Rastaban, as a former seat of a world-spanning Empire, became a melting pot of all peoples, and as such, we encourage players to gen with names that represent the diversity inherent therein.
Names which are slightly more archaic - for example, names that were in use in the medieval period - are in keeping with the anachronistic nature of the City of Rastaban.
Naming Conventions
There are different ways of rendering your name in Rastaban, which vary from very formal to very informal.
When introducing oneself second, one should use a similar formality of name with one's social peers, a more formal version of one's name with social inferiors, and a less formal version of one's name with social superiors.
When introducing yourself, you should never use the most formal version of your name unless you're sure you're dealing with a social inferior.
These rules of social engagement may be relaxed when speaking in private.
Most Formal (Archaic, Fallen out of use): (AFFILIATION 1) e (AFFILIATION 2) Sou (NAME) (HIGHEST TITLE)
Formal: (TITLE) (NAME) of (TITLE'S AFFILIATION)
Neutral (NAME) of (AFFILIATION)
Informal: (NAME)
Most Formal (Archaic, Fallen out of use): Torch e Rom sou Anastasia Dandachi, Grandmaster
Formal: Grandmaster Anastasia Dandachi of the Torch
Neutral: Anastasia Dandachi of the Torch
Informal: Anastasia Dandachi
Family Names, House Names
Belonging to a family unit, and using a family name (i.e. surname) is permissable. However, both are strictly optional.
There are those that believe that allegiances to one's family draw focus away from the allegiance one owes one's House, and so very deliberately eschew their surname.
Then, there are others that believe that such bonds reinforce one another, and there is no conflict, so long as one is a Good Citizen, and serves the Empire in one's heart.
Both positions are valid within Rastaban.
Deed Names
Through one's acts, works, or exploits, one may come into possession of a Deed Name.
Deed names are appended to your name, e.g. Tamura “Amber Blade” of Rom.
Deed Names in Play
Deed names are a special kind of Quirk which can affect how one is treated in Rastaban. Being “the Reveller”, might open a door into an exclusive party, whereas “Imp-smiter” may suggest a certain prowess when dealing with the Plane of Conflict.
A character can only ever have a single Deed Name, and it cannot be forced onto a character - they must choose to adopt it willingly.
On receiving subsequent Deed Names, a player may choose to lose & replace their existing one to adopt the new name instead.
A GM may award a player an opportunity to gain a Deed Name if they have accomplished something notable. A player may quite reasonably also ask if something special they have done might result in a deed name.
Deed names should be unique, and should reflect the act which created them.
As a rule of thumb, Deed names should scale with epicness/awesomeness roughly as players gain more renown and more experience.
Deed names are intended to be a cool thing that someone gets for doing something interesting from time to time, and not something that one will get as a matter of course every adventure.