A Note About Names and Genealogy

Characters who originate in the Otkorion region do not have names such as Calron Cruelsabre or Tebit the Evil Sorceror. Far from it - since the Otkorioni are descended in the main from Lanksti barbarians rather than Safelstran Arkati, their names reflect this. Names should have an Irish/Celtic flavour such as Dervla, Angus or Liam etc... A surname is vitally important as well as it gives the person's family affiliations, and family descent. Ancestry is very important in the lives of Otkorioni, and all ancestors are honoured and revered, although direct ancestor worship has long since faded out.

All people belong to a Family, otherwise they are considered by the general populace as Outcasts, the lowest of the low. To be disowned or to disown one's family is a grave error in the eyes of the Church. A person's surname will usually be that of their family, i.e. Tuatha Rawson of the Family Rawson. If a person is a direct descendant of someone who has committed a famour act then they inherit their name as their surname - thus creating a minor family line (see later). For example, a farmer known as Sean Kirwan of Family Kirawn would have no notable descent whereas Sean Dalmari of the Family Kirwan would be a direct descendant of the famous Hunter, Dalmari Kirwan and has had the honour of carrying his name

Honour names, such as Ironsword, Spirit-crusher, Soulfire or Longshot (all merely as examples) are the sole province of the Cult of St. Humakt, and as an honour (or dishonour) bestowed upon you by a noble so powerful to have regional recognition that his bestowing of an honour name is worth something. A character who misuses honour names, or starts calling themselves by honour names they do not deserve, will face retribution in the form of admonishment by society. Actively giving oneself an incorrect honour name in an attempt to lie, cheat or steal is considered a crimnal offence by the Church.

Those Safelstran families within Otkorion who did not come from Lankst were long ago subsumed into Otkorion society and their names were changed into Lanksti versions, or changed completely, to avoid being recognised as being of inferior stock. This is much like a German family abroad may have changed it's name after World War II. Notably, Safelstran forenames are being used in Otkorion, and are starting to become a fashion in the higher court circles of Fiesive.

A person will introduce themselves with both their names and family descent if greeting someone of equal rank to them, but normally only introduce themselves by name when speaking to someone of higher or lower rank. A farmer would rarely indicate his family if speaking to a high ranking noble, but would make an exception in the case of the king.

Genealogies are usually remembered to within a few genreations by all Otkorioni, and all famous family members are well known. Full genealogies are kept by a resident St. Lhankor Mhy Sage whom the Family hires to record such details as births, deaths and a persons notable details. They usually memorize them, and often write them down. Surantyr has authorised a book to fully comprehend all Otkorioni genealogies, and it is to be stored in Tempest Halls. The book is being wirtten by some of the best Sages of the land, with help from Godi and Shamans of Lankst, and the group as an entity is known as the Salmarioni. Using certain magics, many ancestral spirits are contacted, have various situations discussed with them about their ancestry and are then blessed and released to reach Solace. The Bishoprics are very intrested in ensuring that those ancestors who died before the Church, and therfore did not have the opportunity to reach Solace are blessed in Death to travel there.

Ancestor worship and the cult of Daka Fal were phased out many years ago by the Aeolian worship of the Creator. It is considered heresy and necromancy to tamper with souls already in Solace, and therfore much effort is made to ensure that necromancy is purged from Otkorion.

Notes on Families, Lines and Hierachy

The concept of families originated from Lankst clans and tribes. The change from a tribe-orientated society to a family based society is more than merely a change in name.

Families are all ruled by a single Family Head, a powerful member of the Lord Caste who, by virtue of his position, is also a Priest of Orlanth Rex. The Head of the Family occupies what would be the position of chieftan. A Head virtually always appoints a successor, retiring rather than dying in battle as the lifestyle of Otkorioni Orlanthi is less violent than that of the barbarians northbound. If a replacement is not nominated then the families Wizard Caste must test all canidates and the winner takes the Head. Sometimes civil wars break out - they are violent, bloody and short.

The abolition of the Inner Ring that existed in Lanksti barbarian society means far more power for the Family Head whom answers to no-one and has autocratic power over all Family members. The Outer Ring varies in size, and are known as the Thunder Brothers. they have between five and thirty members, comprising advisors, priests and bodyguards depending upon how much advice the Family Head is willing to take. Anyone who disobeys a direct order from the Family Head or one of his official proxies suffers. Firstly they are disowned by their family, usually this is disastrous, but not always. A Farmer looses all land grants and trading treaties, warriors loose any placement in the family armies and if the family applies the correct politcal pressure they can persuade the Church Militant to make them redundant - these ronin often become mercenaries. The Wizard Caste often face problems with the Red Circle of Fiesive if they are members, but otherwise are normally unharmed. A Lord Caste is instantly relegated to Farmer by the Family Head and all land and property is removed.

There are seventeen major families, and 112 minor families that make up the family structure. In each major family there are countless family lines.

The difference between a family line and a completley new family is this - a family line has been given it's own name and prestige for servies rendered but has no head and is still subject to the Head of the Family it originates from. A minor family appears when irreconcilable differences occur within a family and to avoid bloodshed they leave with their close relatives and form a new family. The minor family has it's own Head, Thunder Brothers and tulas. They are rarely large enough to support family lines.

All families own tulas, land bought and maintained for the provision of the Lord Caste. On these lands live the Thunder Brothers, the Head, the Family Priests, the Family Guard and Guests. In Fiesive, the city of nobles, almost one half of the city is composed entirely of tulas.

The Cae Currum, or Family Guard, are neccessarty to a family's survival. By tradition the Cael Currum must protect all family intrests, especially in times of war. This includes covert operations, spying, investigation (in fact - general adventuring). Also by tradition, all Family Guard serve from when they are hired until the end of Sacred Time, at which point they are paid 294 Orbs, 1 Orb for each day in the year. Food and supplies are all granted for free, and all members may keep any booty they find, less taxes and tithing. Since a member is paid the same no matter how long they have actually served, Cael Currum members are normally only hired at the start of the year. At the end of this year they are virutally always given the option to renew their contract. All families must supply one unit of family guard per year for various religious activities within the Chruch Militant, such as the Lightbringer's Pilgrimage from either Fiesive or Valantia to Tempest Halls, as well as the Ocaeldun, a chaos killing mission that every Family Guard member dreads to be sent on. The Cael Currum number about 200 in major families and 10-100 in minor families. The Family Guard are composed by people from all backgrounds and cults, although warriors and journeymen are most common.

Example Names

Male: Agnoman, Ailsill, Ainle, Angus, Aonbarr, Argrath, Asal, Balar, Bealon, Bov, Braug, Breg'on, Bres, Brian, Briccria, Birog, Caer, Cal, Car'adawc, Cathbad, Cathal, Colem, Comm, Conn, Connary, Comla, Cormac, Cumhal, Cormyr, Corpry, Crawly, Cramel, Daran, Diarmaid, Douglas, Doyle, Duac, Duncan, Elatha, Elliott, Eochy, Erawac, Farlow, Fiachra, Fingen, Frelim, Gohan, Gorias, Grabel, Graham, Gunn, Gwion, Hamer, Hamish, Hugh, Ith, Iudan, Kal, Karal, Kian, Kien, Kyle, Lairgen, Leoban, Lir, Logan, Lugh, Maan, Maban, Maeldun, Malcolm, Macbeth, Marly, Naisi, Nemed, Niol, Ogma, Padraig, Parthalon, Patrick, Ramsay, Ross, Ruadan, Sawan, Saxel, Scott, Sera, Sian, Sreng, Talmar, Tuan, Tuatha, Tureen, Turral, Vigiof.

Female: Aifa, Aine, Alba, Amber, Aoife, Aurora, Banba, Blai, Boanna, Branwen, Brigit, Caer, Carole, Dealgnaid, Dectera, Deoca, Dervla, Elsie, Emania, Etain, Ethlinn, Fionula, Freya, Hela, Kelsae, Kirva, Kristine, Levariam, Lucia, Macha, Maev, Maga, Marish, Margul, Moriath, Morrigan, Neavh, Niam, Penardun, Ruth, Saba, Shalla, Shallya, Shannon, Sharone, Shryl, Suliall.

Minor Family Name Examples: Anderson, Armstrong, Boru, Campbell, Cenchos, Cliamh Solias, De Dunaan, Derry, Falias, Finias, Glengary, Lochie, Lovat, MacBain, MacColl, MacDerry, MacGillivray, MacLeod, MacRue, Moyle, Murias, Ronald, Rose, Seanmay, Westmeath.