piece on the cover of Daggers of Darkness. Let's hope for his sake that the Grypfalcon lands on his protected left shoulder and that the two Fangtigers he's riding don't decide to head in opposite directions (which, from the look on his face, they might be already trying to do!).
Beshbalik is the leader of a mercenary group, Beshbalik's Marauders (also known as the Scavengers of Slaughter, which really ought to be the name of a Scandinavian heavy-metal band) operating in the land of Kazan in southwest Khul. The Marauders appear to have been in the employ of the usurping Vizier Chingiz, but their relationship seems to have broken down over a financial dispute, and Beshbalik and co. have essentially gone on the rampage around Sharrabbas, attacking Chingiz's forces. I like this. It's not your usual story of good and bad; it's the dirty politics and grey morality of this fascinating, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic little corner of the world of Fighting Fantasy.
Just in case you were wondering, Beshbalik, like many of the names in Daggers of Darkness, was taken by Luke Sharp from central Asia, in this case the old city of Beshbalik/Beshbalyk (meaning 'Main City' in the local Turkic language) in the Uyghur Khaganate (now Jimsar in Xinjiang, China).
You can read more about Beshbalik and his Marauders in Titannica, the Fighting Fantasy wiki.
Beshbalik is the leader of a mercenary group, Beshbalik's Marauders (also known as the Scavengers of Slaughter, which really ought to be the name of a Scandinavian heavy-metal band) operating in the land of Kazan in southwest Khul. The Marauders appear to have been in the employ of the usurping Vizier Chingiz, but their relationship seems to have broken down over a financial dispute, and Beshbalik and co. have essentially gone on the rampage around Sharrabbas, attacking Chingiz's forces. I like this. It's not your usual story of good and bad; it's the dirty politics and grey morality of this fascinating, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic little corner of the world of Fighting Fantasy.
Just in case you were wondering, Beshbalik, like many of the names in Daggers of Darkness, was taken by Luke Sharp from central Asia, in this case the old city of Beshbalik/Beshbalyk (meaning 'Main City' in the local Turkic language) in the Uyghur Khaganate (now Jimsar in Xinjiang, China).
You can read more about Beshbalik and his Marauders in Titannica, the Fighting Fantasy wiki.
This guy always cracks me up. Indeed let's hope nothing that you mention happens to him, but it doesn't look good.
ReplyDeleteI'm worried about the falcon landing on his bald pate and sinking its talons in (actually, in the book, para. 138, it is already perched on his shoulder), and those spikes on his knees, elbows and swingy thing are only going to lead to trouble at some point too...
DeleteDaggers of Darkness is so full of crazy and he tops it all off with a side order of awesome too, if only to the extent that he can multitask.
ReplyDeleteI like the craziness of the book, and the brilliant atmosphere and weird culture it evokes. The structure of the book (all his books in fact) is amazing - how do you construct an adventure like that? Looking at the SVG flowcharts for them, they are extremely complicated.
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