Gnome Names

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.

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 confused with something else. An individual gnome has many names. His mother gives him one, his father gives him another. When he is placed in a school of maestery, he receives yet another name. A 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 any number of nicknames, personal names, or honorary names might precede it. Truly prestigious gnomes might have more than twenty names, each one directly related to that person and her deeds. Still, even gnomes dislike calling someone by all their names in informal conversations, so each individual usually has one name by which he is commonly known, or a short name that his friends or relations use in private. A traditional gnome name consists of one or more name fragments, from Table 2–2: Gnome Name Fragments, and possibly one or more nicknames, from Table 2–3: Gnome Nicknames. Defi nitions have been included in Table 2–2, to help determine what a name means once it has been generated. When combining two name fragments, an a or e is frequently added between them. Female names usually end in -a or -ae, which is added to the last name fragment. Most item and place names are also feminine in form. A name formed from a single fragment often has -l or -el added to the end for males, and -al, -a, or -anna for females. You can randomly generate a gnome name by rolling on Table 2–1: Gnome Naming, which will indicate which other table(s) to use and how many times you should roll. If you prefer, it is also possible to pick a set of defi nitions you like and assemble a name that matches them. If you want your character’s name to refl ect that he is a bold illusionist, you might decide his name means “Heroic Illusionist.” This can result in the name “Arumawann,” “Wannarum,” “Wannearum,” or “Arumewann.” If your character is a female gnome, you might use “Wannearuma.” If you don’t like a particular combination, try some other name fragment for part of the name, or add an i, k, r, s, or v. Although not every combination of name fragments will sound right, usually only a minor change is called for. If you can’t make a particular name work, try one with a similar meaning. If you didn’t like “Wannearuma,” try a name that means “Powerful Master” instead. If you have randomly generated a name and don’t like its defi nition, try altering the order of the words in each part of the defi nition. It is also possible to use the defi nition as just a starting place for a name’s meaning. Often the defi nitions 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 defi nitions. 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 defi nitions for one name. Gnome has many different dialects, and name defi nitions vary from village to village.

Table 2–1: Gnome Naming d10 Result

1–4 Roll once on Table 2–2 5–7 Roll twice on Table 2–2 8–9 Roll twice on Table 2–2 and once on Table 2–3 10 Roll three times on Table 2–2

Table 2–2: Gnome Name Fragments d% Name Defi nition

01–02 Add Axe, Sharp, Sword 03–05 Arum Great, Hero, Heroic, Mighty 06–08 Baer Living, Open, Tree, Woodland 09–11 Bar Disguised, False, Hidden, Shadow 12–14 Callad Cousin, Friendly, Kin, Related 15–16 Chik Beautiful, Fair, Haven, Home 17–19 Dal Master/Mistress, Skill, Skilled, Useful 20–22 Din Tool, Useful, Valued, Weapon 23–25 Eaus Giant, Powerful 26–27 Enn Companion, Vital, Husband/Wife 28–29 Erf Friend, Friendly, Kind 30–31 Faer Blue, Cool, Ice, Sapphire 32–34 Fen Earthen, Firm, Hill, Hills, Sturdy 35–36 Flan Earth, Hard, Rocky, Stone 37–39 Gaer Defense, Protective, Shield, Strong 40–42 Gar Father/Mother, First, Honored 43–44 Hed Confusing, Mystery, Riddle, Secret 45–46 Herl Noble, Ruler, Virtue, Virtuous 47–48 Ien Enemy, Evil, Pain, Wounded 49–51 Jan Blessed, Divine, God/Goddess 52–53 Kaer Fire, Hot, Red, Ruby 54–56 Len Good, Jewel, Treasure, Trusted 57–59 Lun Complex, Device, Mechanical, Tinkerer 60–61 Mikk Desert, Harsh, Severe, Void 62–64 Neb Child, Innocent, New, Young 65–66 Oaen Flexible, Knot, Maze, Twisted 67–68 Ow Beloved, Loving, Warm, Welcome 69–70 Pall Cloak, Cloth, Soft, Supple 71–72 Pin Air, Free, Swift, Wind 73–74 Raer Holiday, Joy, Joyful, Ritual 75–76 Ras Emerald, Green, Homeland 77–78 Seg Deep, Distance, Far, Long 79–81 Skor Art, Craft, Knowledge, Wise 82–84 Tikk Animal, Furry, Hairy, Pet 85–87 Uran Armored, Guardian, Keeper, Supportive 88–90 Urd Black, Blind, Mole 91–93 Van Allied, Dedicated, Friend, Servant 94–96 Var Funny, Humorous, Jester, Joke 97–98 Wann False, Illusionist, Sly, Thief 99–100 Wed Diamond, Hard, Powerful, White