Sunday, November 1, 2009

Character Generation

Cymbrian characters must establish a name and a family history. Many of the following names have specific meanings in Welsh. Some go back to the time of Roman Britain:

Male Names: Aeron, Alwyn, Aneurin, Arthfael, Arthrfyw, Arwel, Athrwys, Berwyn, Bleddyn, Bran, Brangu, Brangui, Briafel, Briog, Brochfael, Brychan, Bryn, Brynmor, Bychan, Cadbad, Cadfael, Cadfan, Cadog, Cadwallon, Cadwalldr, Cadwgon, Caradog, Celyn, Cledwyn, Clodri, Clodwal, Coemannus, Corbaleng, Corbyn, Cunedda, Cunedog, Cynal, Cynan, Cyndaf, Cyndeyrn, Cynfarch, Cynfelyn, Cyngen, Cynlas, Cyny, Cynyog, Cyrys, Dafydd, Dai, Daduidog, Dewydd, Dinogad, Drystan, Dyfrig, Dyfnwal, Dyfnwallon, Dylan, Edern, Eifion, Einion, Elisedd, Emlyn, Emrys, Enabarr, Eoghan, Ercwlff, Eudaf, Eurig, Folant, Froechan (Irish), Gareth, Gereint, Gethin, Glaw, Goronmy, Grippiud, Gwendobar, Gwidol, Gwyllog, Gwyn, Gwynfael, Gwynnhoedl, Gwri, Gwriad, Gwrthefyr, Heddwyn, Heilyn, Hywell, Iago, Iain, Ial, Icorigas, Idnerth, Idwal, Ifan, Ifor, Illtyd, Ioan, Iorwerth, Islwyn, Ithel, Llagrach, Llynmael, Llywelyn, Llywernog, Llywrch, Madoc, Mael, Maelgwn, Magusenos, Maqqas-Deceddas (Irish), Maqqas-Treni (Irish), Meirion, Meredydd, Merfyn, Morcant, Morgan, Meurig, Peredwr, Pyr, Pwyll, Qennoindagnas (Irish), Owain, Padrig, Pryderi, Rhiagad, Rhiwallon, Rhos, Rhodri, Rhydderch, Rhys, Sawyl, Seisyll, Talfryn, Taliesin, Teyrn, Teyrnfal, Teyrnog, Trahaearn, Tudwal, Twdr, Twdrig, Uthair

Female Names: Aderyn, Aeronwen, Aeronwy, Afanan, Angharad, Aranrhod, Barita, Bethan, Blodeuyn, Blodwen, Bodicca, Braith, Branwen, Briallen, Cadi, Caron, Carys, Ceinwen, Ceridwen, Cerys, Cunoarda, Cunobinda, Delyth, Deryn, Dilwen, Eiluned, Eilwen, Eira, Eirian, Eirlys, Eirwen, Eleri, Eluned, Enid, Esyllt, Eurddolad, Eurwen, Ffion, Glenys, Guenhwyfar, Gwawr, Gwendolen, Gwenfrewi, Gwerica, Gwertyll, Haf, Heledd, Heulwen, Llewella, Mairwen, Meinir, Morgan, Morgause, Morwenna, Myfanwy, Nerys, Nia, Olwen, Paderau, Rhian, Rhiannon, Rhonwen, Seren, Sian, Sioned, Tegan, Tegwen, Tesni

Patronymics: Cymbrians include their fathers, and sometimes their grandfathers and beyond when they recite their names. For men, this is indicated by the prefix “ap,” while for women it is indicated by the prefix “ferch.” Thus, a Cymbrian man may call himself Ifor ap Cynan, whereas a woman will call herself Eira ferch Twdr. On rare occasions, a woman may style herself the daughter of a mother, as with Meinir ferch Aderyn. To identify your maternal descent is very old-fashioned or even reactionary in Cymbrian society.

Family: Determine the size of your family by rolling for your father’s side first:

Grandfather (0-1): This is your paternal grandfather. A roll of zero means he is dead. If he is alive, he is the head of the family. His specific role in the kingdom can be determined in consultation with the Game Master.
Grandmother (0-1): This is your paternal grandmother. A roll of zero means she is dead. If she is alive, determine her function in the family in consultation with the Game Master.
Great Uncles (0-3): These are your father’s uncles. A roll of zero means that they are all dead. If they are alive, you can determine their character in consultation with the Game Master.
Great Aunts (0-3): These are your father’s aunts. A roll of zero means that they are all dead.
Father (1): Your father is still alive. When he dies, you will share his land with your siblings.
Mother (1): There is a 20% chance your mother is dead. For every sibling, the chance goes up—22% with one sibling, 26% with two siblings, 34% with three siblings, and 50% with four siblings. If your mother is dead, there is a 20% chance your father has remarried, which increases the fewer number of siblings you have—22% with four siblings, 26% with three siblings, 34% with two siblings, and 50% with one sibling.
Uncles (0-3): A roll of zero means that your uncles are all dead. These are only the uncles on your father’s side.
Aunts (1-4): These are your father’s sisters, all members of your own clan. They may be married outside to men of another clan, or they may be in the church. If they are married, their children do not count as members of your clan, although they will still be your cousins
Siblings (1-4): If your father has remarried, roll for extra siblings. If you already have four siblings, your father’s new wife will have produced 0-1 more. With three siblings, she will have produced 0-2. With two siblings, she will have produced 1-3. With one sibling she will have produced 1-4. Determine the chance of your stepmother’s death as above
Cousins (2-12): These include all cousins, male and female, from your father’s side of the family, even those who are not clan. 40% will be male, 60% female.
2nd Cousins (2-16): These include only your father’s cousins. Ratio of male to female determined as with cousins above.
3rd Cousins (6-36): These are the sons and daughters of your father’s cousins. Ratio of male to female is determined as with cousins above.
Pencenedl: The head of the clan is chosen from the uchelwrs of the clan, generally from the oldest and most experienced clan members.

Foster Family: Since the Cymbrians practice fosterage, you will need to develop your foster family as well.

Repeat the process for grandparents, great aunts and uncles, aunts, uncles, cousins, 2nd cousins, and 3rd cousins for your foster (generally your mother’s) family. Your foster family will regard you as a sister-son.