The Au Ra possess a rich tapestry of names that reflect their history, environment, and cultural divergence. From the isolationist clans of the Far East to the assimilated communities of Thavnair and the reflection world of the First, an Au Ra’s name tells the story of where their ancestors walked and how they chose to live.
The Raen (white-scaled Au Ra) abandoned the chaotic nomadic life of the Steppe centuries ago, seeking the peaceful, structured valleys of Othard and the island nation of Hingashi. Consequently, their naming conventions are heavily inspired by Feudal-era (16th–17th century) Japan.
Raen forenames are tightly bound to nature, the seasons, abstract concepts of beauty, or virtues.
Male Forenames: Typically reflect strength, military prowess, or natural phenomena associated with power (e.g., storms, mountains, wildlife).
Examples: Hien (Flying Swallow), Oboro (Hazy Moon), Seimei (Clear Life), Isse (One Generation).
Female Forenames: Draw inspiration from plants, seasons, weather, and delicate aspects of the natural world.
Examples: Yugiri (Evening Mist), Yuki (Snow), Chiyo (A Thousand Generations), Ouka (Cherry Blossom).
Raen surnames operate as family/clan names and denote an individual's social status, trade, or military standing within their society.
Bushido/Warrior Clans: High-ranking samurai families carry surnames that invoke blades, martial victory, or ancestral loyalty.
Examples: Yatsurugi (Eight Swords), Mitsurugi (Three Swords), Toriumi (Bird Sea).
Merchant and Peasant Classes: Commoners, craftsmen, and farmers take surnames derived from their professions or local geography.
Examples: Jiroku (Trade/Local lineage), Kakami (Mirror maker), Motoyama (Base of the mountain).
The Xaela (black-scaled Au Ra) remained on the Azim Steppe, maintaining their fiercely independent, nomadic warrior culture. Their naming conventions are deeply rooted in 15th–16th century traditional Mongolian. Because the Xaela traditionally do not use a written language, spellings vary based on phonetic interpretation by foreign scholars.
Xaela given names tend to sound rugged, melodic, and dynamic, often celebrating survival, martial traits, or the wilderness.
Male Forenames: Focus on physical power, bravery, or elements of the harsh steppe.
Examples: Magnai (Forehead/Leader), Adarkim (Fierce Ruler), Chuluun (Stone), Temülun (Inciteful).
Female Forenames: Often incorporate attributes of animals, jewels, or the sky, balancing grace with a warrior's edge.
Examples: Cirina (Glittering), Sadu (Pious/Fiery), Altani (Golden), Qestir (Silent/Steppe-born).
A Xaela’s surname is universally their tribe name. While there are dozens of smaller splinters, lore codifies 51 historical canon tribes, each with a unique lifestyle that dictates the weight of their family name.
On the reflection world of the First, the Au Ra are known as the Drahn. Unlike their counterparts on the Source, the Drahn do not split along the lines of scale color or tribal divisions. Instead, they share a unified history alongside Humes (Hyur) and Galdjents (Roegadyn), particularly under the ancient banners of the Kingdom of Voeburt.
Drahn names completely reject Far Eastern and Mongolian roots. Instead, they utilize Voeburtite naming conventions, which draw heavy inspiration from Germanic, Anglo-Saxon, and European fantasy lineages. Names are formed by combining a traditional linguistic radical (stem) with a gender-specific suffix.
Common Stems: An-, Beth-, Bill-, Col-, Jas-, Phil-, Tod-, Will-, Grac-
Male Drahn Suffixes:
-ard,-den,-fort,-ric
Quinfort (The eccentric scholar of Rak'tika)
Philard
Jasden
Female Drahn Suffixes:
-ana,-dia,-ine,-wren
Milinda (The tragic goldsmith from Wright)
Renda (From the legendary hunter Renda-Rae)
Anana
Over generations, migratory groups of Raen traveled far west beyond the borders of Othard, moving across Ilsabard to settle in the near-eastern island city-state of Radz-at-Han (Thavnair).
The Hannish Au Ra are entirely detached from Hinganshi isolationism. Because Thavnair is a melting pot of Arkasodara, Humes, and Au Ra living in perfect harmony, the Au Ra adopted Hannish (South Asian / Indian / Near Eastern) naming conventions to seamlessly blend into society.
Structure: They rarely maintain traditional Othardian surnames. Instead, they use mononyms, patronymics, or titles reflecting their alchemical guilds, merchant organizations, or familial lineages in the satrapy.
Male Forenames: Focus on traditional Near Eastern phonetics, often dealing with light, stone, or divinity.
Examples: Varshahn (A widely recognized local name), Khalzahl, Jalzahn, Vasudeva.
Female Forenames: Soft, poetic, and rich with regional vowels.
Examples: Yshuja, Kadjaya, Amira, Nisreen.