Formal Name or Fighting Name?

[Azgarehta]

I seem to have this issue, and since it is a roleplaying vs. playability issue, I assume it goes here:

My problem is that my name is too long. Azgarehta has 4 syllables and thus is unwieldy to say in the heat of battle. I understand this, and was wondering if I could come up with something, more like a nickname or a shorter name that is easier to wrap the tongue around. I'd like to keep my name for roleplaying purposes, but also add a 'fighting name' to it.

I made Azgarehta from Anduin (the Numenorean parent tongue) word "Azgara", meaning "To make war", and the Silvan Elven (the linguistic lineage tongue that Anduin was mashed with to develop into Westron and all of the languages of Man). The Silvan Elven word "Ehta" meaning "Spear". Using the Numenorean syntax of compounding words together, "Azgarehta" means literally "To make War with the Spear". I take this name because I fight with a Spear (obviously), but also because it pays honor to the lineage of fighters that have gone before me. It uses the tongue of Numenor, the parent of Arnor, within whose kingdom I live.

This makes a good formal name, one that can be used for feasts, in character interations, and the like. Now, onto a 'fighting name' which can be used more frequently and quickly in times of battle.

After saying my name out loud, most everyone chuckled and said "that's not gonna work" or "the name is too long", which is something I found out pretty quickly considering the pace of fighting. The general consensus is that 2 syllables is about all you can blurt out quickly, and if someone has an unwieldy name (such as Anastasia of Chamonix)(You're a wonderful person, I'm not making fun of your name, madam.) It generally will get shortened to something usable. There wasn't a general consensus on my name, from Az, Azgar, and Azzy, to Oz and Ozzy.

There's also a funnier story behind this as well. I am in the habit of mispronouncing things. This comes from reading them in books before hearing them out loud most of the time. I pronounce Kobold as KOH bold, instead of Ko BALD/Kah BALD, and this first practice I pronounced Tabard as Tah BARD instead of TAB erd. This led to people jokingly calling me Tah BARD, and one guy suggesting "The Bard".

I'm almost finished, stick with me.

So I though about "The Bard", which seems slightly fitting, since I am a musician (keyboard, guitar, bass, drums) and I'd love to get into learning and playing some music that is appropriate for events, and even writing songs about the great battles that have happened. The problem with this, is that I don't want to assume to be arrogant enough to bestow myself a "title" such as this unless I do something that warrants it.

So I was wondering your thoughts on becoming "Azgarehta the Bard" (people can call me "The Bard" or "Bard") pending starting up the Bard's Guild. I've noticed that the Guild system is pretty non-existant, and I think I could do something to bring some more arts to the forefront of Belegarth. At the very least, write some songs about people and hand out chord charts so people can play them. I also love to tell stories and the like. I think organizing the Bard's Guild would be a good way to get the storytellers, musicians, actors, and various artists together to help enrich our experience as a culture.

Also, I don't want to slight Shakesphere in the least, being as he is often called "The Bard", it was just an easy moniker to go by while fighting, and in light of his artistry, I set him as an example by which we wish to emulate.

[Tails]

You can have a shorter name and a longer name, but I can promise you that people will just call you by the shorter easier name to remember. If you are going to get yourself a shorter name, my advise to you is make one that you would be comfortable with as if it were your real fighting name.

You have to remember that role playing, while it has it's spot in Belegarth, doesn't have the weight to it that is dose in dag or something else. IMO

[Sare]

Hm.

Azgarehta is a great name, in its etymology and its phonetics. However, you're correct: people will take a long fuggin time remembering that. "The Bard" is neat, though the term bard is quite commonly known, meaning only that someone somewhere might already be using it.

As for shortening the name you've already chosen, Az would get misheard as *, and when I pronounced Azgar in my head, I imagined people mishearing it as NASCAR. So how about Rehta? Assuming that's pronounced RAY-duh, that might be short, unique, and memorable enough, imo.

[Bahku]

You should just go with Gar.

[Sorcia]

Shorter is better. I like Azgara or just Azgar. I wouldn't worry too much about the being made fun of.

I also like the effort you have made in choosing a name. A++

[Sir Guts]

Also keep in mind, i know this applies to myself, but many fighters I'm sure, most people aren't gonna remember your name until they've known/seen you for a bit. Don't take it as an insult, but this sport has a high turnaround and its next to impossible to remember everyone you see, meet, etc. etc. so don't be discouraged if people take some time to learn your name.

Kudos on the thought put into your name and its uniqueness, which might just help more people remember your name, even if they slightly butcher it.

[Paragon]

Not to sound like a broken record but, you have yourself a very cool name. That being said, yipes, it is a mouthful.

I actually really like the idea you have with the Bards Guild. As a fellow artist, it has a certain appeal to me. I think it might be a little hard to push into existence, because, as stated before, RP doesn't have a huge place in Bel.

IMO, The Bard is a pretty cool name. You just have to make sure you are willing to put forth the extra effort to live up to the name. People will expect you to perform. And possibly demand it from time to time. If you are ok with that, I say go for it.

[No'Vak]

And possibly demand it from time to time. If you are ok with that, I say go for it.

I will seek out anyone named the bard when I'm intoxicated at an event and demand satisfaction.

~Noik

[Azgarehta]

and I'll make up a song worthy of a drunkard!

[No'Vak]

I'm not a drunkard I'm a problem drinker .

~Noik

[Azgarehta]

Oh Noik is a drunk with a problem to solve
He drinks with a rage and a steely resolve
Down in the gullet with a tankard of ale
Be sure you clear way for when he gets pale
Up from the bowels shall exude with said beer
doubled over in retching his lunch shall appear
Poor Noik is a drunkard, I fear
Oh Poor Noik is a drunkard....I fear.

[Sorcia]

Alcoholics go to meetings...drunks go to bars.

I am the latter.

[Ralimar]

Azgar is cool. Unless you have a horrible lisp and can enunciate your words, it shouldn't be confused with Nascar (but is a handy tool for remembering it when new people meet you...) Or maybe even just, "Ta?"

You DID say you pronounce things all funny-like, so how do YOU pronounce your name? I see it as "az gar EH tuh."

Or, if you go with the bard thing, I would only accept "teh bardzorz." T'bardors? Hail Michigan, anyone?

[Azgarehta]

Yeah, Az gar EH ta is how I pronounce it, though sometimes the R slurs and it become Azga REH ta, but they sound similar enough. I'm also not THE bard, just Bard, and most of the local guys are calling me that now b/c its quick, easy to remember, and sometimes I'll sing a song.

[The Great Gigsby]

eh bard. if yoo can write Me The Ballad of Wet Giggles, I probably not throw yore tent in a tree or pond at the next event.

deal?

[Magpie Saegar]

I agree with what everyone's said, but I'll also through out there that "bard" or even moreso "the bard" could be a bit offensive to other people who consider themselves bards.

You don't see anyone who just goes by "fighter," or "merchant," or "herald" (at least I hope not!).

I think it would be cooler to be __________ the bard, and then if you just get called bard, that's fine -- as long as you back it up (as it sounds like you have).

[Azgarehta]

Yeah, the name is Azgarehta the Bard, in the same same way that people have _____ of ____ as their name. (Anastasia of Chamonix in example) although Bard is quicker on the field, and there's a few Az's around my area (Azrael, for example) If someone takes offense at it, I link it to calling someone "fighter" instead of their name. I'm not laying claim to being the only Bard, or The Bard, just using a 'profession' name instead of a formal name. Its like calling Jerry the Blacksmith 'Smithy' or 'Blacksmith' instead of Jerry.

Side Note: Giggles, I need more information to write a Ballad of Wet Giggles for you. I'm envisioning some kind of Gnoll fighting in the rain and triumphantly beating the **** out of people, or a humorous song where a big, burly Gnoll gets tricked and thrown in a lake. If you can, elaborate on your exploits and I'll see if I can work them in.

[Kirethorn]

"The Bard"/"Bard" works great. Over here here you would get "Azzo", "Azza", or just "Azz".

An Adz (proper spelling unknown) is like a Mattock with a sharpened blade, so I wouldn't mind a nickname like that. It suggests I rock at hacking up trees .

[Todo]

or a humorous song where a big, burly Gnoll gets tricked and thrown in a lake.

And loses his mug.

[No'Vak]

Oh Noik is a drunk with a problem to solve
He drinks with a rage and a steely resolve
Down in the gullet with a tankard of ale
Be sure you clear way for when he gets pale
Up from the bowels shall exude with said beer
doubled over in retching his lunch shall appear
Poor Noik is a drunkard, I fear
Oh Poor Noik is a drunkard....I fear.

You goto oktfest. You shall drink **** cheap beer for free comrade. Too bad i might not be fighting.... Broke mah arm.

[No'Vak]

Alcoholics go to meetings...drunks go to bars.

I am the latter.

QFT

[The Great Gigsby]

Giggles, I need more information to write a Ballad of Wet Giggles for you. I'm envisioning some kind of Gnoll fighting in the rain and triumphantly beating the **** out of people, or a humorous song where a big, burly Gnoll gets tricked and thrown in a lake. If you can, elaborate on your exploits and I'll see if I can work them in.

Make it both! Dat would be epic. I wrote a rough rough draft of the story on my wiki: http://geddon.org/index.php/Giggles

I forgot to menshun in de story dat I lost my mug. Dat's a very important deetail.

[Azgarehta]

All right giggles, I got inspired, so here's your song.

The Ballad of Wet Giggles
or
The Tale of the Lost Mug of Chaos

The story is told of Giggles the Beast
And the mug that he lost just after the Feast
In the presence of Royalty, Goblin, and Goat
The spirits where high and with loudness of throat
Under gaze of the moon and stillness of tomb
The plague had killed most, they all felt its doom
Of Falcon's blood, The Gnoll does drink deep and passes
Till the four still of life where quite drunk off their asses
"Hey dere's a bridge!" The Gnoll exclaimed while quite drunk
"They's probly alive ones." His simple mind thunk
Addled by drink and by gravity's pull
Crossing a moat seemed too complex for this Gnoll
A Villain appeared in the form of a log
The only way over this cavernous bog
"Me Hat!" said the Gnoll as a gentleman would
"Can't get wet!" and thus removed it fast as he could
A step, then another makes his confidence rise
A third step's too many, as he slips in surprise
Into the water he flops like a whale
Soaked to the bone from ears to the tail
His hat still yet dry, a keen stroke of luck
The Mug washed away, down into the muck
A mournful tear for the mug lost asunder
For the mug was a prize of the Gnoll's good plunder
This tale's water tight, there's no room for wiggles
And that's how we came upon Team Wet Giggles.

[Zithkor]

Thats epic.

[The Great Gigsby]

LEJENDAREE BALLAD

I owe yoo a drink or three next time I see you. gonna be at okfest?

[Azgarehta]

Yup. I drink mountain dew.