[4e] Help with Orcus' Name

[Mercurius]

How about Orcusananda? Barring that, I kind of like the name Mahakala. It isn't exactly an evil deity, but is a compound word of great (kaha) and black (kala).

Or even just Orkala--that sounds Sanskrit, and you could say it means "black-soul" or something like that.

 

[lkj]

You could go with some variation of an Asura or Rakshasa.

Ravana was the classic evil villain from the Ramayana. 10 headed horrific demon.

I have a few others in my head, but they're harder to say (Hiranyakasipu) or maybe not ominous enough (Bali).

Or you could just use the word "Asura".

Anyway that's what's off the top of my head. But if you are just looking to make the name Orcus sound more Indian, you might use

Orcinda
Urcali
Orcunava

Or some other cheat.

Hope that helps a little.

AD

 

[Family]

I like Ike

 

[Huw]

Yama is the Indian equivalent. If the name is too familiar, here is what he's known as amongst the neighbours:

China: Yen Wang
Tibet: Phyi sgrub
Japan: Emma O
Bali: Yama Raja

Most of these translate as "King Yama". So, you could have everyone refer in fearful terms to "the King", without elaborating.

 

[blargney the second]

So, you could have everyone refer in fearful terms to "the King", without elaborating.

Elder Elvis has left the building.

 

[Huw]

Elder Elvis has left the building.

Great. You've just given me a mental image of Orcus, dressed as Elvis, in a Phil Foglio style.

 

[lutecius]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the obvious
(not a rick roll)

 

[Raven Crowking]

I would go with Orshivu.

(A sort of mix between Orcus and Shiva....I would also mix their appearance and mythology, but that's just me. )

RC

 

[Pbartender]

"Arunisha" would be bad Sanskrit for "reddish-brown lord", or more evocatively, "blood-red lord".

Add a k... Arunkisha, Arunkish or Arunkesh

...and you've got something similar sounding to, but not obviously, "Orcus".

 

[Huw]

I'm wandering slightly off topic here. Sanskrit is a satem language, so the "c" in Orcus would be rendered "s", assuming a common root. An etymologically authentic name would be something like "Arsa" (or "Bharsa" if Orcus came from Celtic - the Greek is "Phorcis" IIRC).

With that bit of idle speculation out of the way, I propose "Bharaksha" as an Indic-looking, sinister enough sounding name.