Reading about Chalcidius's commentaries on Plato, I learnt that about a number of alternate names for the planets of the Ptolemaic universe.
These appear to have been names for Mercury through Saturn, either from the (lesser) gods of Pagan antiquity or from attributes of those gods. You will have to find them in the original text - translations seem to render them as Mars, Jupiter &c.
Mercury - Stilbon
Venus - Hesperus
Mars - Pryois
Jupiter - Phaethon
Saturn - Phaenon
This set me thinking. Often, when sketching out the bounds of a world for the tabletop, a creator will gravitate to one very like ours - if tweaked a bit. This might be out of an interest in a given period ("I'm very interested in Tang Dynasty China/Colonial Mozambique/High Medieval Poland/Arthurian legend/Byzantine theology/Incan agriculture,") or just a path of least resistance ("They're basically Vikings, O.K.?").
Starting with something familiar needn't be bad. Not being on a planet with two suns and five moons helps prevent questions about day-night cycles. But still, is somebody going to ask about them? And is that thing called immersion going to be broken if you say "Mars is bright tonight" or "Not-Jupiter is in the fifth house"?
Maybe. So, one might use the names above. As far as I'm concerned, Terrae Vertebrae now does.
But in order to make this into a slightly weightier post....
Each planet of antiquity had it's attendant planetary metal. Recalling my last post and the Latin names of the metals there, one might combine these with one of the various Latin words for star (a planet being, after all, a wandering star).
Thus, Pseudo-Venus might become Cupraster. Mars might be Ferrostella. Jupiter, perhaps, as Stannosidus (or even Stannium Sidius).
There are other possibilities - the Babylonians were astronomers too, and perhaps your players are less familiar with the names of their gods. Likewise the Chinese - but names like Chen-xing might sound a little too specific in terms of phonemes.
I am tempted to suggest the use of C.S. Lewis's Cosmic Trilogy, and the names of the Solar System's planets from that. But doing so would perhaps raise even more questions that just saying Jupiter.
Six Interesting (and possibly Neglected) Entries
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Saturday, 27 June 2020
Saturday, 20 June 2020
Punth: A Primer Ch. 8 - Names
Names in Punth are of three sorts.
(Seek wider context here and here).
Those of Punthites
The Punthites, as a result of the codes rarely adopt names. If they need to identify themselves, their compatriots in their place of residence or work (often the same) will recognise them.
If a Punthite is compelled to travel, they identify themselves by their place of residence or work. Thus, one may refer to him or herself as Collective 101, Patrol 2442, Station 4077 or Ziggurat 17.
(Collective farms or Patrols will number in the thousands, Factories in the hundreds and Ziggurats in the tens).
Should further markers be needed, two coloured badges are chosen at random and pinned to the Punthite's tunic. Hence: RoadCrew 313 Grey-Mauve, Warehouse 890 Charcoal-Red, Battalion 290 Green-Green, &c.
Roll 2d20 for the coloured badges:
Those of the Qryth
The Qryth adopt names combining the world around them and abstract traits. Each Qryth is named individually at birth; they may later elect to re-name themselves. These names are (roughly) translated from the Qryth original.
The first part of each Qryth name is a quality of some description. It is generally a virtue, or at least desirable.
The second part of the name is an element of the periodic table, compound, alloy or material.
Thus, 'Strong Hydrogen' would roughly be the equivalent of John Smith or Jane Doe.
'Strong', 'Noble', 'Wise' 'Dextrous' or 'Prudent' might be used as first names; 'Hungry', 'Perfumed', 'Enrobed', 'Moist', 'Muscular', 'Royal' or 'Keen-Eyed' are either too temporary (it is easy to become un-hungry; one was not born wearing robes or scent), too fleshy or, in the case of 'Royal', connected to an institution. 'Observant' would be better than 'Keen-Eyed'. 'Pathetic', 'Psychotic' or 'Lewd' are technically correct but unlikely to be used by any well-adjusted Qryth (one might acceptably use 'Amorous' or 'Romantic' instead of 'Lewd' - the Qryth do not lack passion).
The periodic table of elements furnishes last names.
In accordance with the distance and mystery accorded to the Qryth, if an element has a name not ending in -ium, -on, -en, -ine, &c (IE, Iron, Gold, Copper, Silver, Lead, Mercury, Tin) consider using the Latin name (Ferrum, Aurum, Cuprum, Argentum, Plumbum, Hydrargyrum, Stannum).
An elemental name is considered more traditional, but this does not necessarily match to high social standing.
Common compounds such as 'Salt' render as Sodium-Chloride. I would suggest only using the simpler sort of chemical compounds, were one to use them at all.
Only a certains set of alloys and materials should be used in Qryth names. These materials should be inorganic - no leather or wood. A rule of thumb - if an engineer on Star Trek would commonly encounter it or recognise it or without using an Encyclopaedia, it can be used.
Thus, 'Steel', 'Diamond', 'Carbon-Fibre', 'Teflon', 'Transparent Aluminum', 'NeoSilk' or 'FauxWood' would work but 'Bakelite', 'Ivory', 'Parchment', 'Pewter', 'Brick', 'Corduroy' or 'Worsted' would not.
[As some of those names suggest, if you wish to use Space Age materials such as these, do.]
So, Qryth some names might include:
Learned Neon, Swift Lithium, Harmonious Stibium, Righteous Uranium, Ubiquitous Zinc, Just Bromine, Fierce Copper-Carbonate, Charitable Potassium-Permanganate, Ambitious Electrum, Curious Brass, Benevolent Cordite, Practical Nylon, Musical Leatherette.....
The Qryth are sufficiently advanced in terms of genealogy and record-keeping to maintain a knowledge of family lineages without the use of surnames. No Qryth will name their child the same thing as themselves.
Those of the Punthite that do not spend time with the Qryth think of their names as the equivalents of their own temporary identifiers.
Those of the Ka-Punth
The Ka-Punth, as they are not aliens or part of alien-dominated society have names closer to the rest of humanity. Whilst they are more likely to have absorbed names from other cultures than the Punthites or the Qryth, one may use names from the Ancient Near and Middle East.
Consider opening the Old Testament and leafing through it until you find a name you don't recognise. Other sources (such as this list) are available.
(Seek wider context here and here).
Those of Punthites
The Punthites, as a result of the codes rarely adopt names. If they need to identify themselves, their compatriots in their place of residence or work (often the same) will recognise them.
If a Punthite is compelled to travel, they identify themselves by their place of residence or work. Thus, one may refer to him or herself as Collective 101, Patrol 2442, Station 4077 or Ziggurat 17.
(Collective farms or Patrols will number in the thousands, Factories in the hundreds and Ziggurats in the tens).
Should further markers be needed, two coloured badges are chosen at random and pinned to the Punthite's tunic. Hence: RoadCrew 313 Grey-Mauve, Warehouse 890 Charcoal-Red, Battalion 290 Green-Green, &c.
Roll 2d20 for the coloured badges:
- Black
- White
- Grey
- Red
- Orange
- Yellow
- Green
- Blue
- Purple
- Brown
- Mauve
- Pink
- Beige
- Crimson
- Teal
- Chartreuse
- Amber
- Khaki
- Charcoal
- Ash
Those of the Qryth
The Qryth adopt names combining the world around them and abstract traits. Each Qryth is named individually at birth; they may later elect to re-name themselves. These names are (roughly) translated from the Qryth original.
The first part of each Qryth name is a quality of some description. It is generally a virtue, or at least desirable.
The second part of the name is an element of the periodic table, compound, alloy or material.
Thus, 'Strong Hydrogen' would roughly be the equivalent of John Smith or Jane Doe.
'Strong', 'Noble', 'Wise' 'Dextrous' or 'Prudent' might be used as first names; 'Hungry', 'Perfumed', 'Enrobed', 'Moist', 'Muscular', 'Royal' or 'Keen-Eyed' are either too temporary (it is easy to become un-hungry; one was not born wearing robes or scent), too fleshy or, in the case of 'Royal', connected to an institution. 'Observant' would be better than 'Keen-Eyed'. 'Pathetic', 'Psychotic' or 'Lewd' are technically correct but unlikely to be used by any well-adjusted Qryth (one might acceptably use 'Amorous' or 'Romantic' instead of 'Lewd' - the Qryth do not lack passion).
The periodic table of elements furnishes last names.
In accordance with the distance and mystery accorded to the Qryth, if an element has a name not ending in -ium, -on, -en, -ine, &c (IE, Iron, Gold, Copper, Silver, Lead, Mercury, Tin) consider using the Latin name (Ferrum, Aurum, Cuprum, Argentum, Plumbum, Hydrargyrum, Stannum).
An elemental name is considered more traditional, but this does not necessarily match to high social standing.
Common compounds such as 'Salt' render as Sodium-Chloride. I would suggest only using the simpler sort of chemical compounds, were one to use them at all.
Only a certains set of alloys and materials should be used in Qryth names. These materials should be inorganic - no leather or wood. A rule of thumb - if an engineer on Star Trek would commonly encounter it or recognise it or without using an Encyclopaedia, it can be used.
Thus, 'Steel', 'Diamond', 'Carbon-Fibre', 'Teflon', 'Transparent Aluminum', 'NeoSilk' or 'FauxWood' would work but 'Bakelite', 'Ivory', 'Parchment', 'Pewter', 'Brick', 'Corduroy' or 'Worsted' would not.
[As some of those names suggest, if you wish to use Space Age materials such as these, do.]
So, Qryth some names might include:
Learned Neon, Swift Lithium, Harmonious Stibium, Righteous Uranium, Ubiquitous Zinc, Just Bromine, Fierce Copper-Carbonate, Charitable Potassium-Permanganate, Ambitious Electrum, Curious Brass, Benevolent Cordite, Practical Nylon, Musical Leatherette.....
The Qryth are sufficiently advanced in terms of genealogy and record-keeping to maintain a knowledge of family lineages without the use of surnames. No Qryth will name their child the same thing as themselves.
Those of the Punthite that do not spend time with the Qryth think of their names as the equivalents of their own temporary identifiers.
Those of the Ka-Punth
The Ka-Punth, as they are not aliens or part of alien-dominated society have names closer to the rest of humanity. Whilst they are more likely to have absorbed names from other cultures than the Punthites or the Qryth, one may use names from the Ancient Near and Middle East.
Consider opening the Old Testament and leafing through it until you find a name you don't recognise. Other sources (such as this list) are available.
Wednesday, 10 June 2020
Punth: A Primer Ch. 7
It is the expressed view of the state of Punth that no god or gods exist. The Qryth, if there was any formal tradition of worship in their background before the fall, have left it far behind. Religion in neighbouring states is seen as a result of dishonesty, folly and ignorance. Punthite citizens do not appear to have any great sense of the divine - however, the Codes are treated with reverence bordering on the spiritual and the appearance of a Sky-Prince in an isolated village might be treated with a superstitious wonder.
The Codes structure all things, as the beams of a house. All things may be understood as part of the Codes.
"Prophets are Wizards"
Miracles happen, if less regularly than the Church would like. Prophets (as The 52 Pages labels them [download, author's blog]) are held by the Codes to be wizards of a faith sufficiently strong to influence the character of their magic. That choir of angels is merely the result of an aberration of the wizarding psyche. The same is held, incidentally, for anyone summoning up spirits: the direct, properly taught mage would just summon a firestorm, rather than producing some puppet ifrit to produce flames.
The inner power serves the state best that when it is simplest.
Ka-Punth
The Ka-Punth are an exception, of course. Never having been under the Codes, they have such scraps of religious belief as survived the fall and the arrival of the Qryth. Their practices of serving or appeasing the spirits that reside in the deserts are (often) religious in nature, but the Ka-Punth leader that has treated with such spirits long enough knows the limits of their powers.
Foreign Relations
Given that those states around Punth frequently either hold one specific belief or encourage a number to reside within them, foreign relations can be fraught. Even if foreign citizens are not actively prevented from taking part in religious practices, they are deliberately monitored and prevented from proselytising.
Practices from outside the Codes should be monitored as a toothed beast.
Cardinal Directions
To the north lie the nations belonging to the Holy Empire, home to both expansionist zealots and amoral merchants. The mountains of the Hydraulic Dwarves (scrupulously neutral in all conflicts not involving water supplies) lie between. [A version of this is sketched out here].
To the east of Punth is the thick mountains of the Spine of the World. A few passes and valleys zigzag between these, but the bulk of the inhabitants are Dwarves of a distant and traditional type.
To the west of Punth, across the Stained Sea, lies the League of Civic Etiquette, joined to the Inner Sea by the Traitorous Passage. The city-states across from this are sophisticated in their learning and busy hubs of trade - but suffer periodic bouts of frightfully intricate and subtle internecine violence.
To the south is an expanse of hostile desert that slowly transitions into sparse forests and coastal mangroves. The kingdoms of the Bronze River, the Potter's River and the Rawhide River jostle for elbow room along the river banks, both amongst themselves and in ambitious attempts to gain access to the other rivers.
20 Groups of Foreigners
1. A trade factor of Lameravis and his assistants carefully ignore the Gendarmes patrolling outside their warehouse.
2. A survey party of Hydraulic Dwarves chart a water course down from the mountains.
3. Dust gathers as a party of Imperial missionaries process along one of the distant, beautifully maintained roads. As a contingent of soldiers ride to meet them, a lone figure to their rear is discreetly doing the real work of mapping routes.
4. An ambassador of the Etiquette is deciding which sort of incense to employ in his meeting with a Qryth Prince.
5. Two Chieftains from the Potter's River nervously debate which Punthite minister to visit first as their escort squat and cast dice.
6. Knights of the The Equestrian Order of the Seventh Aspect whoop as they sabre-rattle in sight of a fortified ziggurat.
7. A scholar of the Bronze River is investigating some carvings on an ancient shrine outside the city walls. No-one is sure if she should be there.
8. League fishermen have stepped ashore for fresh water on the Punthite coast.
9. Dwarves of the Spine have erected a blockhouse-cum-habadashery for the Ka-Punth rebels. Weapons are not openly sold, but they do not take much persuasion to open the armoury.
10. A ship belonging to the White Star Order of St Lemuel has arrived at a Punthite quay, purporting to be there on behalf of shipwrecked sailors.
11. Craftsmen from the League have resorted to mime in order to instruct Punthite artisans in their style of sculpture.
12. Travelling herdsman from the Rawhide River adjust their face coverings as they wonder how best to get back across the border without having to negotiate the Gendarme Outpost.
13. Two noblewomen of the League admire the carvings of a ziggurat from the interior of their palanquin.
14. Dancing Fauns attract admiration from the other outsiders and confusion from the Punthite citizens nearby.
15. An expatriate of the Etiquette lapses into the Codes as he talks to his pet cat, surprising the feline.
16. The liturgy used by Imperial Merchants in Punth differs from that used by priests in the Empire - first in its frequent prayers for their home and loved ones, second in that it is less explicit about who the enemies of the faithful are, and third in that it is kept at a discreet volume. All the same, perhaps you can hear a low chanting from one of these houses?
17. Gendarmes are busy trying to settle a dispute between feuding southerners from the Rawhide River. The quarrel would be tiresome and convoluted, even if they could all speak the same way.
18. Merchants and Factors of the Empire and the League have decided to pool their wine stocks. Everyone involves this is a very good idea, and worthy of a drink.
19. The Custodian Knights of St. Castrum have managed to erect a fort near to the wells of Junction 1477 in the Northern Desert. They would be glad of news, supplies or armour polish.
20. An angry troop leader from th Bronze River insists to the skeptical Gendarmes that this aggressive chanting and stomping is purely ritual in nature, and not a prelude to unrest.
The Codes structure all things, as the beams of a house. All things may be understood as part of the Codes.
"Prophets are Wizards"
Miracles happen, if less regularly than the Church would like. Prophets (as The 52 Pages labels them [download, author's blog]) are held by the Codes to be wizards of a faith sufficiently strong to influence the character of their magic. That choir of angels is merely the result of an aberration of the wizarding psyche. The same is held, incidentally, for anyone summoning up spirits: the direct, properly taught mage would just summon a firestorm, rather than producing some puppet ifrit to produce flames.
The inner power serves the state best that when it is simplest.
Ka-Punth
The Ka-Punth are an exception, of course. Never having been under the Codes, they have such scraps of religious belief as survived the fall and the arrival of the Qryth. Their practices of serving or appeasing the spirits that reside in the deserts are (often) religious in nature, but the Ka-Punth leader that has treated with such spirits long enough knows the limits of their powers.
Foreign Relations
Given that those states around Punth frequently either hold one specific belief or encourage a number to reside within them, foreign relations can be fraught. Even if foreign citizens are not actively prevented from taking part in religious practices, they are deliberately monitored and prevented from proselytising.
Practices from outside the Codes should be monitored as a toothed beast.
Cardinal Directions
To the north lie the nations belonging to the Holy Empire, home to both expansionist zealots and amoral merchants. The mountains of the Hydraulic Dwarves (scrupulously neutral in all conflicts not involving water supplies) lie between. [A version of this is sketched out here].
To the east of Punth is the thick mountains of the Spine of the World. A few passes and valleys zigzag between these, but the bulk of the inhabitants are Dwarves of a distant and traditional type.
To the west of Punth, across the Stained Sea, lies the League of Civic Etiquette, joined to the Inner Sea by the Traitorous Passage. The city-states across from this are sophisticated in their learning and busy hubs of trade - but suffer periodic bouts of frightfully intricate and subtle internecine violence.
To the south is an expanse of hostile desert that slowly transitions into sparse forests and coastal mangroves. The kingdoms of the Bronze River, the Potter's River and the Rawhide River jostle for elbow room along the river banks, both amongst themselves and in ambitious attempts to gain access to the other rivers.
20 Groups of Foreigners
1. A trade factor of Lameravis and his assistants carefully ignore the Gendarmes patrolling outside their warehouse.
2. A survey party of Hydraulic Dwarves chart a water course down from the mountains.
3. Dust gathers as a party of Imperial missionaries process along one of the distant, beautifully maintained roads. As a contingent of soldiers ride to meet them, a lone figure to their rear is discreetly doing the real work of mapping routes.
4. An ambassador of the Etiquette is deciding which sort of incense to employ in his meeting with a Qryth Prince.
5. Two Chieftains from the Potter's River nervously debate which Punthite minister to visit first as their escort squat and cast dice.
6. Knights of the The Equestrian Order of the Seventh Aspect whoop as they sabre-rattle in sight of a fortified ziggurat.
7. A scholar of the Bronze River is investigating some carvings on an ancient shrine outside the city walls. No-one is sure if she should be there.
8. League fishermen have stepped ashore for fresh water on the Punthite coast.
9. Dwarves of the Spine have erected a blockhouse-cum-habadashery for the Ka-Punth rebels. Weapons are not openly sold, but they do not take much persuasion to open the armoury.
10. A ship belonging to the White Star Order of St Lemuel has arrived at a Punthite quay, purporting to be there on behalf of shipwrecked sailors.
11. Craftsmen from the League have resorted to mime in order to instruct Punthite artisans in their style of sculpture.
12. Travelling herdsman from the Rawhide River adjust their face coverings as they wonder how best to get back across the border without having to negotiate the Gendarme Outpost.
13. Two noblewomen of the League admire the carvings of a ziggurat from the interior of their palanquin.
14. Dancing Fauns attract admiration from the other outsiders and confusion from the Punthite citizens nearby.
15. An expatriate of the Etiquette lapses into the Codes as he talks to his pet cat, surprising the feline.
16. The liturgy used by Imperial Merchants in Punth differs from that used by priests in the Empire - first in its frequent prayers for their home and loved ones, second in that it is less explicit about who the enemies of the faithful are, and third in that it is kept at a discreet volume. All the same, perhaps you can hear a low chanting from one of these houses?
17. Gendarmes are busy trying to settle a dispute between feuding southerners from the Rawhide River. The quarrel would be tiresome and convoluted, even if they could all speak the same way.
18. Merchants and Factors of the Empire and the League have decided to pool their wine stocks. Everyone involves this is a very good idea, and worthy of a drink.
19. The Custodian Knights of St. Castrum have managed to erect a fort near to the wells of Junction 1477 in the Northern Desert. They would be glad of news, supplies or armour polish.
20. An angry troop leader from th Bronze River insists to the skeptical Gendarmes that this aggressive chanting and stomping is purely ritual in nature, and not a prelude to unrest.