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[gcaa-official]

a brief session in language and linguistics: fae names

[a brief session in language and linguistics: fae names]

as this week is fae week (yayyy!), i get to talk about my absolute favorite aspect of fae language customs: naming! giving your name to a fae may be a bad idea, but a fae giving you their name is a marker of deep respect, which is why there are only four known names. even though this is a small sample size, many fae, when asked, were happy to tell us the naming conventions of their species and from whence they came.

mukfae: as mukfae are functionally immortal, and none have been born since the beginning of time, mukfae names are in a language that no longer exists, and can give clues as to how the very first language - known as “proto-flavic” - may have worked! mukfae names are pronounced with gulping-like phonemes that are said to mimic the sound of bubbles on their surfae and the sound of the chinchanyashi (most similar to what is called a “frog” in this language) that live in their waters. a source, known mononymously as “geh,” says that most of the names are unpronounceable with a modern tongue as creatures have evolved so far since then that the body parts required to create such sounds no longer exist on most creatures.

mulfae (aka freshwater fae): names are made up of trilling, “mulsong” and clicking that differ vastly from regular muldryn, which is made up of elongated vowel sounds made in the back of the throat and sharp whistles and and the rub of the mandibles together. the reason for this difference is the fact that each mulfae is named with an imitation of their creature guide, which is usually an amphibious reptile, a fish, or a bird that frequents or lives in a mulfae’s lake, pond or river. mulfae are careful not to call a youngling or youth’s name in front of members of other species, so it is unlikely that you will hear a mulfae name in the wild.

seafae: names are in fairy, who used to rule over seafae. fairy is a language that is no longer spoken in the realm as all the speakers have been cast into limbo due to the fairy Uprising, but the seafae, as their closest allies, have named their children after fairy “heroes.” fairy is a language that requires modification to be spoken underwater, but it is mainly comprised of /s/, /l/, /θ/ and /w/ consonants that create names such as swellweather, slithus, and lullwelus, three of the most common seafae names. seafae are the only fae that have their names be in an entirely different language to their own!

arunfae (aka air fae): the arunfae language is not often studied as arunfae are considered a myth – this factoid is inaccurate as arunfae are frequently spotted in more rural areas – so the least is known about their naming conventions, but arunfae speak a whistling, creaky sounding tonal language, and their names seems to be in higher in tone than everything else. perhaps because most arunfae seem to be named after inanimate objects and plants, so there needs to be a demarcation, but that’s just a theory.

bonus! (that xiun is going to kill me for):

nymphs (aka wood fae): the nymphen language is actually unable to be heard by aelven ears, so it’s hard to know what the nymphen language even sounds like, let alone what the naming conventions are, but! there was a pyxie that was able to hear the nymphs speak and relayed to us scribes that nymphs do not call themselves by any name, and instead identify each other with ambiguous pronouns that refer only to the people in conversation. nymphs identify those outside of conversation with their leaf shape or place of origin rather than a name. the pyxie did further research, but they disappeared around a hundred years ago, and did not publish all their research.

anyway, that was a quick run-down of fae naming conventions, and i hope you enjoyed reading it, traveller!

keep safe and healthy!

~ korixe

[gcaa-official]

Tips for Travellers #1: Never give a mukfae your name.

Giving a mukfae your name, or your pronouns, or any title that you particularly identify with can link their majic to yours, which though usually innocuous, can cause an adverse reaction when a creature attempts to use their own majic. The strength of the bond between the majic and the fae is rather strong and is likely cause a creature great distress! It can also cause hallucinogenisis, and result in death or loss of limbs. An uncontrolled majical bond of such strenghth is not something to play around with, no matter how friendly a mukfae may seem.

May the Great Sun guide your travels! | Goirw.

[gcaa-official]

Quick Ikretonology #1: Mukfae

[Quick Ikretonology #1: Mukfae]

Subspecies (in order of commonality): bogfae, fenfae, marshfae, swampfae

Common habitats: wetlands -> Mukfae are usually found around rivers and lakes, or not far from them

Sexually dimorphism? no -> Interestingly, mukfae have no biological sex.

Diet: carnivorous -> Mukfae use the enzymes in their water to digest prey, luring them onto their surface with powerful illusions, then encasing them in peat. they are also scavengers, ingesting any organic, non-plant matter that falls onto their surface

Language: unknown -> Mukfae communicate telepathically, adopting whatever language a creature thinks in.

Culture: -> Not much is known about inter-creature cultural norms due to mukfae being notoriously tight-lipped and increasingly difficult to study. It is incredibly hard to effectively study the culture of sentient wetlands that communicate telepathically when you are a group of bipedal vertebrates who are very very susceptible to drowning. -> We do, however, have an understanding of their interactions with other creatures, namely goblins and witches*. Both of these creature groups have a mutually beneficial relationship to mukfae, with witches being allowed to live on the mukfae’s surface and use their majic and their matter as part of spells. Witches pay to do this, and most mukfae only accept a specific currency - but none accept regular Aelven coin due to its lack of majical residue. On the other hand, goblins traditionally feed themselves to the mukfae in their old age as a way to die with dignity, and any goblins that are killed or die elsewhere usually ask to be sent to their gellewethe to be fed to their local bog, marsh, swamp or fen. In return, the mukfae guard the gellewethe and allow the goblins to channel their majic. -> Mukfae are not traditionally hostile, but their primary motive in most interactions is to play and eat.

Majic abilities: -> Mukfae are largely agreed have the largest depth of majic in the realm, with every part of their being being majically charged. their majic density is large, and usually a person can feel the majic before they even arrive in the wetlands. on contact with the mukfae, all majic will be immediately amplified.

Fun facts: -> All mukfae have what is known as a “tangible form” that looks similar to a vertebrate creature of their choice. This is made of approx. 12% of their mass, and can often be disturbing to look at as mukfae only remember vague shapes and forms.  -> Mukfae brain cells are distributed throughout their body, and they have a complicated series of neurons that leads many researchers to believe that they can feel everything. mukfae are mostly tissue, and seem to only be able to control their waters with a brand of levitation majic. -> Mukfae do not reproduce, and instead are presumed to be virtually immortal, as their cells regenerate at a consistent rate that prevents deterioration.  -> Mukfae do migrate, but it is only seen to happen once every million years. the reason for the migrations seem to be the shape of their nearest river changing dramatically, and of the mukfae migrations that have been on record, it seems that they gather their entire mass into a bipedal shape and walk to their new spot. Goblin culture celebrates mukfae migrations and center their calendars in million year circuits, with the migration being known as Gelleishe Coggethynn or “the Year of Reset.” Goblin scribes have a far more expansive record of fae migrations that all Aelven institutions are barred access to. -> Mukfae are not considered a species with agency under Aelven law, even though much research has shown evidence to the contrary.

Folklore: -> Mukfae are featured in woodelf and goblin folklore, with the goblin deity Wiergunne being a marshfae. Wiergunne is the deity of change, having encouraged Vishe and Gibb, the suns (Gibb being the goblin name for Gyr), to alternate their schedules and bring around day, halfdark and fullnight.  -> In much of woodelf folklore, mukfae are depicted as tricksters and sowers of discord, and are largely antagonistic. The history behind this depiction is unknown. -> In ancient Aelvic folklore (or riverelf folklore) the mukfae goddess Biyrrun is the bride of Fewin, the river god. She is the goddess of fertility and abundance. -> A common superstition amoung elfic creatures is that one cannot remove any drop of a mukfae’s waters, otherwise the mukfae will permanently inhabit a person’s mind and wear away their spirit to lure them back and eat them. There is no evidence to back this.

Please be respectful of mukfae. – Xiun Voriartum

*witch is a profession, not a species.

[gcaa-official]

Why are all the archivists wearing green?

What is the significance of this

Greetings, Anonymous!

Us archivists wear green because we’re of the Scribal guild! Now, way back when, when I first entered the field, each library and Akademiya wore their own colors. But Chancellor Wyint — who was the chancellor before this one — decided to unify our guild and give us a guild color like the Financiers.

From then, our color was green, the color of knowledge in ancient Aelven mythos.

Respect and peace,

— Jillun the dwarf

[gcaa-official]

Loggyn O'Giigeshe [ lock-in oh gee-gaysh ]

age: 68

human developmental age: 24

favorite creature to study: aelves (why are they like that??)

pronouns: they/them

gender: elishe (goblin third gender)

title: none officially but unoffically: official menace of the great wyverul library

[gcaa-official]

Rian Tien'Er [ ree-aen tee-aen-ur]

age: 784

human developmental age: 22

favorite creature to study: goblins

pronouns: he/she

gender: divoztuvi (dradgnyc gender most similar to multigender)

title: apprentice

[gcaa-official]

Goirw Heiaviw [ gai-r hay-ya-vee ]

age: 145

human developmental age: 57

favorite creature to study: mukfae

pronouns: he/him

gender: male

title: senior librarian at the great wyverul library

[gcaa-official]

Jillun Meracleusi [ jill-un merac-lu-shi ]

age: 268

human developmental age: 59

favorite creature to study: trolls

pronouns: he/him

gender: masculine-aligned

title: professor of calodian history and mythological studies @ the akademiya d’kuxunue

[gcaa-official]

Korixe Tsaanwïa [ kori-chuh zawn-vai-ah ]

age: 2072

human developmental age: 31

favorite creature to study: dradgyns

pronouns: she/her

gender: female

title: professor of dradgnyc @ the akademiya d'kuxunue

[gcaa-official]

Xiun Voriartum [ chee-un vor-ee-ar-toom ]

age: 2983

human developmental age: 34

favorite creature to study: syrens

pronouns: they/she

gender: undisclosed

title: professor of ikretonology @ the akadiemi d'scriba

[gcaa-official]

isnt that what the scholars lament tag is for?

~rian :}

(also DEFINITELY should study dradgnyc genders before attempting to translate ANY dradgnyc text. linguistic gender and social gender are super complex :})

i hate scribe summits i hate scribe summits i hate scribe summits

always full of presctiptivist uddersucklers who refuse to expand their worldview to accommodate real life. getting an understanding of dradgnyc genders before translating dradgnyc texts should be standard practice!!

i want to majic blast these people.

~korixe

[gcaa-official]

Please do not use this blog to post personal experiences.

- Xiun Voriartum

i hate scribe summits i hate scribe summits i hate scribe summits

always full of presctiptivist uddersucklers who refuse to expand their worldview to accommodate real life. getting an understanding of dradgnyc genders before translating dradgnyc texts should be standard practice!!

i want to majic blast these people.

~korixe

[gcaa-official]

i hate scribe summits i hate scribe summits i hate scribe summits

always full of presctiptivist uddersucklers who refuse to expand their worldview to accommodate real life. getting an understanding of dradgnyc genders before translating dradgnyc texts should be standard practice!!

i want to majic blast these people.

~korixe

[gcaa-official]

Can we expect to see a species sheet with info and stuff :O

hi, anon!

the answer to your question of ‘can we expect’ is... probably not. all of us are pretty busy outside of running this blog, so i doubt any of us’ll have time to compile one.

BUT!!!

that doesn't necessarily mean that it's impossible. all i can say is, it’d a great idea that i hope we can execute, but the likelihood of it happening is somewhat low.

sorry, anon :{

~ rian :}

[gcaa-official]

What do ppl use for weapons

Also can you make a space sword (atla ref lmaoo)

A salutation, Traveller!

Interesting questions, and as a former trainee soldier, I am the perfect archivist to answer it.

Most Calodian soldiers are trained in swordsmanship and archery, and majically adept soldiers train in majic construction and biomanipulations. In modern warfare, these techniques are usually traded out for what is known as tsauhayn or projectile weaponry. Most tsauhayn used in battle are thrown items and some, however, are propulsion based, through either catapult-like constructions or combustion.

Biomanipulation remains a prevalent form of combat, but the over reliance on majic in warfare is discouraged.

Your second question was quite difficult to find resources on, but it seems that certain spells can weld together celestial power to create permanent swordlike constructions. If you are speaking of making swords out of celestial bodies themselves, then I have no answer.

I would usually say that it is an avenue that could be explored, but to be honest with you, Traveller, there are many reasons why the Aelven military machine should cease the creation of new weaponry.

It has been a long time since I've delved into the world of combat, so I sincerely appreciate you giving me a reason to research it again.

May the Great Sun guide your travels!

| Goirw.

[gcaa-official]

I have a "What's that creature" question

Do you have like a generic slime creature

Also I wanna know about the marine life if there is any lol

Hello, Anonymous Peruser.

For your first question: if you have been seeing slime it is likely one of two things: riverfae larvae or nymphen majicsap. If it is sensitive to water, blue, green or purple, and anywhere between three and ten handspans in diameter, you're looking at a riverfae larva. If it is smaller than five handspans in diameter, non-porous and any shade of yellow, red, brown or amber, it is nymphen majicsap.

Riverfae larvae are sentient, but nymphen majicsap is the product of dendrolyzed (fully tree) nymphs — may be known also as ‘woodfae���, however taxonomically inaccurate — emitting majic that condenses into a slimelike form after being pushed through their bark. It is not technically living but often moves independently.

For your second question: if you continue to follow this blog, a lot will be said about marine life. But one of my favorite sea-dwelling creatures to speak on — Rian calls it ‘infodumping’ or something equally as nonsensical sounding — are west-ocean sorijillum, known colloquially as ‘syrens’. They are my favorite seafae subspecies and the way they communicate is absolutely fascinating. I will talk about them in ikretonology post at some point.

Thank you for asking, Anonymous Peruser.

– Xiun Voriartum

[gcaa-official]

rian tien'er here with the first installment of common misconceptions! *cue applause*

it's really cool that i get to be the first official post on the gcaa blog, especially since i haven't been here all that long, so i wanted to start with something crazy widespread and deep-rooted:

misconception 1: goblins are inherent thieves

most people have the idea in their lil noggins that goblins are kleptomanic to the point of stealing the clothes off your back and the children in your house and it annoys me deeply for two reasons: 1) it's so blatantly rooted in anti-goblin creaturist sentiment, and 2) it's just... wrong?

the first thing that needs to be understood is that goblins have a completely different concept of possession to most other cultures - in that a person only owns that which they have a deep sentimental or emotional attachment to, with everything else 'belonging' to the community.

goblin society relies upon mutual aid and the equitable distribution of resources, and therefore there is very little room for possessiveness or individualism. additionally, in the goblinist philosophy, attachment gives items a soul that allows them to find purpose and can aid them in their efforts to help the creatures attached to them, which is why naming - an open display of strong attachment - is so important to goblin covens and gellewethes (communities centered around a coven, that are often seperate townships).

on the flip side, as we all know in aelven society, or at least much of regular calodian society, ownership relies on claim. if you say it is yours, then it is. and in legal terms, ownership relies on capital - if you bought it, then it is yours.

modern goblins understand this concept, but the aelven notion of ownership has historically been used as a tool of opression — to the point where gellewethe and goblin sacred sites are being bought from under them, making it so their forced to pay for their own land — so many goblins choose to ignore it. they usually don't steal directly from people, but from places they consider “soulless” like corporate-owned solomarkets and empty or generically decorated aristocratic homes.

those who practice this rejection of the aelven notion of ownership are known as gremlins — short for guerrilla goblinists. many gremlins also make a specific effort to target high-ranking financiers (the sector of government that controls the courts and the taxes) or nobles, and rarely, if ever steal from anyone else.

“a goblin can't tell what means the most to me!” you might say, and to that i’d say, “fuck off, pearl-clutcher!” but the truth is, they can.

to a goblin, physical proximity often dictates emotional closeness, whether by an item being directly on your skin or close to places one would consider their space. another factor is personalization, making an item or space unique to you indicates emotional attachment.

some theories have also been proposed that goblins also have a sixth sense for these things (ceilan et al., 17th dynastic year; vein and sythie 28th dynastic year) often known as ‘synwiyr aijectum’. most gellewethes reject research into this subject, so there is very little evidence for its existence or otherwise.

this misconception is also fueled by a misunderstanding of goblin ‘scores’ - small trinkets that many goblins wear either in their ears or hanging from them. goblin scores are their most valuable items, and some may be stolen, but most are gifts, things that they've found, or keepsakes of important experiences or events. scores, in goblinist philosophy, are said to be bound to the wearer’s soul and the first score in a goblin’s ear is the sign of a coming of age.

a better understanding of goblinist ideology and general goblin culture is imperative to being an ally to the goblin liberation movement, and this particular misconception is the basis of a lot of anti-goblin discrimination and contributes to goblin oppression in calodia. if you ever want to live in an equitable society, dismantling that predjuice should be your first step.

~ rian :}

may your day be one of triumph!

tldr; goblins have a totally different understanding of possession to most creatures, and any stealing they actually do is from corporations and politicians as a show of resitance, not the general populace.