Unnecessary Syllables
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Sia
Date Posted: 15th April 2026
Characters: R'divale
Description: Redivale chooses his name
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 2, day 1 of Turn 13
}: Your name is wrong.:{ Gorvagath said.
Redivale looked stupidly, momentarily confused that Gorvagath would say that with his mouth full. It was such an odd sensation, hearing the low, almost humanlike voice echo in his mind while the brown's jaw worked at the meat in his mouth before swallowing.
"What?" Redivale asked.
}: Your name. Redivale. That man called you Redivale. :{ Gorvagath repeated. }: That's wrong. :{
Oh. That man. M'thos, probably. A member of the weyrlingstaff had touched his shoulder and asked if he was all right. Checked that Gorvagath was eating properly, that neither of them had any injuries. He couldn't remember what he'd said in response, or which one it was.
**I haven't told him my new name yet.** Redivale thought, squinting his eyes a little in the effort to try and speak into his brown's mind. Gorvagath chuffed a half-humoured laugh at the attempt, as if something so natural as talking to his chosen would be anything but effortlessly easy.
}: You don't have one? :{ Gorvagath asked, nearly in disbelief. }: You have had turns to think about it.:{
"Well it's not like-" Redivale frowned, scrunching his face again. **It's not a new name. Some riders have that name already.**
}: This is not a complex problem.:{ Gorvagath argued. }: Remove unnecessary syllables.:{
Redivale snorted. He shoved his hand into the bucket with a wet squelch and pulled out another fistful of meat for Gorvagath to take. "All right, know-it-all." **What syllables are unnecessary, then?**
Gorvagath considered a moment. }: R'vale?:{
**I have a cousin R'vail.** Redivale said. That was the disadvantage of having too many family members as dragonriders. All the good elisions were gone.
}: My sympathies.:{ Gorvagath said dryly. }: Re'vale?:{
**That's not how you elide at all.** Redivale said. **And I shouldn't lose the D. Everyone on my paternal side has used 'Redi' as part of the name.**
That gave the brown pause. Gorvagath blinked. }: Is your father not R'vayn.:{
"Shut up."
}: Sounds like it's only important for a little while.:{
**Hey!** Redivale exclaimed. "Hm. R'divale?" It tumbled awkwardly from his mouth, testing out the sound and syllables.
Gorvagath could have wrinkled his nose if he could. }: That's hardly different from your old name.:{
"It is not!"
}: R'dival? R'dval? :{
**No! The 'vale' is important too.**
}: Oh for- so there's nothing unnecessary, is there?:{ Gorvagath snorted and shook his block brown head. }: Fine! Call yourself whatever. R'divale. I guess it could be worse. R'ale. V'ale:{
**See! R'ale would be so much worse.** R'divale paused, realization dawning on him in another stupid wave. "You have no idea how this works." He said flatly.
}: You're the one that was thinking about changing your name. I just brought it up.:{
R'divale huffed. He watched Gorvagath tear into another piece of meat. "R'divale." He repeated.
}: It'll suffice, I suppose.:{ Gorvagath said.
"You're going to be insufferable, aren't you?"
}: No.:{ Gorgavath said with utmost certainty. }: I am _right_. There's a difference.:{
R'divale doubted that. He opened his mouth to say so, but the words didn't quite come. It didn't really matter. The name fit. Simple. Easy.
This would be the only 'easy' thing about weyrling training.
Last updated on the May 1st 2026