FFH2 civs as BTS civs

[Sian]

actually, the idea of clowns can be traced back to the fifth dynasty in Egypt, and often connected with the priesthood.

an interesting fact is that the word 'clown' most likely come from North Frisian and/or Scandinavian (Klönne, Kluns, Klumpe), being a semi-affectionate term for a clumsy person

[Qgqqqqq]

Even then, Balseraphs, for example. Where did the evil clown trope come from? Apart from clowning (which I've had the misfortune of studying...) it basically came about from movies. So should it be associated with the Americans? No, because making that connection is deceitful. Let's go a step further, and pretend I've looked up Evil clowns, and it actually is descended from...let's say Russian folklore of the 19th century. So should we make a connection there, and say that the Balseraphs arose from Russian inspiration?

[Tasunke]

Really though should we look at Balseraphs as other than 'evil clowns.' Revelry could be as much of a Brazilian term as a Carnie term, with jubilant celebration. The balseraphs are a people, if ruled by clowns, a people of chaos, exorbitance, luxury, sin, excess. Drug orgies, sexual orgies, the worship of strange gods, strange tongues ... I find that 'Octopus Overlords' makes the most thematic sense as their religion, or at least the religion (of the 7) that is worshiped by a majority of the populace.

Would it be incorrect to see Augustan Rome's view of Cleopatra's Egypt as a strange place of excess, worshiping strange gods and conducting lavish parties and orgies? (Not unlike how Western Europe viewed the late Ottoman Empire at the turn of the 20th century, with their Harems and Opium dens). Honestly, Egypt's Reptile Gods, their anthropomorphic gods in general, while common in a place like India, seems somewhat out of place, strange, cult-like even when compared to the 'major' Mediteranean religions of the time. Most were human-ized anthropomorphic, not half-human half-animal as the Egyptian gods were. Namely there are exceptions, like Mithras, etc, although that is a Zoroastrian example. So from the perspective of her neighbors, Egypt was seen as a land of strange and ancient ways, practiced by all levels of society. Even their Hieroglyphics have never been completely deciphered. There culture was rich, strange, and lavish, and personally I think this screams the Balseraph ... even if some wish to simplify them as 'clowns.'

[Qgqqqqq]

Certainly, the Balseraphs are more than evil clowns - I would state that as their inspiration, rather than themselves. But I would disagree that their primary civilization "trait" if you will, is excess. I would, instead, state it as unpredictable. The law as it is on one day may be very different from the law on the next. If anything, the revelry mechanic is incorrectly programmed if the focus was lore over gameplay (with a GA starting which has a x% chance of ending at any turn being a more accurate proposal, to reflect the whims of their leader). I am reminded of a comment Kael made about the Balseraph nobility, which stated that whilst it's a very privileged position, it has no stability, with different people occupying it from one day to the next.

I honestly don't think you understand the Balseraphs at all. Yes, it's culture is strange and can be rich and lavish, but at it's core is the chaos that defines them. That's why parallels to somewhere like Ancient Egypt is deceitful. Egypt was a strictly hierarchal civilization with thousands of years of history, with established traditions and practices and ways of life that were very slow to develop and change over time. To say that they are closely connected with a society as fluid and ever-changing as the Balseraphs is simply laughable.

[Tasunke]

I must admit that this element of their chaotic nature had eluded me. I was aware of their chaotic alignment but perhaps not quite to this extent. Their patron sphere is mind after all. I suppose chaotic mind is the true theme and it extends into society as a whole.

A civ doesn't need an exact link for a match up, and I still don't see any other civ with a similar level of connection. Except perhaps. Your Russian artist comparison.