AstriaS

Camulos mentioned. Goated post.

Caraneth Aryantë received the news with all of her usual gloom and monotone, having gotten far more used to wearing mourning colors in recent decades than any woman ought to need. Nonetheless, charged with a duty in the wake of her beloved father's passing, she set about the making of the funerary arrangements.

Caraneth Aryantë remained as ever proud of her favorite son, and was all too content to begin helping with the business setting up in the new hall.

iykyk More serious answers: What We Do in the Shadows Our Flag Means Death Literally any song in the discography of Queen or Lady Gaga And my cringe YA novel self-report, for an honorable mention, 'The Rise of Kyoshi' and 'The Shadow of Kyoshi' by F.C. Yee.

With hammers. Happy Pride everyone <3

— NÚMENEDAIN NAMING CONVENTIONS — Compiled for the Convenience of the Common Man — Penned by Her Royal Majesty, Caraneth Aryantë, Queen-Emeritus FOREWORD For nigh a century now have I administered the Oath of Tar-Númenatâr and performed our Ceremony of Naming. So it is no small number of our people, especially those who came of age under my reign, were granted their Oathnames at my discretion, and if not by my word then by one of my sons’. Yet over all those years, it has become increasingly apparent to me that a distinct lack of information exists regarding the exact conventions according to which those names are constructed. It has thus come to pass that many are left in confusion, and too few provided understanding enough to make proper sense of what otherwise is a sacred tradition. In this sense, I have come to realize my role as something of an originator, and therefore realize my duty to act in the capacity of teacher and preserver; the duty of the mother to teach to her children. Thus, I set forth this document now, both to inform and to preserve the tradition of the matter. With any luck, it will serve as a guide not only for my descendants in the administering of our Oath, but as well to the scholarly and to new Adunic mothers seeking traditional names, or those simply wishing to better understand Númenedain names. OOC NOTES THE MAKINGS OF A NAME To understand Adunic names and the practices surrounding them, one must first understand a few key things. Firstly, it is imperative to understand that a name is more than simply a collection of letters, or a simple identifier for a person, place or thing. In Adunian tradition, all words have a great power over the shape of the world – so it is that we revere the poet and the bard as much as the swordsman – and this goes doubly-so in two cases: Oaths and Names. To swear an oath is to bind oneself to its words, and to have one’s doom dictated by them. The graver the oath and the greater its witness, the greater its power and the consequences its breaking shall incur. In the case of naming, to assign a name or a title to a thing is to impart an essence to it. We are as much shaped by our names as our names are shaped by us, and to know the name of a person or being is to hold an intrinsic knowledge of them. In this, it must be understood that a proper and true name must, by its nature, possess meaning both to the individual and to others. Whether this meaning is literal or poetic is a matter of preference for the one assigning it, however its gravity, its spiritual weight, must always be considered. To give one’s son a dark name is to invite darkness into his life, and so it should be avoided. Likewise should one avoid giving names that suggest misfortune, ill-fate or sin, for these too shall be invited by doing so. A name should therefore be a noble thing; aspirational and bright, in spite of the world’s many shadows. NAMES AND PROPER STRUCTURE The point at which most confusion with Númenedain names arises is with their perceived complexity. Put bluntly, our names are plagued by a verbosity that could put even the most long-winded of Elvenkind to shame. Nevertheless, I shall attempt, in this section, to make clear the conventions of the matter using my own name and epithets as examples. The Given Name The most fundamental of names, this part of one’s name is most often given to children by their mothers at birth, or received during the Oathing Ceremony for those who were not given an Adunic name at birth. Most often these names are derivative or similar to the sames of one’s parents and siblings – this has given rise to the notion that families have, or should have, a ‘rhyme’ to them. For example, the Twin Princes, Aranuir and Arathor, whose names were derived from their father’s Oathname, Arasuil, or the Princess Eriantiel, whose name is a derivative of my own epithet Aryantë. The Parental Name Also referred to by some as a ‘father-name’ or patronymic, the parental name indicates, as one might assume, an individual’s parentage. Most often, it is constructed using the given name of one’s father, however in select cases, this may differ. Most notably is in the event that the mother is of higher station, as was the case with my own children, who variably were given the parental names of Caranethion and Caranethiel. It is also sometimes the case that a given name does not render well into a parental name, and so a derivative of an epithet will be used for the ease of pronunciation or general simplicity. Take for example my own parental name, Númenatariel, which would be considered long but not to the extent of being cumbersome. The construction of these names is quite straightforward in any case, consisting of the appending of the suffixes -ion (meaning Son) and -iel (meaning Daughter) to a parent’s given name. In this sense, the Parental name may also be rendered, in common speech, as ‘Son of..” or “Daughter of..” as is most often seen in introductions. Epithets and Oathnames Where the given name reflects the ideals and expectations of one’s parents, an epithet is a reflection of one’s deeds or one’s aspirations. This is the case as well for Oathnames, which depending on the circumstance may function as either a given name or an epithet. Often, due to the ordering of Númenedain names, these names are interpreted as the equivalent of the ‘second names’ or ‘middle names’ favored in Middle-Man naming conventions, however this is not accurate. Epithets most often are given in response to great honor-deeds, or to reflect one’s personality. Oathnames, similarly, are meant as reflections of an individual, however are often crafted with a more personal, defining feature. Invariably, however, these are names that are given by another, rather than to oneself. Family Names Traditionally, family names do not exist in Adunic conventions, with most commoners identified by their parental name, and nobles identified by the name of a prominent ancestor (i.e ‘of the House of Númenatâr’ or ‘of the House of Nauthon’). However, this is the loosest rule of these conventions, as many Adunians of today hold to the Middle-Man convention of House and family names, as was adopted during the early integrations of Harrenites with wider humanity, and Middle-Men who swear the Oath to become Númenedain proper most often retain their family names. In the event that one must render an Adunic family name, however, it is most often done with a variation on a parental name, either invoking a family progenitor outright, or doing so poetically. Examples of the latter include the name of the Royal House, Arthalion (meaning Son of the Hero-King) or the house of the Lords of Angrenost, Mithrenion (meaning Son of the Gray One). Then, should one be referring to the family as a unit, it is customary to use the suffix -ath to indicate the plural (i.e Arthalionath, Mithrenionath). The Structure and Order of a Name With the particulars now illuminated, we may now examine the structure of a proper Númenedain name. In simplest terms, a full name should adhere to the following order: I. Given Name II. Epithet III. Parental Name IV. Family Name (if applicable) Following this structure, we will use my full name as an example: Caraneth Aryantë Númenatariel Arthalion Here we see that my given name, received at my birth, is Caraneth, meaning ‘The Red’, and my epithet is Aryantë, or ‘Light-Bringer’. Together, these form the name I use in day-to-day life: Caraneth Aryantë. Following, Númenatariel indicates that I am the Daughter of Númenatâr, and then that I am of the House Arthalion. Names are rarely, if ever, hyphenated or appended. In the event this is seen, it is due to foreign influences. In general, one will be referred to by their given name or their epithet – often, which one is determined by familiarity. To use both the given name and an epithet is to show formality. One may also be referred to by their parental name, however this is most often the case in the specific instance the speaker is unfamiliar with the addressed party, but is familiar with his or her parent. HIGH ADUNIC AS USED IN NAMING This shall not serve, unfortunately, as a lexicon of the High Tongue, as it remains to this day a lost and incomplete language following the diaspora. What is known is best learned from the mouth of a proper mentor. Nonetheless, I wish to include in brief a note on the common suffixes and roots that one sees in High Adunic names, so as to provide context to various names. Ar- | Ara- – This is an element commonly affixed to indicate royalty or nobility, as seen in the name Arthalion. This is also the root of the title-prefix Tar, as seen in Tar-Númenatâr. -ion (m.) | -iel (f.) – A suffix denoting one is the son or daughter of an individual. In parental names, this is often literal, however it may be used poetically in given names and epithets, as seen in the name Angrenion (Son of Iron). -ron (m.) | -ril (f.) – The agential suffix for names, implying that one does a particular thing, or embodies a particular quality, as in the name Nestor1 or its feminine counterpart Nestril (The Healer). -hil – A suffix, mostly for male given names, implying heirdom, as seen in the names Anorhil and Imrahil. -wen – A suffix meaning ‘maiden’ or simply ‘woman’. -eth | -el | -il – A suffix that makes a name feminine, without further definition -on | -or2 | -ir – A suffix that makes a name masculine, without further definition. 1. This is a case in which we see the spelling of a suffix altered due to the root that precedes it. In this case, the verb -nesta (‘to heal’) ends in -a, and instead of Nestaror, or Nestaril, it instead is truncated to become Nestor and Nestril. 2. The suffix -or is also, variably, used in genderless renderings of names and words, simply to signify a proper noun. THE OATHED AND THE UNOATHED Most non-Adunians and non-Númenedain especially are familiar with our naming practices only as they pertain to the Oath of Tar-Númenatâr, or the Lórivanda as some choose to call it. For this reason, it is worth discussing the oath itself momentarily. Though it is more thoroughly covered in other writings, the Oath is foundational to Númenedain philosophy and to the teachings that inform our way of life. It is a grave oath of severe magnitude, sworn upon one’s life before the Creator, and for this reason is treated as a sacred matter. It is not an oath of fealty to Númendil, or to the Númenedain King, but to a cause and a way of life. So it is that the distinction of being one of the Númenedain is reserved exclusively for those who swear the Oath, and why the swearing is accompanied by the giving of an Oathname; to bind the Oathed in purpose and in culture.

I vote Ser Uther Pendraic @SimplySeopurely out of personal bias.

"Thank God," remarked Ex-Queen Caraneth, who was hoping that more of her descendants would turn out to be good and proper Númenedain fundamentalists like herself, her favorite son and her (new) favorite granddaughter.

Ex-Queen Caraneth Aryantë was very excited to strike a century's worth of grudges from the black book on her nightstand.

PREFECTURAL ADVISORY THE GHOSTS ARE AT IT AGAIN CITIZENS OF CHILDEOK, The ghosts haunting our lake appear to have had an adverse reaction to our installation of golden water filters. Spectral activity has increased in the village’s vicinity considerably in recent days, and so all residents and visitors are urged to take all available precautions against ghosts and undead while outside the protection of the village proper. In addition to this travel advisory and pursuant to the protection of our prefecture’s residents, the following edicts shall be put into effect immediately: I. All citizens of Childeok shall be issued a crossbow and a quiver of golden bolts. Training in its use will be provided and competency shall be expected within a reasonable time. II. Alchemicals and weaponry will be made available on an as-requested basis to those wishing to take up arms against the ghosts. III. Cannons will be requisitioned from our Hyeonmu ship and regular volleys of aurum shot will be fired into the lake every twelve hours. Bombardment will continue until the ghosts abandon their stance of aggression. Should we run out of golden cannonballs, we will resort to firing golden coinage instead. In the expectation that ghosts cannot read, we have elected to include the following illustration to convey this threat properly: — AN ARMED SOCIETY IS A POLITE SOCIETY — — KEEP THE PEACE, CARRY A PIECE — SEALED ON BEHALF OF OUR PREFECTURAL MINISTRIES AND THE THIRD HYEONMI KING OF WON 9th Junior Level Won Court Official and Prefectural Treasurer for Childeok JUNIOR LADY Yun Nabi

Within the halls of Minas Aranath, as the peal of mourning bells rang throughout the White City, Caraneth sat in silence at the head of a great table, idly thumbing her way through a stack of old letters. It was a grim, empty quiet that surrounded her as memories of the past century played out in phantom tableaus around her. She was in the midst of one of her well-known mourning fits. These sorts of things had become increasingly common for the former Queen as the decades passed, and most had well-enough learned simply to give her a wide berth when she was in such a state; better to let her be than foul her mood further, most had decided. On this particular day, it was a wiser choice than usual. In a word, she was inconsolable. 'If she had just,' she told herself, 'If I had just... If Anorhil had just... If it weren't for...' It was a continuous avalanche of ifs and should-haves and would-have-beens inside her head. She recognized, of course, it was rather pointless to be rationalizing now; one cannot change what has already passed. But such a small thing as a recognition of that nature meant little, in the moment. The reality of the situation was the problem, not the solution, she thought. And so she remained gloomy and dour, with a saturnine expression that could freeze water solid and a general air of sorrow surrounding her that seemed to catch like a cold with anyone who passed her by. It wasn't until a sharp rapping on the tabletop caught her attention that she let herself shake off the malaise, for a moment. One of the attendants had chosen to run the risk of rousing her. It was for the best, she decided. Business to attend to. With a wave of her hand, Caraneth ushered the attendant off and rose to her feet. "A woman outliving her grandchildren... What a cruel destiny." She lamented, speaking to nobody in particular. "She deserved better."

THE FIRST EDICT OF PREFECTURAL TREASURER YUN CITIZENS OF THE SEVEN-VIRTUES PREFECTURE, With the appointment of Honorable Junior Lady Yun to the esteemed station of Prefectural Treasurer, our prefecture shall, pursuant to the betterment of our lands and our people, undertake a series of administrative rearrangements. All residents of our village are encouraged to apprise themselves of the pronouncements hereafter enumerated. AS REGARDS TAXATION Our Ministry's collection of annual tax levied on properties within Childeok shall resume effective this following year. The annual civil dues imposed on all properties may be found in the banking office within the Prefectural Government Hall. New promissory coinage shall be issued, available for exchange from the banking office within the Prefectural Government Hall. New residents shall be granted an exemption on the first year of dues owed to our Ministry. All civil dues shall be expected to be paid by the end of the month during annual SUNDAY (Standard Uniform and Natural Date of the Administrative Year-end). Citizens wishing not to pay civil dues shall be advised to pray to their Blessed Ancestors for guidance, as they will find themselves homeless in short order. AS REGARDS REWARD FOR OUR CIVIL SERVANTS To encourage virtuous civil service to our Ministries and our citizenry, all individuals holding a Ministerial Office within our prefecture, as well as all Jeonsa of the Prefectural Levy and soldiers of the Radiant Guard shall receive a yearly credit in the amount of 5 Minas towards civil dues owed on property. Those properties classified for mercantile use (Shops, stalls and handcarts) are ineligible to receive this credit. AS REGARDS REWARD FOR OUR HOMEMAKERS In order to encourage the settling and raising of proper Won-In families in our prefecture, any household with at least one child of Won-In descent shall be eligible for a yearly credit in the amount of 5 Minas towards civil dues owed on property. Please note that this credit is not cumulative with the Civil Service Credit. Those properties classified for mercantile use (Shops, stalls and handcarts) are ineligible to receive this credit. Foreign families and Elves in particular are ineligible to receive this credit. SEALED ON BEHALF OF OUR PREFECTURAL MINISTRIES AND THE THIRD HYEONMI KING OF WON 9th Junior Level Won Court Official and Prefectural Treasurer for Childeok JUNIOR LADY Yun Nabi

start the betting

In the afterlife, there came the clacking clatter of rolling dice. At the table was an ivory-masked woman, seated across from an odd, hunched figure - clearly, the woman's elder by many centuries. The game had grown tense, and many of the valiant dead had gathered to observe the players. It was the Elder's turn to make his play, and all eyes watched with a general murmur passing through the crowd as he drew a series of small figurines of carven ivory from the depths of his robe. Arrayed on the board, they appeared to be shaped into the likeness of... questionably-dressed elves. "Those aren't regulation," Remarked the masked woman, promptly closing the game on the grounds of disqualification by technicality. The rule of the High Keeper was secured until the scheduled rematch in three years time. Of course, in the afterlife, 'three years' was a meaningless concept, so who's to say how long that would actually be?

1) Pretty good, albeit terribly, terribly cold. 2) Always. I have Erik on my NH island, he's great.

A letter, short and to the point, is drafted in return, and delivered by an animated poppet wrought of burlap, buttons and dried moss... "To Thalandir, Greetings and well-wishes, so on and so forth. I am Alara Camian, formerly Court Alchemist to Uriel-King of the Barrowlands – known these days as Númenatâr – though these days my efforts are more centered around my duties as a witch and servant of the Ilzgûl. Should you have need of an extra mind, I've not been on a good adventure since the slaying of the Great Ice Lizard of Yonpinawa. Rather, I have been relegated to breaking curses on fields every two or three decades. I would be happy to lend my aid. Regards, Alara Camian, White Witch, et cetera."

Because I can Because I want to Stubbornness mostly Purple I have not Between the two, Thailand Cheap ramen Vodka Vodka Vodka and cheap ramen I don't know what that means They're alright no opinion I sleep 12 hours a day Never.

No. Also, Melba is a based choice.

Good question, very broad, don't really know! Barrowton (broadly) and various Alara escapades are big contenders. It was worse in a lot of ways, better in some ways. Definitely greatly prefer today's staff teams to staff teams then (actual evildoers at work). A lot is pretty much the same though imho. Part of the crew, part of the ship.

"'til you're 90" Anyway ask me your burning questions. I will only answer if you also tell me your favorite Animal Crossing villager. Mine is Puddles

"It was originally compiled by our dear Father Tonito, before later being published after his death in the Midlands War. Being the preeminent Owynist of his time, hardly seems fair to say Toni hadn't studied the Epistles," remarked Tar-Caraneth who had been around long enough to have participated in providing information to the investigation at the time it was conducted.

— The Celebration of Our Hundredth Anniversary — ISSUED THE 9TH OF SUN’S SMILE, IN THE YEAR 211 OF THE SECOND AGE BY THE WILL AND AUTHORITY OF THE WHITE THRONE One hundred years past, in the year 110 of this age, a band of Knights in service to Uther Pendraic – who we today remember as Tar-Númenatâr – laid the first foundations of Barrowton. It was an unassuming place, a wall of houses encircling a keep, erected in the center of a spit of cursed, shadow-plagued earth. And yet, by the turning of fate, that little village in that bleak place marked, unknown to us at the time, the beginning of a new era. From those humble beginnings, we have grown far beyond what any of our founders may have dreamed. Where once there was the Barrow Marches, ruled by an upstart Lord and his band of loyal hedgeknights, there now stands Númenaranyë. In our century of growth as a Kingdom, we have faced hardship as much as we have been blessed with joy and plenty, and yet through it all we have endured, as we shall, GOD willing, continue to do for centuries to come. In commemoration of this One-Hundredth Anniversary of our Founding, the White Throne does see fit to declare the celebration of THE GRAND CENTENNIAL, to be held over the course of Two Saints Days later in this coming year. All who wish to make the journey to our realm to partake in the celebrations are welcomed to attend. OPEN MARKET (Both Days) For the duration of the festivities, a number of temporary shop stalls will be set up around the Númenost tourney grounds, and inside the city proper. Any merchants who wish to peddle goods during the festival may reach out by letter to arrange a reservation for a stall. THE JOUST (Saturday, Dec. 21 @ 5:00 PM EST) The first event of the festivities shall be the Sport of Kings; the joust. In this contest, knights of the Realms of Men will, per tradition, be armed with lances and ride against one another until one knight is horsed or otherwise incapacitated. The prize for the joust is the honor and prestige of victory, alongside a prize of 500 Minas. You are responsible for bringing your own horse and lances. THE GRAND MELEE (Saturday, Dec. 21) Immediately following the joust, there shall be held a Grand Melee; a free-for-all bout in which all competitors are pitted against one another. This contest will have a grand prize of 200 Minas to be granted to the last man standing at the melee’s conclusion. (OOC: Full kit PvP free-for-all. The Kingdom of Númendil and associates are not responsible for any items lost due to accidental pops in the melee. Please PvP responsibly.) THE BARROWLANDER’S FEAST (Sunday, Dec. 22 @ 5:00 PM EST) For the conclusion of festivities, we shall see hosted our traditional celebration of our Kingdom’s founding, the Barrowlander’s Feast, to be held in the Great Hall of Minas Aranath. Food, drink and entertainment shall be provided for all attendees, and a stage shall be made open for any performers who wish to share their arts in our hall. A broad invitation is extended to all Knights & Princes of Canondom, and all Friends and Allies of Númendil. — UTÚLI’EN AURË — SIGNED, HER ROYAL MAJESTY, Tar-Caraneth Aryantë of the House Arthalionath, by the Grace of GOD, Queen of the Númenedain, Princess of Númenost and Minas Amath, Protector of the Adunians, Master of the Sharadûn, Templar Justiciar of the Archangel Michael, Knight of the Realm