Naming Conventions - Blog Posts
Redraw of a double page spread I did in my sketchbook.
Meet Djalu/Neferatemu of the Tirratzlikhan and his little desert adder familiar! A Dnd character in a growing list of characters I hope to play one day.
I had a lot of fun thinking about the culture of the Tirraztlikhan, a desert village supposedly blessed with immunity from a particularly mischevious and often malevolent God. Specifically the naming conventions, as each person usually has at least three.
The first name is received upon birth, and is endowed by the druid/wiseperson. Djalu's childhood name was Neha, a name that is continually used throughout adulthood to refer exclusively to the person as a child.
During childhood, he picked up the personal family name of Xhochi, something name that functions a bit more like a nickname exclusively for close family and loved ones throughout his lifetime. You have to know him really, really well to be able to use this name.
At his coming of age ceremony though, Neha got to choose a new name for himself, and settled on Djalu. A name generally used informally between casual acquaintances and friends.
In becoming a druid though, Djalu was also gifted a formal druid name: Neferatemu, which he pretty much only uses in formal contexts or when he's throwing his weight around as a druid.
And of course, finally, there is his spirit name. A name only known by Djalu and higher powers, and used exclusively by the Gods in addressing Djalu during communion or ceremonies.