Names and Destiny

[GravyFingerz]

So, I had this idea for a setting; it seems kinda outlandish, but fantasy is fantasy right? So, okay, let's imagine for a moment a world, we'll call it World A. It looks pretty nice, right? Trees, waterfalls, rabbits, and etc. Man thats a sweet world.

So, anyway, let's imagine the human race has a particular tradition; names are important. So important, that unless you are gifted and destined for great things (read most PCs), that you don't get a name.

So, considering the following, people still need a way to differentiate themselves from each other. So, how would you propose that these people would do that? Obviously, profession is the logical choice, but there may be 100 or so farmers. There needs to be a way to do this without actually giving a true name. Any feedback would be apprecoated.

 

[Pbartender]

Read Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea Novels.

The whole basis behind magic in these books is that everything (not just people) has two names... It's ordinary every-day use name, and its True Name.

Magic is a matter of knowing (memorizing long lists) the True Names of things. If, for example, you know the True Name of horses, you can summon one to ride on. Or, knowing the True Names of the wind and sea makes it a lot easier to sail a ship where you want.

People have unique True Names. They are typically given these names at a special coming-of-age ceremony. Whoever knows your True Name can have complete power over you, and so telling someone your True Name is the ultimate show of trust.

 

[Piratecat]

I believe Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed has some good rules for truenames, too.

 

[GravyFingerz]

BUMP

Someone mentioned in the chat room that location could be used, such as Smith by the Road, for example. I then conceived that a "name" could also contain an animal, quality of the person, profession, or location. So, one could be Smiling Wolf, if it made sense, or Red Haired Farmer, and etc.

Another suggestion was numbering, such as Soldier 242. I could see this for an army, but something strikes me as wrong when I think of using this. It doesn't feel right for a fantasy.

Keep those suggestions comin

 

[Particle_Man]

How about taking it the other way? If only the imporant folk are named, then the unnamed are simply unimportant. As in, you don't have to differentiate between them, as any one of them will do for any purpose. Treat them more like interchangable slaves (from the named ones' pov) and have them treat each other, and themselves, as interchangable as well. No private ownership of property among the unnamed, no stable family structures or romantic alliances, no ties to land or city. Some would farm, some wander, some live, some die, etc.

Well, it would make for a different setting, and might take some work, but hey, it might be interesting. I suppose a lot hinges on whether the pc's start as named ones or unnamed ones.