Important information:
I try to be brief in this post.
Mod inspired by pagan slavic culture and mythology.
Name Candidates
I don't know yet ! "Slav" or similar sounds too primitive. Don't rush me.
Era
Dom3)
The earliest era
Climate:
0, or -1
Candidates to Starting spells:
Could be some kind of curse, scrying/divination, summoning.
Candidates to National spells
Spells available ONLY to this nation: summons, without doubt.
Temples
cost 100, or 150. Slavic temples (buildings) were quite rare. They usually fenced some trees/groves. Besides, Slavs usually had no special altars in homes - because gods were believed to be "always there". Gods are always watching.
Gem income:
My current favorite is 2Fire 2Nature 1aStral
possible Capitol sites:
Bald Mountain (Lysa Gora/Lysa Hora) - major cult site and/or a place where witches congregate,
Oak Grove - Major oak grove ? Oak groves were sacred to Slavs. (perhaps groves as temples are better idea)
Thunder Oak - althrough already present as regular site in Dom2, trees were sacred to Slavs. Especially ones struck by lightning. Especially oaks.
Some Kind Of Temple - temples built by Slavs were quite rare, and built only in major cult sites. Such temples would be devoted to multiple deities.
possible Magic paths:
Primarily fire (I think mostly on priests), nature and astral. A bit of water, earth or air - but most probably the 3 I mentioned first.
Wise women (sing. Vedma, plural Vedmy) or men (Vedmin, Vedmini) with knowledge of herbs, healing, divination, curses, charms. In other words, nature and astral.
pretenders to Pretenders:
Ones related to fire, nature/earth, a bit of astral; water also makes sense.
Slavic gods were quite often depicted as giants.
Phoenix, Solar Disc(squirrels report it's in Dom3), Great Mother, Lord of Fertility, Daughter of the Land, Vampire Queen (vampires are very slavic), ***** Queen, Divine Serpent, Wyrm, Monolith, Oracle.... to be continued.
candidates: Unique pretenders:
Probably not all of them are going to make it.
- Mounted giant riding giant boar, see Veles
- divine Bear ?
to be continued
candidates: National heroes:
-Baba Yaga - an old sorceress living in a cabin on chicken leg. She travels in a mortar and uses her broom to erase traces. Fence around her cabin is decorated with human skulls and bones. She is said to have power over Kosciej(Koschey), and over waters of Life and Death. She eats people ,too
Nature2, Death2, Astral2, can heal afflictions, forest survival, swamp survival (for flavor). Stealth makes sense.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baba_Yaga
- Liho (or Likho, if you use Wikipedia spelling) is an evil spirit and personification of misfortune. Russian sources define it more precisely as one-eyed old woman.
In Dominions, I would make it stealthy and cause misfortune in current province. I may give it immortality or astral magic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Likho
- Prince Ivan figures in many russian folk tales. I need to research him more. Would probably be a thug of some sort, possibly mounted.
- Koschey(Kosciej, Koschei, etc)
Koschei is extremely difficult to kill. His soul is hidden separate from his body inside a needle, which is in an egg, which is in a duck, which is in a hare, which is in an iron chest, which is buried under a green oak tree, which is on the island of Buyan. An evil magician.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koschei
National commanders: (descriptions are rough sketches)
Keeper of sacred fire
Holy2 Fire2
Dressed light robes, leather or furs atbest. No other protection or weapons.
(perhaps holy3 instead; they're meant to be highest priests of the nation). They perform rituals, ask gods for guidance, and make the fire burn at all times.
Vyedma (or Vedma, I use phonetical spelling. You'd have no idea how to pronounce "Wiedźma").
A wise woman, skilled in arts of herbalism, healing, divination. Proficient in charms and curses, so beware. They're feared and desired (for their skills) at the same time.
There are records saying witches would curse enemies and ask gods for help (!) before battles. On top of that, banishing demons and blessing troops fits very well to ancient slav witches.
Astral2 Nature2 Holy2
Carries a stick, some robes. Lower than usual hp (old women, after all)
National units:
I like, at least partially, what RedRover suggested:
Rus Chief (#73): Spear, Broadsword; Scale Mail Hauberk, Round Shield, Helmet.Forest survival
Rus Warrior (#74): Spear, Throwing Axe; Scale Mail Cuirass, Tower Shield, Helmet. Forest survival
Slav Warrior (#75): Spear, Javelin; Furs, Round Shield.
Stealth, forest survival
Hunter/Bartnik (#75): Axe, Javelin; Furs, Round Shield.
forest survival, patrol 2
Basically people living in woods and producing honey.
Slav Archer (#76): Short Bow; No Armor.Stealth and forest survival, perhaps.
Slav Horseman (#77): Spear, Broadsword, Javelin; Mounted, Scale Mail Hauberk, Round Shield, Helmet. Forest survival.
Horsemen with forest survival can be quite interesting.
More less, again - it's a rough sketch. I'll probably extend the unarmored/woodsmen slavs a bit - to represent woodsmen/militia/people defending their home/pushing back raiders.. Slavs did quite a bit raiding themselves, of course.
Slavs are credited as pioneers of ironmaking, so they don't have to be armored with absolute rubbish.