The Zerg Broods

Everyone familiar with Blizzard games has probably noticed they use a lot of mytholgy and historical based names in their games. I first found this out one day when for some reason I found myself wondering how the hell they came up with some of the Uniques names in Diablo. It didn't take much surfing to see where they got most of their inspiration.. and realize some of those guys are way over educated :P (just kidding Blizz, I'm secretly jealous) hehe. Anyway I finally picked up the Starcraft manual and started searching, something I'd been meaning to do since I first heard the name Valkyrie, and below are the results. By far the most interesting were the Zerg Broods (at least to me).

The Zerg Broods have their names rooted in mythology, primarily Norse Mythology. I was able to find all but the Baelrog online, although I did find references to Balrog. Since I have always found mythology interesting and love the tales, I have included the exerts I found at Mythica Encyclopedia. I found it noteworthy that all of the Nordic names tie in with the foretelling of Ragnarok, the end of the world or "Doom of the Gods" in Norse Mythology. Obviously someone at Blizzard is a fan...

Fenris (or Fenrir) Norse Mythology
Fenrir (or Fenris) is a gigantic and terrible monster in the shape of a wolf. He is the eldest child of Loki and the giantess Angrboda.

The gods learned of a prophecy which stated that the wolf and his family would one day be responsible for the destruction of the world. They caught the wolf and locked him in a cage. The god of war, Tyr, was the only one who dared to feed and take care of the wolf. When he was still a pup they had nothing to fear, but when the gods saw one day how he had grown, they decided to render him harmless. However, none of the gods had enough courage to face the gigantic wolf, so they tried to trick him instead. They said the wolf was weak and that he could never break free when he was chained. Fenrir accepted the challenge, and let himself voluntarily be chained. Unfortunately, he was so immensely strong that he managed to break the strongest fetters as if they were cobwebs.

After that, the gods saw only one alternative left: a magic chain. They ordered the dwarves to make something so strong that it could hold the wolf, and the result was a soft, thin ribbon: Gleipnir. It was incredibly strong, despite what its size and appearance might suggest. The ribbon was fashioned of six strange elements: the noise made by the footfall of a cat; the roots of a mountain; a woman's beard; the breath of fishes; the sinews of a bear; and a bird's spittle.

The gods tried to trick the wolf again, only this time Fenrir was less eager to show his strength. He saw how thin the chain was, and said that there was no pride in breaking such a weak chain. Eventually Fenrir agreed, thinking that otherwise his strength and courage would be doubted. However, suspecting treachery, he in turn asked the gods for a token of good will: one of them had to put a hand between his jaws. The gods were not overly eager to do this, knowing what they could expect. Finally, it was Tyr who agreed, and the gods chained the wolf with Gleipnir. No matter how hard Fenrir struggled, he could not break free from this thin ribbon, and eventually bit off Tyr's hand in revenge.

Being very pleased with themselves, the gods carried Fenrir off and chained him to a rock, a mile down into the earth. They put a sword between his jaws to prevent him from biting. On the day of Ragnarok, Fenrir will break his chains and join the giants in their battle against the gods. He will seek out Odin and devour him. Vidar, Odin's son, will avenge his father by killing the wolf.

Another name for Fenrir is Hrodvitnir ("mighty wolf").

(2) The great wolf who lay bound in chains in Asgard (the realm of the Gods), the labour of which cost Tyr his hand. Fenris was to rise at the onset of Ragnarok, and destroy the world, in concert with Niddhogg and the other enemies of the Norse gods.

 

Tiamat  Babylonian Mythology
In Babylonian myths, Tiamat is a huge, bloated female dragon that personifies the saltwater ocean, the water of Chaos. She is also the primordial mother of all that exists, including the gods themselves. Her consort is Apsu, the personification of the freshwater abyss that lies beneath the Earth. From their union, saltwater with freshwater, the first pair of gods were born.

In the creation epic Enuma elish, written around 2000 BC, their descendants started to irritate Tiamat and Apsu so they decided to kill their offspring. Ea discovered their plans and he managed to kill Apsu while the latter was asleep. Tiamat flew into a rage when she learned about Apsu's death and wanted to avenge her husband. She created an army of monstrous creatures, which was to be led by her new consort Kingu, who is also her son. Eventually, Tiamat was defeated by the young god Marduk, who was born in the deep freshwater sea.

Marduk cleaved her body in half, and from the upper half he created the sky and from the lower half he made the earth. From her water came forth the clouds and her tears became the source of the Tigris and the Euphratus. Kingu also perished, and from his blood Marduk created the first humans.

(2) The dreaded dragon of Babylonian legend, Tiamat was the scourge of the Babylonian gods and was eventually defeated by Marduk, who shot a raging wind into her mouth, so that she could not close it and swallow him, then shafted an arrow into her belly, slaying her. Marduk then created the heavens and earth out of her carcass. Tiamat was said to be revolting in appearance, being a cross between a bird, a serpent and an animal, and she was seen as utterly evil.

 

Garm  Norse Mythology
The monstrous hound Garm guards the entrance to Helheim, the Norse realm of the dead. It has four eyes and a chest drenched with blood, and lives in Gnipa-cave. Anyone who had given bread to the poor could appease him with Hel cake. On the day of Ragnarok, Garm will join the giants in their fight against the gods. The god of war Tyr will kill it in this cataclysmic battle but will die from the wounds inflicted by the hound.

Garm is often equated with the wolf Fenrir. It can also be compared with Cerberus, the Greek guardian of the underworld.

 

Jormungand  Norse Mythology
In Norse mythology, Jormungand is one of the three children of the god Loki and his wife, the giantess
Angrboda. The gods were well aware that this monster was growing fast and that it would one day bring
much evil upon gods and men. So Odin deemed it advisable to render it harmless. He threw the serpent in the ocean that surrounds the earth, but the monster had grown to such an enormous size that it easily
spans the entire world, hence the name Midgard Serpent. It lies deep in the ocean where it bites itself in its tail, and all mankind is caught within his coils.

At the destruction of the universe, Jormungand and Thor will kill each other.

(2) The world serpent that dwelled at the bottom of the sea, and that encircled the whole world. It was to rise against the gods at Ragnarok, helping the Fenris Wolf and Surt, and the other enemies of the gods, to destroy both Asgard (the realm of the Gods)  and Midgard (the realm of man).

 

Surtur (or Surt) Norse Mythology
Surt is the leader of the Fire Giants and ruler of Muspell, a region of fire and light whose burning embers and sparks gave birth to the stars and celestial bodies. He carries a great sword which shines brighter than the sun. On the day of Ragnorak, Surt will lead his fire giant brethren against the gods, seeking out and killing the unarmed Freyr, ruler of the Elves. Surt will then set fire to Yggdrasil, the World Tree that links and shelters all the worlds, and set the very universe aflame.

(3) Surt or Surtur. The guardian of Muspelheim, who keeps watch day and night with a flaming sword. At the end of the world he will hurl fire from his hand and burn up both heaven and earth. (Scandinavian mythology)

 

Baelrog
Although I couldn't find any info under this spelling, JRR Tolkien had a demon called the Balrog in the Lord of the Rings trilogy that I think this is based on. Diablo also has a demon/monster called the Balrog that I think is also based on Tolkiens. View picture. The Balrog (Demon of Might) was said to be the fiercest of the demons that served the Dark Lord Morgoth. Gandulf slew the last Balrog in a grewling eleven day battle, but later died from his wounds. Read more on the history of the Balrog here.

 

Some more info, just because they intrigued me :

Ragnarok
Ragnarok ("Doom of the Gods"), also called Gotterdammerung, means the end of the cosmos in Norse mythology. It will be preceded by Fimbulvetr, the winter of winters. Three such winters will follow each other with no summers in between. From all the corners of the world, gods, giants, dwarves, demons and elves will ride towards the huge plain of Vigrid ("battle shaker") were the last battle will be fought. The nine worlds will burn and the earth shall sink into the sea. This is the beginning of the end. Read more on Ragnarok here and here.

Yggdrasil
Yggdrasil,  (the World Tree) is a giant ash tree that links together and shelters all the worlds. In Norse Mythology there are nine worlds (realms) with three levels, all of which are linked together by the World Tree. On the Upper Level are Asgard (land of the gods), Alfheim (land of the light-elves), and Vanaheim (land of the Vanir). On the Middle Level are Midgard (the land of humans),  Jotunheim (land of giants),
Svartalfheim (land of the dark-elves),  and Nidavellir (land of the dwarves). On the Lower Level are Muspelheim (southern land of fire), Niflheim (northern land of ice) and Helheim (land of the dead). Three
wells lie at its base: the Well of Wisdom (Mímisbrunnr), guarded by Mimir; the Well of Fate (Urdarbrunnr), guarded by the Norns; and the Hvergelmir (Roaring Kettle), the source of many rivers. Other names for Yggdrasil include: Odin's Horse, Ask Yggdrasil, Hoddmimir's Wood, Laerad and The Terrible One's Horse. Surtur will set fire to Yggdrasil and by doing so, will destroy the very cosmos.

 

Sources Include : Encyclopedia Mythica,   (2) Of Gods and Men,   (3) The Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.