forums.cubicle7.co.uk
archive

Well, in the most recent session of the TOR game I'm playing in, the company were given the opportunity to purchase horses from some Leofrings. My Beorning, possessed of Favored Athletics at 5 and a bit of Treasure on his person, decided to purchase a mount he could fight on (a courser, to be specific).

This is cool, but the beast came with no name of its own. So I need to come up with a name. I...really have no idea what I should name a war-mount that's appropriate for a Beorning to name their new horse. So, I'm asking the forums here, where people clearly know more about the world and especially about the linguistic antecedents of the terminology used in reference to the Beornings.

If my character's personality matters (which it might well), he's a friendly fellow, fairly upbeat unless he's angry (but fierce and deadly when angered), and every bit the stereotypical Beorning on the surface, but with a clever and subtle mind he conceals behind his seeming directness (Favored Riddle at 4...he's won the Riddle contest at two Gatherings of Five Armies running, and has the Crafty distinction, as well as Fierce, and Cooking, Story-telling, and Folk-lore as his Specialties, and Hunting and Lore as his other Favored Skills). He fights with an axe and Great Shield.

So...suggestions?

Weren't they a Northern Culture?

How about choosing one of the names on this site: http://iceryder.net/names.html

From Finrod's linked dictionary:

Alftarleggur: swan's leg; beautiful, long-legged horse
Bautuður: old name for a horse that kicks
Bersi: polar bear (grey dappled horse)
Bráinn: gold, old name for dragons and horses

Search in the page for the word "horse". Lots of interesting options!

In the film the horse name they use (Brego) was an old king's name (the son of Eorl I believe). That might be an option.

A few of roots that might has piqued Tolkien's interest:

hros > horse (ross, in German)
kurz > course
hlaupan > lope (to run well, root of gallop)
steda > stud/steed
manu > mane
stal- > stallion (also stall, stable; estalon in Old French)
fylja/foli > filly/foal (from Old Norse)

Given Beorn can talk to animals, maybe bring your horse to Beorn's house and ask for an introduction?

Finrod Felagund wrote:Weren't they a Northern Culture?

How about choosing one of the names on this site: http://iceryder.net/names.html

Oh. Neat! I must admit it didn't occur to me there would be a database of horse names like that.

I think I'll go with 'Vitra' meaning reason (or wise, per Google Translate), since I think the possible plays on words would amuse him.

Mytholder wrote:Given Beorn can talk to animals, maybe bring your horse to Beorn's house and ask for an introduction?

Sadly, timing forbids (we'd just left Beorn's house to head South when we bought the horses). And my character learned to speak to birds rather than horses last time he was there for a Fellowship Phase. Though, actually, we have an Elf with 'The Speakers' about...I suppose I'll probably ask him if the horse has a preference (my character's a polite sort), then go with the above if not.

Though I'd surmise that any pre-existing name would likely be in Horse, and I suspect those don't translate well.

Ask the horse he's sure to Nay-say any suggestion he doesn't like.

Hermes Serpent wrote:Ask the horse he's sure to Nay-say any suggestion he doesn't like.

Funny. But I do agree... propose a name for the horse and then have your Elf friend see if said horse is okay with the name.

If it's a palomino, "Honeycake," of course!