the last riddle in the sequence is one about an empty box. It’s frustrating to guess and guess what might be in a box, only to learn that it’s empty. Accordingly, “empty box” has become a gnome insult. Someone who is frustrating, wastes others’ time, or doesn’t have anything of value is referred to as shael vuk.
GNOME NAMES
GNOMES
Gnomes believe in the power of names. A name should speak directly to some aspect of the individual or object that bears it. Upon hearing someone’s full name, the listener should have a very good idea of who that person is and what she has accomplished. Similarly, an object’s name should describe the thing minutely, so that there can be no question as to its function or position, nor can it be easily Table 2–1: Gnome Naming d10 Result confused with something else. 1–4 Roll once on Table 2–2 An individual gnome has many names. His mother gives 5–7 Roll twice on Table 2–2 him one, his father gives him another. When he is placed 8–9 Roll twice on Table 2–2 and once on Table 2–3 in a school of maestery, he receives yet another name. A 10 Roll three times on Table 2–2 fourth name is given upon adulthood, and in between (or afterward) each gnome chooses a name for himself as well. The family name always comes last in the sequence, but Table 2–2: Gnome Name Fragments d% Name Definition any number of nicknames, personal names, or honorary 01–02 Add Axe, Sharp, Sword names might precede it. Truly prestigious gnomes might 03–05 Arum Great, Hero, Heroic, Mighty have more than twenty names, each one directly related to 06–08 Baer Living, Open, Tree, Woodland that person and her deeds. Still, even gnomes dislike calling 09–11 Bar Disguised, False, Hidden, Shadow someone by all their names in informal conversations, so 12–14 Callad Cousin, Friendly, Kin, Related each individual usually has one name by which he is com15–16 Chik Beautiful, Fair, Haven, Home 17–19 Dal Master/Mistress, Skill, Skilled, Useful monly known, or a short name that his friends or relations 20–22 Din Tool, Useful, Valued, Weapon use in private. 23–25 Eaus Giant, Powerful A traditional gnome name consists of one or more name 26–27 Enn Companion, Vital, Husband/Wife fragments, from Table 2–2: Gnome Name Fragments, and 28–29 Erf Friend, Friendly, Kind possibly one or more nicknames, from Table 2–3: Gnome 30–31 Faer Blue, Cool, Ice, Sapphire Nicknames. Definitions have been included in Table 2–2, 32–34 Fen Earthen, Firm, Hill, Hills, Sturdy to help determine what a name means once it has been gen35–36 Flan Earth, Hard, Rocky, Stone 37–39 Gaer Defense, Protective, Shield, Strong erated. When combining two name fragments, an a or e is 40–42 Gar Father/Mother, First, Honored frequently added between them. Female names usually end 43–44 Hed Confusing, Mystery, Riddle, Secret in -a or -ae, which is added to the last name fragment. Most 45–46 Herl Noble, Ruler, Virtue, Virtuous item and place names are also feminine in form. A name 47–48 Ien Enemy, Evil, Pain, Wounded formed from a single fragment often has -l or -el added to 49–51 Jan Blessed, Divine, God/Goddess the end for males, and -al, -a, or -anna for females. 52–53 Kaer Fire, Hot, Red, Ruby 54–56 Len Good, Jewel, Treasure, Trusted You can randomly generate a gnome name by rolling on 57–59 Lun Complex, Device, Mechanical, Tinkerer Table 2–1: Gnome Naming, which will indicate which other 60–61 Mikk Desert, Harsh, Severe, Void table(s) to use and how many times you should roll. If you 62–64 Neb Child, Innocent, New, Young prefer, it is also possible to pick a set of definitions you like 65–66 Oaen Flexible, Knot, Maze, Twisted and assemble a name that matches them. If you want your 67–68 Ow Beloved, Loving, Warm, Welcome character’s name to reflect that he is a bold illusionist, you 69–70 Pall Cloak, Cloth, Soft, Supple might decide his name means “Heroic Illusionist.” This 71–72 Pin Air, Free, Swift, Wind 73–74 Raer Holiday, Joy, Joyful, Ritual can result in the name “Arumawann,” “Wannarum,” “Wan75–76 Ras Emerald, Green, Homeland nearum,” or “Arumewann.” If your character is a female 77–78 Seg Deep, Distance, Far, Long gnome, you might use “Wannearuma.” 79–81 Skor Art, Craft, Knowledge, Wise If you don’t like a particular combination, try some other 82–84 Tikk Animal, Furry, Hairy, Pet name fragment for part of the name, or add an i, k, r, s, or v. 85–87 Uran Armored, Guardian, Keeper, Supportive Although not every combination of name fragments will 88–90 Urd Black, Blind, Mole sound right, usually only a minor change is called for. If you 91–93 Van Allied, Dedicated, Friend, Servant 94–96 Var Funny, Humorous, Jester, Joke can’t make a particular name work, try one with a similar 97–98 Wann False, Illusionist, Sly, Thief meaning. If you didn’t like “Wannearuma,” try a name that 99–100 Wed Diamond, Hard, Powerful, White means “Powerful Master” instead.
CHAPTER 2
If you have randomly generated a name and don’t like its definition, try altering the order of the words in each part of the definition. It is also possible to use the definition as just a starting place for a name’s meaning. Often the definitions can be combined in a poetic way for better results. In the case of a name with three or more syllables, try dropping one or more of the definitions. Thus, “Pallabar” could mean “The Hidden Softness,” “Cloak of Disguise,” “Supple Falsehood,” or just “Cloth Shadow.” Don’t worry about two names sharing the same meaning or having two definitions for one name. Gnome has many different dialects, and name definitions vary from village to village.
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