Names and origins....

[Arathorn]

Lots of people have some very interesting nicknames on this board. The origin of some (like lkendter from lee kendter) are pretty obvious. Others are a bit more obscure -- like, perhaps, my own.

Since this *is* a storyboard, I'd love it if people would share a bit of history of their names. Like Jaffa Tamarin, google only gives diablo2 credits, a list of Jewish names, and some cities as a hit for that. What's the story, there?

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Arathorn comes from my favorite books of all time, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. If you've not read these, or at least The Hobbit, you're really missing out in my opinion. You'll get very minor spoilers below, so be warned.

Arathorn's main claim to fame is being the father of Aragorn Elessar, the doury Ranger who takes part in the quest to destroy the One Ring. Aragorn gets all the glory, and, not-so-ironically, is the more popular nickname on boards and such.

Arathorn married Gilraen, who bore Aragorn. Arathorn was leader of the Dunedain, the Rangers of the North, and was a direct descendent of Elros, and thereby King of Middle-Earth. He died hunting orcs when Aragorn was only 2 years old.

I personally find using nicknames from LotR to be second nature. Most of the "big" names are taken -- Gandalf, Isildur, Aragorn, etc. I have used Arathorn in various MUDs, other online locations, and a fair number of places. I am sure I am far from the only Arathorn nickname personae on the 'Net, though, so if you see an Arathorn homepage, it's almost assuredly not me.

That's my story. What's yours?

Arathorn

 

[Padma]

Interesting idea, Arathorn.

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'Padma' comes from one of MY favorite books/series: Gordon Dickson's 'Childe Cycle' stories. Sometimes called the 'Dorsai' series, but that is a misnomer, as the Dorsai are just one piece of the puzzle. Padma is a major character in Soldier, Ask Not and Lost Dorsai, and cameos in an offstage role in The Final Encyclopedia.

The Childe Cycle postulates a coming evolutionary change for Mankind, to 'Ethical Man'. During the 21st century, as mankind is about to rip itself apart, a way to travel to the stars is discovered. This leads to a great migration away from Old Earth. And, people being people, they tend to stay with others who think like they do. This results in several major Splinter Cultures growing among the planets. A member of a Splinter culture is like a monomaniac, except where with a monomaniac other skills and abilities atrophy in relation to the monomania, for these people all other aspects of their personalities, abilities, etc., are aligned with, and augment that monomania. Thus you get the hard Scientists of Newton, with their heads in the clouds; the Warriors of the Dorsai, of whom it is said that if they chose to all return to their homeworld and defend it, no one could conquer them; the True Faithholders (and their cousins/opposites the Religious Fanatics) of the 'Friendly' worlds of Harmony and Association; and the Philosophers of the 'Exotic' worlds of Mara and Kultis.

The Exotics believe an evolutionary change is coming, and they are watching for, and hoping to control it. They fail, of course, although in his old age Padma realizes this may happen (see my sig.). Exotics are observers, and choose to do no violence against any other. The converse is also true, however, and they will allow no violence to be done to them. Therefore they hire the Dorsai to perform any military needs they have. They also hire specialists from every other culture, so that they soon have both the wealth and the power to stay somewhat aloof from the rest of humanity's affairs.

An Outbond is an Exotic 'ambassador', if you will, to the rest of humanity. Last names are not used by the Exotics, rather a 'title'. Thus 'Padma the Outbond', 'Sayona the Bond' who was roughly the Head of State of the twin worlds of Mara and Kultis, and 'Walter InTeacher', who was hired as one of three tutors/parents of the orphaned Hal Mayne. By the end of Padma's life, he was so well respected among the Exotics that he was given the position/title of 'InBond'.

I hope this gives the idea. Way too much to explain in a single post. The Childe Cycle was to include 12 novels, and numerous 'illuminations', i.e. side stories, tracing the evolutionary change from Sir John Hawkwood of the 14th century thru Donal Graeme/Hal Mayne in the 24th century. Alas, Gordie died last year before it was complete.

 

[sealman]

If you saw my office, you would understand the moniker.

When I was just a little tyke living in Hawaii, my mother took me down to the harbor where trained Hawaiian Monk Seals were giving basket rides. The seals swam in a little circle and pulled a basket behind them.

I took a ride (I was only 1 or 2 at the time) and my love of the furry mammals took off. Now anytime one of my sisters or mother sees a stuffed seal in a zoo or store, they get it for me. My wife is getting a little tired of all the seals currently "residing" is the spare bedroom.

 

[SKILORD2]

Well..... my father's polish.
The Wilczynski name is impronouncable to the American tongue and it was thusly shortened to Ski by various people, i embraced this nickname wholeheartedly in order to avoid the Mispronounciations. The came planetarion, i became Ski, Lord of.... this was then shortened to Skilord, a name which i have taken a likeing to.

 

[Thiazi]

Thiazi
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In Norse mythology, the giant Thiazi is a son of the giant Olvaldi. He is also the father of the giantess Skadi, wife of the Vanir god Njord. Thrymheim is Thiazi's mountain stronghold in Jotunheim, land of the giants. Like all giants, he is well versed in the use of magic.

With the aid of a magic eagle skin, he flew to Midgard where the gods Honir, Loki and Odin were cooking an ox. Still in the form of an eagle, he asked the gods for some of the meat. The gods agreed, but he ate so much that Loki became angry and impaled the eagle with a wooden staff. The eagle took flight with Loki still grasping the staff, unable to free himself. Thiazi released Loki on the condition that he would bring him the goddess Idun and her apples of youth.

Loki returned to Asgard and, a week later, went to the hall of Idun and told her that he had found a tree in Midgard that bore golden apples like hers. He offered to show her the tree and together they crossed the rainbow bridge Bifrost and entered Midgard. Idun carried her basket of apples as usual.

Still in the form of a giant eagle, Thiazi swooped down and carried Idun and her basket of golden apples to Thrymheim. Without the apples of youth the gods began to suffer the effects of old age. Loki soon fell under suspicion and admitted his role in the abduction of Idun. The gods then threatened him with death if he failed to return Idun and her apples to Asgard.

Borrowing a magic falcon skin from the goddess Freya, Loki assumed the form of a falcon, flew to Thrymheim, located Idun and transformed her into a nut. Then he took wing and began the long flight back to Asgard. When Thiazi returned to his stronghold he realized that Loki had taken Idun and the apples of youth. Taking the form of an eagle, Thiazi flew after Loki as fast as he could.

Thiazi was close behind Loki as the two birds neared the outer wall of Asgard. As soon as Loki flew over the wall, Odin ordered the gods to set fire to piles of wood and shavings. Thiazi's wings were badly burned, and he plunged to the ground where he was killed by the gods. Loki then returned Idun and her apples to their normal form. Odin transformed the giant's eyes into two stars.

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/t/thiazi.html
http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/norse/articles.html

 

[Toasty]

Toasty
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Mine is, quite simply put, a real life nickname. I vcould have added 'kuiepirs', but I figured this one is at least an actual word .

In my Freshman year at High School, it was a very cold winter (as usual here in Detroit), so I wore a very heavy down jacket that was gold and had black shoulders & neck. When I came out after school, my friend Jenni noted that I looked like a 'Toasted Marshmallow', so I got nicknamed 'Toasty'. It's kinda stuck with me over time.

Thus, 'Toasty'. 'Kuiepirs' is because when anyone tries to pronounce my last name for the first time, that's how it sounds.

 

[Schnarrd]

Well, my full name is Patrick Schnarrenberger, a name that is a total of 22 letters long (7 in the first name, 15 in the last) and that took forever to learn how to spell in perschool (it still takes forever to write my signiture). I have never seen a last name that is longer than mine. For those of you that read the RBD 3 thread, this name also explains some of the jokes in my posts on that thread - particularly in my first turn summary. A name that long is very prone to nicknames, and one of the more popular was Schnarrd. I even got one of my teachers in highschool to call me Schnarrd the entire school year.

EDIT at Padma: The Childe Cycle also contains some of my favorite books. However, most everybody I've met has not heard of them. Glad to see that their not totally unknown . . .

Ah, and I see the sig is from the Childe Cycle books, too.

 

[Padma]

Yeah, the only other member here I can CONFIRM has read at least some of the books is Crazy Eddie.

In the Mornington Crescent thread in All Other Games, he referred to me as "my Exotic friend".

 

[THEINFAMOUSPOPS]

The mystery of the pops goes back many generations. Some say its a take off his age, maybe hes an old man. others say it has something to do with a nickname POPO. SUCH IS THE MYSTERY OF THE INFAMOUS POPS!

 

[Silverbolt]

I am a huge fan of Transformers. Silverbolt is the leader of the Aerialbots, from generation 1 and 2 continuity. The name has been re-used for various characters in later Transformers sagas such as Beast Wars and Beast Machines, but my use of it is in honor of the Aerialbot Commander. The reason I chose him? Well, he was my first major character on the late, lamented Transformers MUSH from years past, and the name just stuck with me for 'net nickname purposes.

As for why I use Darth Vader as my avatar...there isn't a Concorde available and I'm also a huge Star Wars fan, so I just waffled and chose to represent both sides of my geekness!

Keep the nickname stories coming!

 

[Thrawn]

Silverbolt: If your a Star Wars fan you should know where my nick came from.

Thrawn comes from a trilogy of star wars books set some time after Return of the Jedi. (can't remember which ones) Thrawn come from the part of the star wars galaxy called the Unknown Regions (called that for obvious reasons). He was Grand Admiral Thrawn, the only Grand Admiral in the Empire who was not human. Which is even all the more surprising considering that the Empire regarded non-humans as second class citizens.

The reason he was awarded the rank of Grand Admiral was because he was a strategic genius. I think there was only 1 person in the entire New Republic who could combat Thrawns strategies. He would have taken control of the entire galaxy if his own elite commandos/bodyguards hadn't betrayed him.

I also use Thrawn for most games/forums that I'm at. So if you see a Thrawn, it could be me. Possibly. I also use Thrawn1st, when Thrawn is taken, as a kinda tribute to the 181st, the elite fighter squadron of the Empire. I have never seen that nick used, so if u see it, its most likely me.

[EDIT] I've also modified a thrawn saying in my sig.

 

[Silverbolt]

Ohhh, yes. Thrawn is probably one of my favorite non-movie characters. He was created by Timothy Zahn in the first post-Jedi set of books to come out: Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command. HIGHLY recommended reading for all Star Wars fans as these books capture the feel of the movies better than any other since. Also, Zahn's followup duology Spectre of the Past and Vision of the Future are great reading, and explain some of the Grand Admiral's heritage.

 

[das]

Das orginated from me just creatign a random combination, when I played my first computer game (I was 5 years old back then), and needed to think of a nickname. SO I just pressed three random buttosn with no reason..

 

[PreTzeL_22]

A few years back in school somebody called me a "Pretzel". I don't know where the 22 came from. Bit silly now I think about it.

The "Panzerflugelhorn" bit is interesting. I was reADING An eastern front book and saw something concerning the German's pleasure at getting hold of some American lend-lease jeeps, which were far superior to the German "Kubelwagon" (German equivalent of the jeeps obviously). Then my mind jumped to the (german I think) flugelhorn, which is something of an oddball instrument. The word Panzerflugelhorn now came into my head. It amused me somewhat, and so, for lack of a better title, I adopted it.

 

[Cunobelin Of Hippo]

Interesting thread, but it belongs in the Off-Topic section

 

[dannyevilcat]

"dannyevilcat" is because my friends always say my cat is pure evil. "evil cat" merged to become "evilcat". And my name is Dan, and though I hate being called Danny in real life, dannyevilcat developed along the lines of "johnnycat" or whatever.

 

[Morgasshk]

Thrawn rocks! I so wish they'd make up movies on all the Star Wars books following the original trilogy and the clean up of the Imperial fleet and all that...

Also Han's beginnings would be cool as well, especially when he first becomes enemies with boba Fett on Corellia...

Anyway, mine was completely made up a few years ago for no reason other than to have a different name to anyone else...

Everytime I start a game on DiabloII I have a new name, usualy totally original... (My kids are going to kill me! )
Names like Thortalsihn, Relentless, Nishtaph and Vasaruboi are just a couple (relentless not as much I knwo but still a cool name eh?)

Morgasshk is just the main one i Use (And Thrasher - Because I always intended on using this as a DJing name... one of these days....

morgasshk.

 

[Juize]

Let me guess : This came from Civ3 forums?
So many names I've never heard of.

 

[Morgasshk]

huh?

 

[Juize]

Originally posted by Morgasshk
huh?

This topic originally was created in Civ3 'Main' forums,
because up there is so many names I've never heard of.