Help with naming a -- thing

Lady Eruwaedhiel · **Posted:** April 29th, 2010, 1:50 pm

If you'll refer to my post Armies, Battles, Dreadful Promises and Enchanted Elves, you'll see (in the third paragraph) a reference to a "tattoo-like emblem" that Klista uses for a spell that holds Faulkner captive. (amendment -- Faulkner wasn't unconscious when enchanted)

I need a name for it.

My magic language is somewhat akin to Latin or Greek. Since the "thing" is either enchanted in itself or only used for magic purposes, it needs to have a name that stems from Latin or Greek or something like it. The "thing" itself is a short, copper-colored string with a distinct metallic quality. When Klista marks him with it, it branches out seemingly with a life of its own and creates a sunburst design.

It writhes when picked up, and melts into the skin of the victim causing intense pain if resisted. It then sends out roots which are first visible but fade quickly leaving only a small metallic copper colored spiral/sunburst type pattern just below the surface of the skin in the area of placement. The eyes of a person so infested will sometimes appear to be the same coppery color as the object which is probably not sentient, but an enchanted object.

Here's a graphic my mom and I made representing (closely, but not exactly) what it looks like (sort of), or as close as we could come to it with the software we have.

The image (and currently, the object) is entitled "boot" because after weeks of referring to it as "that thing" mom finally pulled a random word out of the air and (to my consternation) has been calling it that ever since. :roll:

We have some words that could help in finding a name if translated into Latin or Greek:
battery, halter, bit/reins, manacle, prison, chain (for what it does)
fire, flame, fever, red, copper, swirl, spiral (for how it looks)
With the use of an etymology dictionary, some of the words and related words were translated:
cupric (Latin)/chalco (Greek) -- copper
catena -- chain (Latin)
rhizo/rhiza (Greek) -- root
pyr (Greek) -- fire

Keep in mind that I don't want something exactly Greek or Latin, but something that sounds Greek or Latin -- or better, both. A combination of the words would be best -- preferably longer than 5 letters and shorter than 12. I know, tall order.

I am looking especially for the feedback of Seer and Inesdar on this one. I know Inesdar hasn't been on lately (due to schoolwork, I think) but once he is back I'll make sure he sees it. Anyone's ideas would be welcome, however. Thanks in advance!

Lady Eruwaedhiel

Elestar · **Posted:** May 2nd, 2010, 4:28 pm

Personally, I really like the "copper" words. I sure you've already thought of this but, what about something like "Cuprig" or "Cuprik", or combining a couple, like "Pyrriza", or "Cuprhizo"? Just some suggestions.

Seer of Endor · **Joined:** February 16th, 2010, 10:36 pm **Posts:** 2603

I'm honored that you thought my input worthy of seeking.
I've come up with a few different possibilities, but my favorite is rhemalys (could also be spelled rhemalus if you wanted it to look more Latin, that's the flexibility of transliterating upsilon). It comes from 2 Greek words: rhema (spirit) and alysis/alusis (chain) and roughly means "spirit chain". You could also through an "e" on the end and make it "rhemalyse", but it gives it more of a French feel to me.

Other options include:
vivacaena (latin vivi/life + catena/chain) = living chain
pyralys/pyralus (Gk pyr/fire + alysis/chain) = fire chain

I'll probably post some other possibilities later, but those are my favorites for you to mull over.

In Christ,
Jordan

Ciela Rose · **Posted:** May 3rd, 2010, 6:56 pm

Hmm. I really like that idea, very indepth. It sounds fascinating. Now I want to know what happens to Faulkner.

I was kind of thinking rhyzopir, rootfire, or chalcoryza, copperroot.

Although I'm basically restating what everyone else suggested. :P

I'll hopefully get back to you with more ideas.

Lady Terra · **Posted:** May 4th, 2010, 7:01 am

I like Chalcoryza... just my opinion

Andrew Amnon Mimetes · **Joined:** May 14th, 2010, 4:43 am **Posts:** 4458

I like Jordan's suggestion: rhemalus sounds cool because of the meaning behind it...but I would put an 'e' at the end like so: rhemalyse...(sounds like apocalypse or something similar)

Eruheran

Lady Eruwaedhiel · **Posted:** May 14th, 2010, 2:17 pm

Sorry for the long silence guys...just suffice it to say I love your ideas. I knew somebody would have some good advice/names for me! That's the best part about this forum: the community.

Ciela Rose wrote:

Now I want to know what happens to Faulkner.

Ha! As if. :P

Jordan, I like the essence to the "spirit chain" name. It has a very interesting feel.

I'll sort through these and let you know which one I pick.

Au Revoir!

Lady Eruwaedhiel (or Lady E -- or Liz, as some of you prefer to call me

)

Whythawye · **Posted:** June 7th, 2010, 7:09 am

I think the 'cuprig' and 'cuprik' names are the closest to the right direction of essence, at least in my mind.

Lady Eruwaedhiel · **Posted:** June 9th, 2010, 12:51 pm

Those two sound a bit too . . . throaty. I'm currently using rhemalyse, and that's where it'll probably stay. What kind of essence did you give it, Sir Emeth?

Whythawye · **Posted:** June 9th, 2010, 1:05 pm

Lady Eruwaedhiel wrote:

Those two sound a bit too . . . throaty. I'm currently using rhemalyse, and that's where it'll probably stay. What kind of essence did you give it, Sir Emeth?

Wow... it would take a ton of work even using ECSS++ to its fullest to really capture that essence. :P It is very small and vague. I could do it, but it would take work, and only the 3literati could read it. Haha.

But cropped up, basically I was thinking of a very celtic angle: simple, cut, magical, golden, and guttural.

Lady Eruwaedhiel · **Posted:** June 9th, 2010, 1:12 pm

Huh. Maybe after you read the portion of the story with that in there you could define it more easily. (Warning: it's a bit creepy -- but I don't know why I'm warning you, of all people :roll:

) It would be interesting to see what you came up with, to say the least. It's a very interesting ... thing. I don't fully understand it myself.

Whythawye · **Posted:** June 9th, 2010, 1:23 pm

Lady Eruwaedhiel wrote:

Huh. Maybe after you read the portion of the story with that in there you could define it more easily. (Warning: it's a bit creepy -- but I don't know why I'm warning you, of all people :roll:

) It would be interesting to see what you came up with, to say the least. It's a very interesting ... thing. I don't fully understand it myself.

Email it to me?

Lady Eruwaedhiel · **Posted:** June 9th, 2010, 3:13 pm

It's not been edited yet...if you don't mind some pretty lousy writing, then sure.

Whythawye · **Posted:** June 10th, 2010, 1:18 am

Lady Eruwaedhiel wrote:

It's not been edited yet...if you don't mind some pretty lousy writing, then sure.

Sounds fine to me.

Aris Hunter · **Posted:** June 13th, 2010, 7:52 pm

Pyrcatina (peer-cah-tee-nah). It's got both Latin and Greek.

I dunno, just throwin' out something. The image is really pretty, though.

Help with naming a -- thing

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