Cairn

Naming Procedures

Naming Procedures

  • Settlements are often named after their unique features: the shape of the river nearby, or the large windmill in the town center. The residents then add a noun or adjective: Windy Gulch, Black Tree Fort, etc.
  • Important places should have important names, like those of heroes, religious or political figures, and other events. The Chalet of Saint Ibiz, Queen’s Harvest, Light of the Nine, etc.
  • Proper nouns can be added to or even replace parts of a name, e.g. Bruna’s Ugly Gulch.
  • Wild and dangerous places are named after obvious hazards: Poison Lake, Foggy Cliffs, etc.
  • Some names tell a story: Luka’s Folly, Dead Man’s Path, etc.
  • Use the region’s local terrain and the location’s details where appropriate.

Generating Names

  • Roll on names-formula for each POI.
  • Roll on adjectives and nouns where appropriate.
  • To roll 1d100, roll 2d10, using one die for the tens place, and one die for the ones place.

To name regions based on Terrain, swap out “POI” with the terrain type, and consult terrain-synonyms for inspiration.

Faction Names

  1. Roll on faction-names-formula.
  2. Roll on adjectives, nouns, and group-types where appropriate.

Realm Names

  1. Roll on ruler-names-formula.
  2. Roll on adjectives, nouns, terrain-synonyms, and ruler-types, and add “of” or “the” where appropriate.

Optionally, replace any value with the dominant terrain synonym, e.g. “The Misty Bluffs”.

Forest Names

  • For the adjective, roll a d10 twice, first for the tens place, and then another for the ones place. Then repeat the process for the noun (see forest-name-adjectives and forest-name-nouns).
  • Change it up! The name Welcoming Grove might be more appropriate than Beckoning Copse for your setting.
  • Use contrasting words (e.g. Twisted Canopy) to evoke an interesting point about the location.
  • Make it sound nice. Alliteration and pleasing combinations can create pleasant sounds. Whispering Woods is more pleasing to the ear than Tangled Woods.

All of the tables referenced above (Names Formula, Adjectives, Nouns, Terrain Synonyms, Group Types, Faction Names Formula, Ruler Types, Realm Names Formula, Forest Name Adjectives/Nouns) are published as structured data — see naming-tables.json in the Cairn tables index.