True Names

Generic True Names

All living things in the DragonQuest world have a Generic True Name. This name is present in their aura. Formerly living things retain traces of their aura and the name that they had when alive. All True Names are in an ancient language, believed by some to be the language that the gods used when they made the world, and by others to be the original language of the first mortal race, the Dragons. A translation of these names into the common tongue yields such terms as human, elf, tiger, oak, bee, rattlesnake, and rose.

A Generic True name identifies the entity or object as being of a distinct type. Very similar things with much the same form and function, will probably have the same Generic name. For example, many small, harmless, plains-dwelling snakes will have the Generic True name "Grass Snake" even if they look somewhat different. A venomous variety of similar nature will have a different Generic True name.

Generic True Names may be learnt:

By means of a Detect Aura.
From another being who has studied the name (i.e. knows the name at Rank 0 or higher).

Individual True Names

All sentient entities (player character races, dragons, mer-people, naga, etc.) have an Individual True Name. This becomes known to them upon reaching maturity. All sane sentient entities will know their own Individual True Name and no force -- physical or magical -- can coerce the entity to reveal it. They may choose to reveal it, however. An entity will be called by a given (or use) name, often given to then by parents or peers. The entity will know their Individual True Name in their native tongue and a Namer would have to spend time translating the Individual Name into the Namer language before it could be used. Entities will protect their True Name vigorously as this knowledge can be used both defensively and offensively. Indeed, the very mention of an entity's True Name would strike great fear into their heart.

Player characters and even members of the College of Naming Incantations will know only their own Individual True Name upon completing their education. All other Individual True Names must be acquired and learnt before they can be used.

Four methods exist for acquiring an entity's True Name:

The entity may choose to reveal it.
It may be obtained from a Namer Demon -- when an entity is born, their Individual True Name becomes known to some of the Naming Demons (see the demon descriptions in the College of Greater Summoning).
It may be obtained from another other being who has studied the True Name, if they choose to disclose it.
It may be found in written form - Adepts of various Colleges have been known to record important entity's names in magic tomes.

The aura of the entity contains both the Generic and Individual True Names, and so the training of the College of Namers concentrates greatly on the study and interpretation of auras, from all living beings and formerly-living objects. Whilst other Colleges use abilities to detect auras, only the Namer is trained to make maximum use of the information gained from perceiving auras. The Generic Name is instantly identified when a Namer perceives an aura, although this Name must still be studied and Ranked to be of use. The information is coded into the aura in a form that Namers are trained to recognise, but other Colleges, through use of the same Detect Aura spell / talent, would need to inquire specifically to receive the same information.

The Individual True Name is also coded into the aura, but is so complex and varied that they cannot be deciphered and used by even a Namer. If the Namer is given the Entity's True Name, then it is possible for the Namer to identify the auric characteristics that make up the Individual True Name. The study of these components takes considerable time due to their complexity.

Ranking Names

Once acquired, an Individual or Generic Name may be studied and fully learnt. Generic Names take one day of study to be learned (that is reach Rank 0) while Individual Names take one week in study after the Name has been acquired.

Only Adepts of the College of Naming Incantations can acquire Rank of greater than 0 with names
The time required to gain Rank with names is 1 week x the Rank to be achieved.
The maximum Rank of an Individual or Generic Name is 20.