Many, many times it’s pointed out “The Dalish Clans are all unique and different to each other”, “they develop differently as they grow apart, inspired by the cultures around them”.
Well yes, they should. Aside from a shared base culture and a focus on the retrieval, protection and reconstruction of lore and a loyalty to each other and such the Dalish should be different. Proximity to other cultures and local environment should shape them differently. Pity there’s basically no difference between any of the clans we’ve met in game.
Admittedly we haven’t actually seen that much of Dalish culture in a day-to-day type of thing, but aside from a little difference in opinion on city elves and outsiders the clans have all been basically the same. They even dress the same! But still everybody says “they’re all different!”
So I started thinking about maybe it’s because the clans we’ve met have all roughly been in the same areas and environments as each other. Antivan clans are violent. Why? Nevarran clans, despite that we know they exist, are apparently unknown to Nevarrans themselves. Why? So I came up with headcanons about Dalish cultures based on region. Please note that I may have fucked up or missed things regarding the biomes mentioned.
Guess what, it’s another long post! If anybody wants to read these but has difficulty reading them let me know and I’ll make separate posts.
Alrighty by surprisingly popular request, here are 103 modern elven* names.
I’ll post the grammar and such later because it turns out it’s kinda hard to articulate long complex things in your brains in a way people can understand without being telepathic.
Hope these are useful!:
Aisea – Dragon
Aiselen – Child of fire
Aiselan – Daughter of fire
Aiselin – Son of fire
Alira – Longing
Amelath – The One who Loves
Amesam – The One who smiles
Anahlmi – Dancing Blades
Anahlmien – Dancing Blades
Andaryalana – She of the Flowers
Andaryalena – Of the Flowers
Andaryalina – He of the Flowers
Assanbora – Arrow’s flight
Ashasule – She who is strong
Ashanahl – She of the dance
Avellan – She is Home
Avellen – They are Home
Avellin – He is Home
Avhenlin – Born of the people’s blood**
Banuvenin – Wants for nothing
Belsamahl – Plentiful Laughter
Belanuva – One who sees much
Belenaun – Worth everything
Borshirea – Flight of the Birds
Dareth – Be safe
Darsulin – Be Strong
Dahl’anahllan – She who dances among the trees
Dahl’anahllen – One who dances among the trees
Dahl’anahllin – He who dances among the trees
Dahlviran – Paths of the Forest
Dahlyalena – Tree Blossoms
Daisea – Little Dragon
Danea – Little bird
Desenlath – Embraced in Love
Doansal – Taker of victory
Donoahl – Born of music
Donorevas – Born of freedom
Dirthlathir – Knows much love
Ethera – Dream in Safety
Ethall – Enter Safety
Etharavas – Journey in Safety
Elgaralen – Star
Elgaralan – Star (female)
Elgaralin – Star (male)***
Eluvhenan – Soul’s reflection
Enaunaste – Greatest Gift
Enuhanin – Glorious leader/ruler
Enuvarenaste – Gift of the Gods
Fendruil – One who hunts the wolf
Ghilanvar – One who guides us
Ghilariel – Patience
Ghillelen – Child of Fate
Ghillelin – Son of Fate
Ghillelan – Daughter of Fate
Halshiral – Runs with the deer
Hanassan – Glorious archer
Haninlan – She is Glorious
Haninlen – They are Glorious
Ishasule – He who is strong
Ishanahl – He of the dance
Lasera – Storyteller
Lassam – One who makes us smile
Lahnera – Music of Dreams
Lathghi’lan – Love is hers
Lathghi’len – Love is theirs
Lathghi’lin – Love is his
Miashalle – She of the blades
Mieshalle – Of the blades
Mishalle – He of the blade
Misulahn – Blade’s Song
Mirthadralan – Honourable (f)
Mirthadralen – Honourable
Mirthadralin – Honourable (m)
Nanaharel – Rage of our enemies
Noadahlen – Life of the Forest
Rasavel – Here is Home
Revasnaine – Fights for Freedom
Renhan – Glorious voice
Rensi’irahl – Voice raised in song
Riyal – New beginning
Ruilhan – Glorious hunter
Salinas – Victorious
Seviranloth – Finder of the lost paths
Shals’etha – Safe from destruction
Shiraleth – Walks in safety
Shiruanehn – Walks in beauty
Shivanis – Dutiful
Si’irlen – One who rises
Si’irlan – She who rises
Si’irlin – He who rises
Taradahl – Forest Canopy
Tarasyllan – Daughter of the Skies
Tarasllen – Child of the Skies
Tarasyllin – Son of the Skies
Thenai – Beyond Harm
Sulahnsyl – Wind’s Song
Sylanahn – The Wind that Dances
Uthalai – Long Memory
Uvanehn – One who watches in joy
Varueth – Our protector
Varidar – Our future
Varlathma – Our love is yours
Yalarevas – Source of Freedom
*Modern elven as in I based this on the idea of a reconstructed language made by and unique to the elves of the Dales, so they’d be used by city elves and Dalish, but you can ignore that and use them for ancient elves if you want.
**Inspired by the headcanon that the chevalier Aveline was a Dalish elfblood. Probably a common name for efblooded children raised by their elven parents
***The male variant is the literal word for star, incidentally. “The sun’s blood”.
Ok, first things first: I AM AMAZED that Aerys’ hairstyle post (here) got 1k+ notes. I expected it to have at least 200 but 1k??? I could die happy.
Because of its popularity and the many people who want to do something similar to it, I have made a simple hairstyle meme which you all can do. It would be nice if you’d tag me when you post this meme because I’m actually really curious and excited to see what your inquisitors look like 🙂
I am ever haunted by the under-roos in these games. Who is swinging a sword in a strapless bra?!?!?!? Why do dwarves all have to suffer leather mini dresses?!?!? UGH. Femmes got it the worst too, holy smokes.