For the most part, my cultures prove to be almost entirely medieval. Swords, bows and arrows, knives, chain mail, etc are my weaponry almost exclusively. The medieval culture (horses, castles, swords) is my favorite and the perfect scenario for the kind of fantasy I write.

For those of you who also use some sort of medieval culture, what are different aspects that you like to include in your stories?

I like to include alchemists. (Maybe that's fairly weird, I don't know...)

But a crazy, yet brilliant character is always so much fun to write! And besides, I like to give crazy scientific reasons for some of the phenomena that happen in my books, too.

Methinks I resort to classical English whenever necessary. Reading the KJV Bible and Shakespeare is a great help.

I enjoy writing like that for dialogue... but it gets a little old (at least for me) in the rest of the narrative! Unless, of course, it's 1st person.

Exactly. It must be done in moderation, unless of course you are really good at it.

I can't claim that, so I better just stick to dialogue!

Oh dear... I don't write in that kind of language. Because for me as a reader it's kind of frustrating to read, even if it DOES give a lot of authenticity.

I do not ever find it frustrating unless it is done badly. Classical English is the height of the language. It has all been downhill since the KJV and Shakespeare. It is so beautiful and expressive!

I agree...although if the narrative's in Old English as well, I have trouble with it.

Do you mean the actual language of Old English? Because I would too... it is utterly different from regular English.

Sorry, not the language. I mean like KJV English.

That is what I call Classical English. Old English is the name of a language. Classical English works better because that is really what it is.

Classical English, then.

Old English is virtually impossible to decipher. :O But... Classical isn't so bad.

I definitely prefer reading Classical English to Old English!
Old English does have some pretty cool words, though.

My charries always have medieval weapons, and the whole style (words, places, clothing, etc.) is as close to medieval as I can make it without a lot of research.

I don't like trying to write Old English, but it's fun to read. Especially when you have to figure out what a word means because it's one that we don't use. Middle English, I believe it is called, is also interesting.