| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| TobyKikami |
Posted - 01 Jan 2007 : 18:50:41
Sorry if there's some other discussion covering this that I missed, but I've just been thinking about people in the Realms who are the topic title. Off the top of my head...
-Torm (the knight of Myth Drannor)
-Random people named Helm (under Chondathan names in the Campaign Setting)
-Seluneshar (mentioned in, I think, an Ed Greenwood Q&A)
-Tempus Blackthorne (Banite in the Avatar Trilogy)
Any others you can come up with?
I was also wondering about unintentional namesakes of the recently ascended gods. Ariel/Midnight is pretty much moot, but there could be teenagers or older named Cyric in completely good faith - and even younger Kelemvors.
Right now I'm mulling over the possibility of a Kelemvor of Cyric (often going by Kel so as not to trip those pesky divine senses), or a Cyric of Kelemvor (going by let's say Rick for the same reason), or a Cyric of Cyric, or a Kelemvor of Kelemvor, and that's not considering all the combinations to be had from the other gods... |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 09 Jan 2007 : 22:40:17
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I had a friend who's family patron saint was Saint Francis of Assissi. When his older brother got his confirmation(?) name they chose Francis. A couple years later when he got his name they decided to go with Assissi (since Francis had already been used).
Poor guy, when the rest of us found out he spent all of High School being called Assissi.
Yes, that's Confirmation, a Roman Catholic sacrament. Poor guy, though, I don't see why he couldn't have also taken the name "Francis"--it's not exactly against the rules. |
| Dreamstalker |
Posted - 09 Jan 2007 : 17:45:13
quote:
Originally posted by JorkensI don't know, with the rulers being of divine heritage I would see it more of a tradition to protect the names of the gods from being used by others than the elite. The name would then signify a divine heritage. Or maybe they use a prefix that shows that the name is used in homage, not as a sign of kinship. Of course I am only thinking loudly here.
I can agree with that. However it is not always easy to keep track of how the farmers and fishers name themselves. Probably is not important unless there are specific religious decrees. |
| Asgetrion |
Posted - 09 Jan 2007 : 15:38:29
quote:
Originally posted by Dreamstalker
I feel sorry for all little girls and boys named after Sharess. Would be interesting to play a character named after a long dead god as a family name, and linked to some family secret.
The Mulhorandi and Untheric peoples likely name their children as such often, considering that the rulers are direct descendants of their gods.
A friend of mine is named Odin. All of his brothers and sisters have normal American names. He wouldn't trade the name for the world however.
I suggested 'Zeus Benjamin' and 'Adama Starbuck' to my best when his son was born half a year ago... my friend thought they were cool, but his wife wasn't very fond of either - can you believe that?!?   |
| Markustay |
Posted - 09 Jan 2007 : 08:05:03
As far as I'm concerned, a god would filter out anything that wasn't
A) His full name, and
B) The speeker had actually meant the 'god', not his kid
Anything else is just silly. What if someone used just "ke" instead of "kel", or how about just "K". As someone else mentioned, where would it end? I know they're are gods but c'mon, if they heard every little utterance that sounded even vaguely like their name it would overwealm them!
And what of arch-types? I'm sure Lolth loves her name, but if she hears it everytime anyone in the entire multiverse used "lol" she would have one hell of a headache (especially if they can hear internet chat).
This would mean that if I were a god, I would simply name myself "The", and NEVER have to worry about floating in the ether. I would be the most powerful being in the universe with the logic you guys are putting forth.
I had a friend who's family patron saint was Saint Francis of Assissi. When his older brother got his confirmation(?) name they chose Francis. A couple years later when he got his name they decided to go with Assissi (since Francis had already been used).
Poor guy, when the rest of us found out he spent all of High School being called Assissi. |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 09 Jan 2007 : 04:46:46
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
quote:
Originally posted by Dreamstalker
The Mulhorandi and Untheric peoples likely name their children as such often, considering that the rulers are direct descendants of their gods.
I don't know, with the rulers being of divine heritage I would see it more of a tradition to protect the names of the gods from being used by others than the elite. The name would then signify a divine heritage. Or maybe they use a prefix that shows that the name is used in homage, not as a sign of kinship. Of course I am only thinking loudly here.
I believe that the 2nd Edition Old Empires sourcebook did indeed mention that Mulhorandi that were descended from a given god had names that were partially derived from the god whose bloodline they shared, i.e. Nekiset being of the bloodline of Set. |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 07 Jan 2007 : 06:20:23
quote:
Originally posted by Dreamstalker
The Mulhorandi and Untheric peoples likely name their children as such often, considering that the rulers are direct descendants of their gods.
I don't know, with the rulers being of divine heritage I would see it more of a tradition to protect the names of the gods from being used by others than the elite. The name would then signify a divine heritage. Or maybe they use a prefix that shows that the name is used in homage, not as a sign of kinship. Of course I am only thinking loudly here. |
| Zimme |
Posted - 07 Jan 2007 : 03:00:20
Hmm, my name is Sune....no, seriously...and it no name for a godess since the meaning of it is: Nordic son. =) |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 06 Jan 2007 : 21:59:27
quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
I am desperately waiting to run City of the Spider Queen, because the first Szith Morcane wizard that they deal with and actually have a conversation with I am naming Drizzt, just because it will mess with their perceptions. 
I have to admit, that's a pretty good (and funny) idea. |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 06 Jan 2007 : 07:10:16
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
No doubt people get named after deities in the FR, but as a outsider looking in, it's hard for me to see a god's name and *not* immediately think of whatever deity that is, and so I don't know if I'd ever name any of my own characters after a deity.
For the same reason I wouldn't name any of my own characters after another, well-known character (Elminster, Laeral, Azoun). I just can't separate these names from their famous, attached personages, and I don't like the idea of having a unique character all my own, but always being reminded of another character just because of the name. "Drizzt" might well be the Underdark version of "John"...but did anyone just read that name without thinking of a certain dark elf ranger of Icewind Dale?
Common to Realms folk just doesn't equal common to the reader.
I am desperately waiting to run City of the Spider Queen, because the first Szith Morcane wizard that they deal with and actually have a conversation with I am naming Drizzt, just because it will mess with their perceptions. |
| Dreamstalker |
Posted - 06 Jan 2007 : 07:00:54
I feel sorry for all little girls and boys named after Sharess. Would be interesting to play a character named after a long dead god as a family name, and linked to some family secret.
The Mulhorandi and Untheric peoples likely name their children as such often, considering that the rulers are direct descendants of their gods.
A friend of mine is named Odin. All of his brothers and sisters have normal American names. He wouldn't trade the name for the world however. |
| Aglaranna |
Posted - 05 Jan 2007 : 20:55:44
quote:
Originally posted by Charles Phipps
I had the dubious distinction of having a Paladin of Torm named Bhaal Kreiger from Zhentil Keep. In our Pre-Time of Troubles campaign, it was slowly built up that Bhaal had a very strong interest in the character for some reason.
You don't say? |
| Charles Phipps |
Posted - 05 Jan 2007 : 14:20:13
I had the dubious distinction of having a Paladin of Torm named Bhaal Kreiger from Zhentil Keep. In our Pre-Time of Troubles campaign, it was slowly built up that Bhaal had a very strong interest in the character for some reason. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 04 Jan 2007 : 00:27:12
No doubt people get named after deities in the FR, but as a outsider looking in, it's hard for me to see a god's name and *not* immediately think of whatever deity that is, and so I don't know if I'd ever name any of my own characters after a deity.
For the same reason I wouldn't name any of my own characters after another, well-known character (Elminster, Laeral, Azoun). I just can't separate these names from their famous, attached personages, and I don't like the idea of having a unique character all my own, but always being reminded of another character just because of the name. "Drizzt" might well be the Underdark version of "John"...but did anyone just read that name without thinking of a certain dark elf ranger of Icewind Dale?
Common to Realms folk just doesn't equal common to the reader. |
| Aglaranna |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 22:22:44
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Aglaranna
quote:
Originally posted by Kaladorm
quote:
Originally posted by WalkerNinja
-Also, I have a Norwegian great-uncle named Thor.
That's awesome 
"Oi! Uncle Thor! This guy is picking on me...Will you please throw your hammer at him? *WHACK* *lightning strikes* Thanks, Uncle, you're the coolest!"
I have a nephew named Merlin. How's that?
Yes, but...BZZT! We're off topic. *shiftey eyes* Are they coming for us? JUST BECAUSE I'M PARANOID DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE NOT OUT TO GET ME! |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 21:45:06
quote:
Originally posted by Aglaranna
quote:
Originally posted by Kaladorm
quote:
Originally posted by WalkerNinja
-Also, I have a Norwegian great-uncle named Thor.
That's awesome
"Oi! Uncle Thor! This guy is picking on me...Will you please throw your hammer at him? *WHACK* *lightning strikes* Thanks, Uncle, you're the coolest!"
I have a nephew named Merlin. How's that? |
| Aglaranna |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 20:37:47
quote:
Originally posted by Kaladorm
quote:
Originally posted by WalkerNinja
-Also, I have a Norwegian great-uncle named Thor.
That's awesome
"Oi! Uncle Thor! This guy is picking on me...Will you please throw your hammer at him? *WHACK* *lightning strikes* Thanks, Uncle, you're the coolest!" |
| Kaladorm |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 17:36:26
quote:
Originally posted by WalkerNinja
-Also, I have a Norwegian great-uncle named Thor.
That's awesome |
| Kuje |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 15:59:45
After thinking about this a bit more, I'm also going to say that there are probably different spellings for the deities' names in the different languages. Plus, adding in accents and you got a nice mix of different ways to say, spell, and name someone after a deity. Hearing all these different languages, spellings, and accents has to be very interesting.
Even in our world, the deities have many different spellings. For example, the greeks tend to spell their deities with K's instead of with C's. Hekate instead of Hecate, etc.
And Walker is right, a lot of people name their children after deities but a lot of people use the names of the saints more then the names from the old pantheons. Of course, people over seas still use the names from the old pantheons or names based on those deities. Helm and Torm, in FR, since Ed has said so, are popular choices for mortals to name their children after.
Also, you are going to have to dig through a lot of material to find NPC's that are named after the gods because TSR, and again, Ed has mentioned this in the past, didn't like to reuse names because they felt it would "confuse people." So, every NPC, usually, had a different name from any other named being and there are hardly any repeated named. WOTC seems to have removed this policy a bit but even now, it's hard to find NPC's that share the same name. |
| WalkerNinja |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 13:21:21
Well, this thread has passed beyond the scope of the original question, but this is the first time that I've read it, and I'll add my two cents.
I seem to recall... somewhere... that Torm and Helm are rather common names in the Realms. The Equivilent of John or Chris.
Further, I will call to attention that naming after religious figures is quite common in our own world as well.
-Mary as a name for a female across all of Western Civilization.
-Ditto for Peter.
-Jesus is exceedingly common in Central and South America.
-I know many people that chose all of their children's names from the Bible.
-Also, I have a Norwegian great-uncle named Thor. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 13:10:22
quote:
Originally posted by Kaladorm
Consequently people simply uttering even a part of their name would require some concentration on the gods part, so unless it's important it's likely to be ignored
Indeed.
And considering that a god's mind is rather a vast aspect in and of itself... it wouldn't be too much for one to also assume that gods do in fact devote portions of their conscious minds to such needs. Whether they're parts of their minds dedicated to "listening" for errant prayers or whispered utterings... these are usually things gods can't always be finicky about, especially if they've recently experienced a decrease in status, or their worshipper base has shrunk significantly. At this point, a god is going to need to be alert for any slight, brief, or partially-phrased utterance that can guarantee them either acknowledgement or worship from mortals.
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| Kaladorm |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 12:28:15
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Indeed.
I'm inclined to also believe, as Ed has said in the past, that some gods just "selectively" choose which divine utterance or prayer they wish to act upon simply because one specific utterance or prayer may potentially provide them with more power or interest from mortals, than some others.
Particularly where Finder explains to his cleric (forget his name) in Finders Bane the reason for clerics having to intone the prayer correctly. Gods are very busy people, with lots of voices to hear, and if a prayer is done correctly the god can offer his power to fuel that spell without taking up too much concentration.
Consequently people simply uttering even a part of their name would require some concentration on the gods part, so unless it's important it's likely to be ignored |
| Kuje |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 07:04:57
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Indeed.
I'm inclined to also believe, as Ed has said in the past, that some gods just "selectively" choose which divine utterance or prayer they wish to act upon simply because one specific utterance or prayer may potentially provide them with more power or interest from mortals, than some others.
Makes sense to me and I agree.
Also, with the amount of clerics and lay worshippers sending you prayers and you giving spells, in the case of your divine casters, I really don't see why it's so hard for deities to hear names that are based on their names.
But like I said, if Ed clarifies and says otherwise, then so be it. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 06:51:40
Indeed.
I'm inclined to also believe, as Ed has said in the past, that some gods just "selectively" choose which divine utterance or prayer they wish to act upon simply because one specific utterance or prayer may potentially provide them with more power or interest from mortals, than some others.
|
| Kuje |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 06:35:04
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
As Ed said, deities can also block access to other deities from hearing the names and deities also tone it out because the constant barrage would drive you nuts.
Consider also, as Ed has said, that some deities may simply "miss" hearing one prayer or scant utterance of a deity's name. This is, simply, because they either have little care for that one particular utterance, or have found it difficult to focus in on that one particular voice amid the hundreds and/or thousands of utterances a second that bombard the god's mind.
Yup yup. True enough. To me, if you are deity, it's not a stretch that you would be able to hear names that are related to your name. Hells, the Chosen of Mystra manage to hear their names being spoken, so it's really not that far fetched that deities have expanded powers. They are deities after all! |
| The Sage |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 06:21:58
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
As Ed said, deities can also block access to other deities from hearing the names and deities also tone it out because the constant barrage would drive you nuts.
Consider also, as Ed has said, that some deities may simply "miss" hearing one prayer or scant utterance of a deity's name. This is, simply, because they either have little care for that one particular utterance, or have found it difficult to focus in on that one particular voice amid the hundreds and/or thousands of utterances a second that bombard the god's mind.
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| Kuje |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 06:08:22
quote:
Originally posted by Dhomal
Hello-
Kuje - would you also include option #5 - where Kel is a shortened version of another name entirely?
Well, I said all of the above, so I guess that would be a yes.
And you know, Ed's probably going so say something like, "Mortals don't know much about matters divine, so there's no set answer to this." |
| Dhomal |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 05:48:57
Hello-
Kuje - would you also include option #5 - where Kel is a shortened version of another name entirely?
And certainly - perhaps 'whore' is not a word used in the Realms - but the same issue lies with Bane and Mask, and I dont think we need to worry about the use/lack of use of those two words in the Relams. (*My original post was made with a copy of 2Ed Powers & Pantheons, so my reference was made by flipping through that.*)
As far as asking for clairification - not a bad idea at all. However - maybe tomorrow - as I'm a bit late for bed. :)
Dhomal |
| Kuje |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 05:35:45
Based on Ed'd reply, I'd say all of the above. Also, we don't know if people use the word whore in FR. :) Ed's given us many different terms for sexual people and so far whore really hasn't been on said lists.
Ed even used the word utterances of their names and he said names that are named after them. Kel is technically named after Kelemvor. So Shar and Sharess would also hear both prayers the same way Selune and Shar would hear the prayers of Seluneshar. As Ed said, deities can also block access to other deities from hearing the names and deities also tone it out because the constant barrage would drive you nuts.
I suppose that someone should ask Ed for clarification but based on what he said in 2005, I'm going to disagree with everyone that says Kelemvor can't hear someone that is named Kel, etc. |
| scererar |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 05:34:57
Good thought Dhomal. I have always had the understanding of a person uttering a gods name being heard, not portions or variations on a god's name. As one of your examples, I would believe Kelemvor would hear a mother calling for her little kid, who's name is also Kelemvor, but the god being able to decipher whether or not HIS/HER name was being spoken or referred too.
My 2 coppers worth |
| The Sage |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 05:30:02
quote:
Originally posted by Dhomal
On a smaller, related note - what about Dead Gods? Assumedly - if they are dead - they dont hear their name...
Well, remember what Ed said.
There's always prayers and idle worship and other miscellaneous divine utterings around the Realms for almost every divine being, those rumored-to-be-divine beings, half-forgotten and misremembered godlings... and even those deities who linger on as demigods or divine sparks.
Unless one god has been completely destroyed by another god... there's always a possibility that some portion of that god exists somewhere, some divine remnant, that stirs or pulses with power each and every time it "hears" a prayer or its name is uttered.
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