"We treasure names," she said. "They're the most powerful words, and our favorites. After all, what makes you respond more immediately than your name being called?....As long as a Rihannsu has someone to speak his name, or even if it's written, or remembered, that person is real. Afterward.... nothing. The shadows, some say. The place where the Elements are unmixed, more real than here, say others." she shrugged. "But either way, names are life..."
-- D.Duane: My Enemy, My Ally
The Rihannsu naming system does indeed seem daunting at first; but is actually quite simple, and once learned is never forgotten. All Rihannsu have four names. The three easiest ones to explain are: the First name, the Third name, and the Fourth, or secret, name.
First names are considered gifts from the Rihan's parents; a wish fulfillment for what they hope for their child as they grow and live out their life.
Third names are the clan, or House name of which the Rihan belongs. These Third names are always either preceded by a t' for women, or a tr' for men.
The Fourth name is an unspoken, or secret name; known only to lifemates, or close family members or friends who have become like a blood-relation to the Rihan. This fourth name is known as "rehei" or "true name", but also translates to "Soul's name", and is considered the name of which the Elements
know you by. The fourth name is not something that you are given; it can only be found within yourself.
The most difficult name to understand, yet rather easy to explain, is the Second name. This name can carry many different meanings, and we will attempt to explain them all.
Firstly, a second name is often an indicator of where the Rihan in question was born, and will indicate if the Rihan was born in the city proper (indicated by the prefix i-), or a providence, or suburb thereof (indicated by the prefix ir-) For instance, let's say that your character was born in the capital city of Ra'tleihfi. Your second name, therefore, would be i-Ra'tleihfi. If you were born in a providence (a small township or suburb, but close to the city), your character's second name would be ir-Ra'tleihfi.
Secondly, the exception to the prefixes outlined above is this: If you are born to a major city or providence of a city that begins with an 'I' (ie, i'Rammau) then you would use the prefix e- (for the city proper), or er-(for the providence).
Thirdly, being adopted into a different House, or if your character (if female) were to marry into a Greater House, these factors would also effect the character's second name. In either case, your original House name would replace the second (or birthplace) name, and your new House name would become your new third name.
Let's use Diane Duane's character from The Romulan Way as our example:
Arrhae ir-Mnaeha t'Khellian
Now, the first name is easy for us to understand, so we won't concern ourselves with that one. The names of interest here, are the second name and the third. The fourth name, of course, is secret. So will not be discussed here.
Arrhae's second name: ir-Mnaeha tells us that she was born to a providence of the city of Mnaeha. If she had been born in the actual city itself, it would have been: i-Mnaeha
Arrhae's third name tells us that she is a female (indicated by the prefix t') of the House of Khellian. Had Arrhae been a male, her third name would be: tr'Khellian.
Now later in Arrhae's life, she married into a Greater House, and her name changed thus:
Arrhae i-Khellian t'Llhweiir
Her old House name became her second name with the prefix of i-, indicating that she had married out of this House. Had she been adopted into another House, her second name would've used the prefix ir-. Her third name is now the name of her New House.
When male Rihannsu marry, they often take the House name of their wives, as the Rihannsu still use the matriarchal system that the ancient Vulcans did. However, in the case of marriage, males have the option here to leave their original second name alone, or to replace it with their old House name.
Because Arrhae married into a Greater House, she took the name of her husband's House as her third name, and replaced her second name with her old House name. Such is the custom of the Rihannsu.
Rihannsu Names
*This list is by no means an exhustive one.....and the player is free to create any name for their charater that they see fit. This is only an explination of how the naming system of the Rihannsu works. The player is free to choose from the list of known names, or make up their own, to create the name of their character, provided that they do not take the full name of a character already in use.
First Names
Females:
Ael
Aidoann
Ariennye
Arrenhe
Arrhae
Aerv
Carina
Caithlin
Charvanek
Dhael
Dhiov
Dhisuia
Dhivael
Ekenda
Ekkhae
Eriufv
Evaste
Eviak
Eviess
Gwiu
Hanaj
Helev
Hloal
Istak
Jaeih
Jaeihthe
Janicka
Katara
Kerit
Kihaia
Lhair
Liha
Liviana
Llaiir
Llunih
Lyie
Mavus
Mnhei
Mrian
N'alae
Nevala
Nn'Khiy
Nahir
Rai
Rhiana
Rhioa
Ridda
R'Kal
Saavik
Saeihr
S'anra
Sela
Shalote
Shiarrael
Sienae
Ssaedhe
S'tarleya
Taleirrh
Taleria
Telek
Thue
Toreth
Triy
T'Maekh
Varel
Vrina
Males
Aehkhifv
Alidar
Almar
Amarik
Ameh
Antor
Archemar
Argelian
Atalan
Avrak
Bok'ra
Branak
Dalok
Danut
Darit
Darok
Dhiemn
Dralath
D'Tan
Durnak
Erket
Ejiul
Fveirrolh
Giellun
Gehen
Giellun
Gorak
Gorath
Haehwe
Haid
Hanaj
Hasmek
Hasmonak
Havraha
H'daen
Hei
Hexce
Hhirl Sirol
Hilae
Hvaid
Ireqh
Jalad
Jaron
Kalad
Karpan
K'haeth
Khaiell
Kharik
Khiy
Khoal
Korak
Koval
Kylor
Lai
Lhaesl
Lhaerrh
Lhas
Lhian
Llaaseil
Llhran
Llunih
Loval
Lyirru
Maec
Maiell
Maiek
Meldet
Mirok
M'Ret
Narviat
Ndeian
Nnerhia
Nniol
Nveid
Parem
Raiuhes
Rekar
Ruanek
Ruwon
Sarik
Shiarkiek
S'Task (no longer used. A revered name)
S'Tokkr
Symakhos
Tafv
Taibak
Takvi
Tal
Talar
Tebok
Tellus (no longer used. A revered name)
Teranas
Terrh
Tharnek
Thei
Therakith
Torak
T'Maekh
Ustard
Vaebn
Valak
Velal
Vorian
Vrih
Wislok
Yhea
Zerliak
Zorak
House Names
Aanikh
Ahaefvthe
Aimne
Annhwi
Arriufvi
Cretak
Dor
Ehhelih
Hheinha
Hrienteh
Hwaehrai
Hwersuil
Iawaain
Illiahlae
Illialhae
Jaihen
Jarok
Jeiai
Kazanak
Keirianh
Khaell
Khellian
Khev
Khnialmnae
Leinarrh
Letant
Lhaihtrha
Lhoell
Liun
Llhweiir
Llweii
Mandak
Merrok
Nanclus
Neral
Pardek
Radaik
Raedheol
Rehu
Riuurren
Rllaillieu
R'Mor
Rul
Sahen
Selok
Seroht
Strevon
Taebok
Tahn
Tal
Taris
Tei
Tomalak
Viaen
Volskiar
Vrenak
City Names
ch'Rihan
Aihai
Dartha
Elehu
i'Ramnau
Ihhliae
Iuruth
Leinarrh
Llunih
Ki Baratan
Kihai
Mhiessan
Mnaeha
Nn'Verih
Ra'tleihfi
Rhehiv'je
Rrhiol ch'Chulla (the valley of chula)
ch'Havran
Argat
Bardat
Dektenb
Harkan
i'Rameau
Latasalaem
Masfarik
M'Narth
Rarathik
Rateg
Val'Danadex Trel
Rihannsu within the RSR (past and present)
Ael t'Kazon (Riov)
Alba t'Raala (Virha'Erien)
Ar'ika t'Liefvai (Erien)
Bheloth t'Lahzar (Arrain)
Darius tr'Onto (Erien)
Den t'Kethry
Donal tr'Rhagarokk (erie`Ssiebb / Senator)
Geraxus tr'Krakken (Khre'Riov)
Jahrik tr'Nairrehk (erie'Riov)
L'Kroog tr'Groth (Erien)
Llyriha ir'Rhehiv'je t'Lhoell (erie`Riov)
L'Vraedd tr'Kunto (EnArrain)
Niqualmi t'Laris (Eredh)
Ra'Toh tr'Kal (Eredh)
Razerious (Galae En'Riov)
Rhian Vrih tr'Elenhh
Rylan tr`Tuhmek (Enarrain)
Ryu Suwader tr'Kandeen
t'Ayn (Arrain)
t'Brook Ael'Khellian
To'laer Krotash (Arrain)
tr'Danlek (Riov)
tr'Elq (erie'Arrain)
tr'Kan
tr'Kirk (Vaek'Riov)
tr'Kuro
tr'Parnus
t'Pranara
tr'Ra'Duihl (Eredh)
tr'Raith IV (Erie'Riov); [also Raith I, II, III, V, VI]
tr'Remi (erie'Arrain)
t'Rhenn
tr'Ronga
Vaebn tr'Kierlanh tr'Kath (Arrain)
Ships and Starbases within the RSR (past and present)
Lee'Mehk
Ra'Torra
Koahht Hama
Koahht Nemus
SRR Aylhr
SRR Cradol
SRR Morrhae`Vnu
SRR Ra'Kalen
SRR S'Task
SRR Ts'Irk
SRR Vrelnec`Ahui
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