Gathaghastian TruName

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Gathaghastian TruNames are names taken by many necromancers across Tēbû, particularly those that worship or derive power from Gathaghast. Each name is a unique moniker, typically chosen by necromancers as they near the end of their apprenticeships (some choose their truname much earlier). A convention established in 320 GR by Gathaghast themself for use on the NecNet, the truname acts as a necromancer "passport", enabling other necromancers to verify their identity. Each name, when taken, is written in the Metaphysical Book of TruNames using a special ink called mon ink during a ritual of naming which is usually performed by a higher level necromancer.

Authentication[edit | edit source]

The most common method of checking an identity (though there are others) involves holding up any part of an ear, pointing it at a necromancer who has just given their name and empowering it with a particular "wavelength" of necromantic energy. If the person being identified has just given their truname, the piece of ear will resonate with the truname and make a sound like nails on chalkboard. If they have given another necromancer's truname, the piece of ear flies towards them and burrows into their flesh, infecting them with Gathaghast's Onomastic Rot. Notably, this only applies to those necromancers that actually *have* a truname, and if they have none, the ear does nothing (which it would also do in a region of antimagic). It also does nothing if the target is unwillingly giving a false name, for example if they misunderstood the question or have been magically compelled to lie - the magic detects both the intent behind the untruth and the influence of magic on the words spoken. This process is not infallible, however, and enchantment magic above a certain level, including geas, can be combined with magic such as Dagory's magic aura in order for a victim's words to pass as a regular lie. Due to the potency of the magic that facilitates this authentication method, no magic below tenth level, including wish, can allow a speaker's lie to pass as truth when the ritual is performed correctly. however, although illusion magic is often used to fool a necromancer into believing that they have performed the ritual when they have not.

The ear ritual does nothing when performed on any plane other than the Prime Material or the Infinite Stairwell, but any well-versed death mage is able to perform various other tests to confirm the legitimacy of such a claim, and if all else fails they can simply refuse to accept this until the subject has been confirmed on the Prime Material.

UUIDs[edit | edit source]

Many necromancers follow the conventions established on the NecNet millenia ago when naming experiments, and give their experiments UUIDs that typically feature weird symbols and combinations of letters and numbers. These are similar to trunames, and functionally serve many of the same purposes (most of which are forgotten or unused), but an experiment's ID is listen in a necromancer's spellbooks rather than in the book of trunames. When the name is written, using mon ink, it simply fades away if the UUID was not unique - since the ink is a valuable resource, this is such an inconvenience that it encourages many necromancers (especially those with few resources) to give their experiments long, complicated names. Typically, however they'll name their experiments all in the same way, and lazier necromancers will simply choose something like "SkullDeath45's SUBJECT_auifhiashfgiuahgfiouh" - including their own truname usually ensures that the name is unique. A more reasonable ID will be something like "Ex21VampMix$$54J", which is a contraction of "Experiment 21, Vampire Mix" followed by a set of five arbitrary symbols.

The primary function of an experiment's UUID is to allow the necromancer to quickly summon, command or destroy their creations. An experiment without an ID is usually either a failed experiment, an oversight or too trivial to be concerned with, such as the average skeleton, although an experiment loses its UUID if it somehow loses its bond to its creator. Any necromancer or undead commander-type entity (such as a death knight) can compel an undead to reveal its UUID (assuming it can speak).