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Old 03-02-2018, 04:10 PM   #1
Railstar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Default Names for Mass Zombie groups

This is a bit of a thought experiment, and following something of a recurring theme for me of being necromancer-related...

The Mass Zombie spell requires the undead to be given orders in groups, individual members cannot be given separate tasks - more or less forcing them to be organised into units for a necromancer who has plans on using the spell to build an army (not the only method being used, there's lots of other minions, I'm just looking for names for these).

The groups will probably be around 30-50, based on the amount of energy the necromancer can reasonably and reliably raise at once with the Mass Zombie spell using Ceremonial Casting.

What would make some good names for them?

-Not numbers... I don't want to call them 1st Horde, 2nd Horde, 3rd Horde.

-Not the place or cemetery she got them from, because that would be announcing her part in specific crimes if she mentions them to certain allies (who can overlook necromancy in the abstract, but are under the delusion she is a good person).

-Not something so generic like "the Arisen" or "the Gravebound" that it could just as easily mean her undead minions in general.

While the bulk of them would be raised from graveyards, at least one group was made from a slaughtered construction crew.

Thanks in advance.
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Old 03-03-2018, 03:52 AM   #2
Maz
 
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Denmark
Default Re: Names for Mass Zombie groups

Quote:
Originally Posted by Railstar View Post
-Not something so generic like "the Arisen" or "the Gravebound" that it could just as easily mean her undead minions in general.
This one makes it pretty hard. Because you are more or less saying the name HAS to include a clear reference to them being specifically Zombies?

The Rotters
The Decaying ones
The Shambling sons
The Shuffling Shocktroops
Carcasses of Carnage.
The Deconstructed Crew (for your construction workers).
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Old 03-03-2018, 04:51 AM   #3
johndallman
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Cambridge, UK
Default Re: Names for Mass Zombie groups

Give them colour codes: Black squad, Midnight squad, Fulgin squad, Darkness squad, Noir squad, Pink squad, Charcoal squad, Ebony squad, and so on.
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Old 03-03-2018, 08:02 AM   #4
Anaraxes
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Default Re: Names for Mass Zombie groups

50 is a bit big for "squad". Skipping "platoon" as having too many modern connotations, that gives us "company". So, you now have the Black Company :)

You could use a series of names such as the nicknames given to military units in addition to their number. (The "Iron Brigade", "Old Ironsides", "Big Red One", "Black Watch", "Devil's Brigade", etc.) These are essentially arbitrary, though in real life they're often derived based on their service, or else meant to be morale-boosting by sounding cool or badass ("Thunderbolt", "Hurricane").

The name series could also be completely invented "fantasy words": "Companies Jaglannak, Engroth, Darzoxath, Drengrarog, Sigthunoth -- storm the castle." (Taken from a random name generator on the web for "demon names"; choose something that spits out the sort of sounds you want for your evil horde, or make them up yourself.) Creating English meanings for the utterances in the vile necromantic tongue is optional.
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Old 03-03-2018, 08:21 AM   #5
johndallman
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Cambridge, UK
Default Re: Names for Mass Zombie groups

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Originally Posted by Anaraxes View Post
50 is a bit big for "squad".
Normally, yes. But 50 zombies plausibly have about the same potential for doing complicated things as 8-10 living soldiers, and that's what matters when you're giving them orders.
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Old 03-03-2018, 08:31 AM   #6
AlexanderHowl
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Default Re: Names for Mass Zombie groups

50 zombies are fairly useless against a prepared military force of even 10 soldiers (only so many can come against a defensive position). They are more for terrorizing civilians, as the majority of civilians are going to react individually.
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Old 03-03-2018, 08:34 AM   #7
Daigoro
 
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Default Re: Names for Mass Zombie groups

The Stinkers
The Shamblers
The Grave Dodgers
The Grave Mistakes
The Grave Enemies
The Moaners
The Groaners
The Bone Gnawers
The Rotters
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Old 03-03-2018, 08:34 AM   #8
Empada
 
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Default Re: Names for Mass Zombie groups

choose colorful and happy names to confuse and suprise your enemy
a good list is the painting names of bob ross. imagine someone warning: The "Quiet Stream" are coming to raze the city!
or: don't go south, the "Snow Fall" are lurking there
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