Now that I have fulfilled my promise to @jongo after he elevated me to Index Squad Guild Co-Leader...
@hirohurl/my-thank-you-to-jongolson-for-making-me-a-co-leader-of-our-splinterlands-guild
... I feel ready to take the next step and rename the guild!
We are now officially known as...
The Blood-Boltered Herd
"They are untamed. Unruled. Unrelenting. The Blood-Boltered Herd thunders out of the Badlands, a savage chorus of hooves, horns, and war cries. Clotted with the blood of ancient foes and drunk on the Parnassian wine - a brew blessed by the gods and cursed by its own power - these centaurs bow to no banner and heed no master. Half-beast, half-man, they gallop through storm and slaughter, leaving only ruin and despair behind. To ride with them is to witness the fury of freedom - and the chaos that comes in its wake. Join us if you dare…"
Why Centaurs?
In the 18th chapter of The Prince, Machiavelli glosses the myth of Achilles being educated by Chiron the centaur like this:
"It is necessary for a prince to know well how to use both the beast and the man. this was covertly taught to rulers by ancient writers, who relate how Achilles and many others of those ancient princes were given to Chiron the centaur to be brought up and educated under his discipline. The parable of this semi-animal, semi-human teacher is meant to indicate that a prince must know how to use both natures, and that the one without the other is not durable."
Centaurs seem to combine the wildest and most debauched of urges (centaurs at the marriage of Pirithous), with intelligence and wisdom (Chiron). This seems a promising combination for a successful Splinterlands guild to aspire to!
Why "Blood-Boltered?"
To be "blood-boltered" is to have one's hair, fur, or mane, matted with blood. I was looking for an arresting image to describe the untamed centaurs and I suddenly recalled the lines from Macbeth, when Macbeth visits the witches and sees the ghost of Banquo, whom he had had murdered:
Horrible sight. Now, I see, 'tis true;
For the blood-boltered Banquo smiles upon me,
And points at them for his.
So there you have it! Combining the beast and the man, untamed, drunken, aggressive, and yet wise and insightful - the ideal combination when playing Splinterlands with a well stocked beer fridge!
Join us if you dare! https://splinterlands.com/register?ref=hirohurl
If you're already a member and looking for a Guild to join (and actively participate in), let me know in the comments.
Cheers!
David Hurley
#InspiredFocus
