the Ptarshakkians (ᵖtɑrʃækʰiɑn)
They call themselves In their own tongue, Dakkois Sthenii /dækhois sθɛnii/, “(the) People of the Empire of the Ten Goddesses.” The term ptarshakkian is genitive—lit. “of the Ptarshakk”—thus serving as the demonym for the people of the region, their tongue, and things of their make/style or from the Raidt Region. (It is thought that ptarsh and raidt are cognate or at least calque terms.)
Ptarshakk began as a colony sent from the Ptarshaii Empire, but as the Motherland's prosperity declined, Ptarshakk ascended. Nominally vassals of Ptarshai, Ptarshakk is one of the most powerful—and bellicose—countries in the known world, far surpassing the reach, influence, and wealth of Ptarshai at its peak. Despite this, Ptarshakkians are fiercely loyal to the imperial family. Mischa ab'Amma, the empress regnant, is beloved throughout the realm.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Feminine names tend to end in -s:
Biwas • Khalis • Or in vowels, -a, -ae, -u:
Sthaenae • Optiyya • Masculine names can be rendered feminine by the doubling of the terminal consonants -b, -d, -j, -m, -n: Sann • Zann • Umm •
Masculine names
Like feminine names, names can end in -s; however names ending in -z are exclusively masculine:
Eblis • Emiz • Ptemmiz • Thaeliz • Ummnus • Umniz • Waris •
Other masculine terminals include -b, -d, -erl, -j, -k, -m, -mn, -n, -r, -sh:
Cha'ab • Ptored • Ptraej • Ptrenned • Umn • Umrukk • Zur
Masculine names ending in vowels, -a, -ae, -ai, -i, -o, -u, rarely -e:
Ilu • Mu • Pteb • Thulu • Ujma • Ummolo • Uthae • Washa •
Unisex names
Most Ptarshakkian names can be used across genders, however, voiced consonants tend to exclusive masculine names. No name ending in -z can be feminine or neuter.
Names ending in -erl are usually feminine, occasionally neuter.
Family names
Only the wealthy, nobility, landed gentry have family names, and they function less rigidly than in other nations. Most family names are toponymic with an affix indicating "of," "from," or the like (ab "of/from," "descendent of," genitive; um "child of," "descendent of"; sthae "spouse," apt "estate name," etc.):
Wesso → ab'Wesso; Ptansannae → ab'Zann, ab'Ptsann; Muwat → um Muwat; Umm → apt Umm
Other surnames are patronyms or matronyms; related to clan or marriage partner of note:
Field Marshall Biwas married Daenae → Biwas ab'Daenae; Daenae was of the imperial House Amma → Daenae ab'Ammma; Biwas the field marshall wanted to announce her marriage lineage, highlighting her husband's ties to the imperial house, but also not neglecting her wife, or her concubine Khalis → Biwas ab'Daenae ab'Amma Sthae* um Khalis
(*sthae in this context means that Biwas has another spouse who is significant enough to be added as part of the name, but, oddly not enough to name.)
Other names
In Ptarshishin culture, artists—poets, singers, actors, painters, sculptors—adopt flowery names a mix of Raachern nouns and/or adjectives and add a terminal -e:
E.g. • Firefloode •
The children and descendants of artists can use their artist forbearers' name as a surname.
Encompassed species
Related Organizations
