Valyan

The Valyans are an oppressed people with a cultural affinity for machines. Although widely spread across Azimuth, the Valyans retain a sovereign home in the form of the Valya Free States.

Their hair is nearly always red when not black, usually with large eyes and very pale, almost white complexions; commonly with freckles.

Valyans are unique in that they have matrynomic surnames: ie. a suffixed form of their mother's first name. The endings are 'mar' for sons and 'dotya' for daughters. In addition, the last syllable is dropped with girls. For example, if the mother's given name is Tenya, a son's surname would be Tenyamar, while a daughter's would be Tendotya.

The informal nature of Valyans leaves much room for variation, however, and many exceptions can be found. For example, repeated syllables are generally not used if they would otherwise occur; so a daughter of Feodora would not have the surname Feododotya but Feodotya and a son of Gelma would not use Gelmamar, but Gelmar.

Names

Erok, Rodrick, Feodora, Solgren, Thol, Gratess, Ulmik, Rala, Lokan, Londhark, Tethys, Gelma, Livna

Culture

See also: Valyan Mythology