Epics, Sagas, Fantasies, Mythos, Legends, Nations.

[HoneyBadger]

I don't know enough about the Shonai to speculate about that, so I'll have to do some research before I comment, but the Assegai spears were very short, with long leaf-like blades, almost like machetis or swords.

The Assegai spear, by the way, was originally a Berber weapon, that spread throughout Africa-and don't be confused, because the Zulu actually refined the original Assegai design, making the blade larger and broader, and naming the new weapon the "Iklwa" or "Ixwa". So, there's a little bit more to the story than was told in the Shaka Zulu miniseries (quite good, though) that ran when I was younger man.

http://therionarms.com/antiques/central_africa.shtml

This website has some nice pictures of African weaponry. There was also, years ago, a very good Dragon Magazine article (atleast for fantasy purposes) on the more unusual African weapons, but I couldn't tell you which issue it was in.

[JimMorrison]

Well actually I lifted the Zulu claim from that specific post, Badger. To be honest, I do think they are an amalgamation of African content (which complicated things, as numerous potential nations are already represented), and consider that with actual Hoplites, it would seem that one of the influences is in fact Nubian.....

Anyway, I think the penguin warriors should actually be a part of Kiwikuna, which would be a paradoxical blend of Zealand and Hawaiian cultures. The penguins would be their sacred, amphibious shock troops, of course.

[HoneyBadger]

Honestly, I've got to be one of the few people who just don't like penguins. I don't really dis-like them, but I dated a woman for a time who adored them, and as badly as that relationship ended, it forever tainted them for me. Not their fault, admittedly, but they don't really interest me enough to bother finding any special affection where I naturally have none.

[HoneyBadger]

That said, it might be interesting to see a sort of Arctic version of Kailasa-with anthropomorphized penguins of various sizes replacing monkeys, polar bears replacing gorillas, arctic foxes for scouts, and amphibious walrus troops.