The Appellationer (Name Requests or Treats, Light Roleplay)

[June Scarlet]

As you continue on your Trick-or-Treating journey, you notice a cottage tucked among the other houses. It seems cozy and unassuming, but it probably has candy or something. You walk up the cobbled path and knock on the door.

An older gentleman wearing an apron with many pockets answers. "Hello, yes, welcome to my lovely workshop. I am Nomen the Appellationer." He taps his nose. "I name things, you see.

"Do you have something that needs naming? Perhaps a character, a new pet, even a candy of your own design? I'm your man. Tell me a bit about what needs a designation, and I will find a name for you. It's up to you whether it's the right cognomen; in the end, it's yours to name, I'm just here to help.

"Speaking of candy..." Nomen holds up a basket of brightly wrapped candies. "I have candy as well, if that's all your here for.

"And finally, as for my own name, Nomen is Latin for name, while Appellation comes from the Latin for a name or title." He gives a hearty laugh. "Yes, I'm Name the Namer. Names can be quite interesting, and can obscure basic facts. Or they can just sound neat. So many possibilities."

SPOILER: Click to show

I had a dream last night that my trick or treat house was giving names for characters and such, so we'll see how this goes. Nomen also gives out candy if you don't need anything named. Roleplay is optional.

[Moni]

Moni is wearing a very long, curly wig that's almost as long as her. On the wig is a brown cat-ear headband with two little springs coming from the middle. Two hoop earrings hang from her regular ears. As she walks to this cottage, you notice that she keeps crashing into mailboxes and lighting poles.

She needs glasses, you think. Why isn't she wearing them? In fact you notice that her eyes are closed, and... does she not have a mouth? On closer inspection--it's dark on Halloween nights!--you notice she is wearing a skin-tone-colored mask to hide her mouth.

On her goth-y clothes you notice a name tag: "HELLO," it says in big black letters. "MY NAME IS ZATHANDRIA."

She slowly, painfully, makes her way to the front of the cottage. "Nomen, huh? Well, Nomen," she begins, refusing to deviate from character, "I have no ideas for NaNoWriMo this year, and I would like two names: one, the name of the main character, and two, the name of their rival."

[June Scarlet]

The Appellationer starts going through pockets of his work apron. "No ideas? Sometimes an idea starts with the name, and I love a real challenge."

He pulls out scrapes of papers, unrolls one that that you catch reads, "Profligate," and shakes his head. "No, too strong for just a rival." Another paper reads, "Heros," but he crumples this up and throws it behind. "Too on the nose."

Then a thought catches him, and he reaches into the same pocket that had the Latin for hero. "Hm, yes, an antonym could be just the thing here..." He runs his finger down a short list, and points at one. "How about Poltroon for a surname for a rival? A base coward, that's what they are. And a rather humorous last name to boot."

"Perhaps I can use the antonym trick again with the word villian," he mutters to himself, grabbing a book and flipping towards the back. "V... vent... Oh, Velox is an interesting name, isn't it? Latin for swift, it's used in words like Velocity." He peers back at Moni. "How do you feel about having a swift protagonist? Let's go with it, you can always change it later."

Having come up with two last names, he then closes his eyes. "Hmm... how about Sam Poltroon, and... hm... Nicole or Nick or Nicky Velox?"

Nomen opens his eyes, and scribbles down the names using a fancy fountain pen. "Yes, Nicky Velox and Sam Poltroon. I hope these names serve you well."

[downrightdude]

Snaw makes a glamorous entrance into your workshop.

Stopping to twirl and admire the place, Snaw holds out a designer handbag. "Happy Halloween, Mr. Norman! Love what you've done with the place; the velveteen curtains are ooh la la!

Snaw twirls again. "I don't need anything named, but a treat would be just the thing to save your workshop from a suspicious fire!"

[RielCZ]

Riel, under the guise of a person-sized pizza, eyes the Appellationer's workshop with interested skepticism. "Names are very important, and should perfectly represent the object or individual to which they are applied," he opines to Mr. Nomen. "Under what authority are you granted such the power of assigning them?"

He then brightens. "But alright, I'll give it a go. I am working on revising a storytelling competition starter. Please bestow upon me the name of the femme fatale character."

[Lizica]

"Good evening, Mr. Nomen. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," Lizica greets. Somehow, this house feels like a place where you should be extra polite and cordial. She pulls a couple unsightly leaves out of her hair and off of her clock costume.

"There is one character that I've been having trouble naming--maybe you can help me find the right name, or at least help me get on the right track? They're a sound technician (though I need to do a LOT more research about that), and there's another character who desperately wants to impress them with his fancy machines, but the sound technician character is just the sort who exasperatedly rolls their eyes at him. One idea I had for a name was Frances, but it just doesn't feel quite right. Do you have any ideas?"

[June Scarlet]

downrightdude

Nomen grins. "Ah, a treat? I've got just for you!" He reaches into his bowl of candy, and pulls out a orange-brown swirled candy. "Toffee-Orange Delights, that's what I named these. Here you go! Enjoy!"

[June Scarlet]

RielCZ

"You'd be surprised at the power a name holds," says Nomen. "I like the believe that the power to name things comes from my name itself. Though more honestly, the power comes from those who choose to use my services," he adds with a wink.

"Ah, a Neopian name, that sounds fun. And a femme fatale at that." He starts patting down his apron until he pulls out a piece of paper.

"Audrey? Too common, but we can work with that. Aubrey? Hmm... How about Auberita? I think a Neopian name should be something a bit unique, don't you? I don't think there's much need for a last name in this case, though please correct me if I'm wrong."

The Appellationer scribbles down the name Auberita on a piece of yellowing paper. "Here's a name for you, I hope it's what you need!"

[RielCZ]

Riel takes the bit of parchment, reads it, and rolls the name across his tongue. "Auberita... Auberita. Hmm. I quite like it! Unique, with a hint of spice. Sounds fit for a Poogle, maybe a Wocky. I'll play with it." He nods. "I don't believe a last name is warranted at this time -- some other storyteller may very well write one, though."

The pizza-dressed person grins. "Thank you so much for the help!" He then gives Nomen a playful wink in return. "And you're welcome, too -- I did help bolster your power, after all."

[June Scarlet]

Lizica

"Hm... Frances doesn't quite fit, huh? For some reason I'm put in the mind of Frankie, there's a show out there called 'Frankie Drake Mysteries,' and while I wouldn't use the whole name, I think Frankie is a close enough fit. I've only seen bits of the show, but Frankie sounds like a bit of an eye-roller, whether they're male or female or non-binary."

Nomen starts going through pockets again. "Now that we have a name for their personality, let's try something based on their career for a surname."

He pulls out a list labeled "Sound" and starts going through synonyms. "How about Tenor? Frankie Tenor? Hm... perhaps they're a bit of a singer as well, eh? Some hidden talent."

The Appellationer hesitantly pulls out his fountain pen and writes "Frankie Tenor" on a bit of paper. "I'm not completely sold on the name, but I hope it helps you narrow things down a bit. I'm also happy to help brainstorm more name ideas, if that strikes your fancy."

[June Scarlet]

RielCZ

"Anytime, Anytime," says the Appellationer. "Or at least, until the magic of Halloween is over."

[Moni]

June Scarlet

"Thanks, Nomen," said Moni. "I will try to incorporate these names."

Moni trips as she leaves, because she has still not opened her eyes.

[downrightdude]

Oct 31, 2021 17:31:34 GMT -5 June Scarlet said:

downrightdude

Nomen grins. "Ah, a treat? I've got just for you!" He reaches into his bowl of candy, and pulls out a orange-brown swirled candy. "Toffee-Orange Delights, that's what I named these. Here you go! Enjoy!"

Snaw eagerly stashes the candy.

"Thanks Norman!" Snaw leaves the board, singing again.

[Twillie]

"Oh, names you say!" Twillie dons a hopeful look. "I've actually been meaning to find a name for a character of mine. Perhaps you'll be able to help...

"He's the ghost of a scientist who dedicated his life trying to find a cure for the illness that took his wife. Even after death, he's consumed by this mission and the memory of his wife, feeling this is the only way he'll see her again. He's associated with 19th and 20th century Americana, flowers and gardens, and water (namely rivers and streams). His name of course doesn't have to be associated with all these things, but they might help inspire any suggestions you may have, perhaps?"

[Liou]

"The... Appellationer?" EdgyLiou glances down at a very large, gleaming apple, and hides it in the pocket of their chainmail bikini. "Excuse me, I thought this was the Apple Listener."

EdgyLiou ponders what they might have to name, ponders for at least one day.

"I do have something that requires a name!"

EdgyLiou lifts up this freshly acquired pupper