Someone had this to say about Ancient Names: "Our forebearers carved 'miracles' into obsidian rock, yet future bearers looked upon them and saw 'strength.'" The miracles of the past become the motivations of the present. The limitations of the past become the breakthroughs of today.
An Ancient Name (or tocaitl) is a title borne by certain members of the six tribes of Natlan, as well as a special obsidian stone representative of the title.
Each Ancient Name is typically associated with a desirable attribute, such as "resilience" or "leader," which the chosen recipient will embody. An Ancient Name is also associated with the heroic deeds of all its previous bearers, and thus, the passing down of Ancient Names is a way of preserving the tribe's history and culture.[1]
Receipt[]
Typically, each tribe's Wayob is responsible for granting Ancient Names to worthy tribe members. According to Xilonen, the recipient must have "done something in their lifetime that exemplifies the "spirit" of the Name."[2] The recipient may not understand exactly why they were selected, but most will strive to live up to their title.
Alternatively, the Pyro Archon can commission a new Ancient Name for an individual that they deem to merit one, although several strict conditions must be met. An extremely skilled smith, a trained Name Engraver, is chosen for the work and forging the Ancient Name will ultimately cost them their life.[3][4]According to Xilonen, the forging technique itself is not difficult, but gathering information about the intended recipient's life must be done rigorously and meticulously. She states that if any falsehoods are included, the Ancient Name would turn out "seriously defective" and could "potentially lead to cognitive issues for the current bearer."[2]
Typically, only memories and experiences of Natlanese people are recorded by the Night Kingdom and can thus be acknowledged by the Wayob to be used as the basis for an Ancient Name. Because of this, only people from Natlan have historically received Ancient Names. However, in recognition of the Traveler's deeds of rescuing Kachina and helping repel the Abyss, Mavuika promises to create one for them, leaving to Xilonen the problem of determining how to accomplish this without the requisite memories.[5] After the Lord of the Night is awakened, she offers them a solution by creating the Pilgrim's Chronicle, which will record the Traveler's past and future deeds in Natlan, in lieu of the Night Kingdom.[4]
The receipt of an Ancient Name is considered a special honor. Their deeds under the Ancient Name become part of its legacy and become a source of inspiration for later bearers. However, an Ancient Name can be lost if it is not passed on, causing the deeds of its past bearers to be forgotten. This may happen if the Name bearer dies in the Night Warden Wars without anyone in their group returning victorious. Mavuika states that Tenoch lost his Ancient Name while still alive, likely due to his status as an exile. The forging of new Ancient Names has allowed Natlan, over time, to replace the loss of Ancient Names by their bearers' deaths in the Night Warden Wars.[1][3][6]
Privileges and Responsibilities[]
Ancient Name bearers are required to participate in the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame. They are typically expected to lead a team in the first phase, and the leader's strength is commonly seen as being the principal factor in the team's success. While it is permitted for a team to have more than one bearer, this is rare in practice as some feel that doing so can give the perception of cowardice.[1] Bearers can become medically disqualified from participating in the Pilgrimage at all, usually from lingering or serious injuries, such as Atea[7] and Chanca[8].
The bearers that win the Pilgrimage are usually required to fight in the Night Warden Wars against the Abyss, although the Pyro Archon can release someone from this obligation. Vichama was once exempted after winning a spot and then suffering an unfortunate battle injury before his team was to be sent, to which the team decided to request the exemption after discussing it.[9] Other than medical reasons, bearers can continue to participate in the Pilgrimage and be sent to the Night Warden Wars for as long as they feel capable doing so. The most famous bearer of "Uthabiti" had fought in twenty-seven Night Warden Wars by the time he was over sixty years old, though this is considered exceptional.[1]
If at least one member of a combat team returns victorious from the Night Warden Wars, the slain members of the team can be brought back to life via the Ode of Resurrection. However, if an entire team falls, its members cannot be revived. The tales of their acts are eventually forgotten, and their Ancient Names are lost; hence the phrase, "The victors shall burn bright, while the losers must turn to ash."[1]
Six of the Ancient Names are associated with the Heroes of Natlan. In the present day, six warriors received these Ancient Names prior to their acknowledgement by the Wayob to mark their selection as the modern heroes. For these heroes, truly "connecting" with their Ancient Name will grant them the memories and knowledge of its previous holders.[3] This was due to the work of the Name Engravers of the time, who made some special modifications to those six Names.[10] According to Pacal, Ancient Names typically do not confer any special powers — the recipient must contribute to its legacy on their own merit.[1]
Stone[]
Each inheritor of an Ancient Name receives a special obsidian stone in the shape of a feather. These Ancient Name stones (sometimes simply referred to as Ancient Names themselves) are crafted by specially commissioned Name Engravers, such as Xilonen (and formerly her mentor, Tlazolli). Glowing characters from the Latin-Based Language of Teyvat appear on both sides of stone, spelling out the Ancient Name in syllabic form (e.g. UMJ ("UMJ," Umoja)). The process of forging an Ancient Name stone also involves engraving it with the deeds of the Name's first bearer, though these engravings do not appear to be visible on the final product.[1][3][11][5]It is implied that an Ancient Name must be "stored" in one such stone, and cannot exist as an entity on its own.[9]
Ancient Names and Their Bearers[]
The following Ancient Names (or Ancient Name meanings) are currently known. The warriors who are among the six heroes at the time of the cataclysm or the six corresponding modern heroes are named in bold.
| Name | In-game Meaning | Current Bearer | Previous Bearers |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRK ("BRK," Baraka) | Blessing | Xilonen[12] | Sundjatta[13] |
| BDI ("BDI," Bidii) | Devotion | Ororon[14] | Sanhaj[14] |
| Kiongozi | Leader[15] | Mavuika[16] | Pyro Archon[17] |
| MGZ ("MGZ," Mwongozo)[18] | Guidance | unknown | |
| MLP ("MLP," Malipo) | Turnfire | Kinich[19] | Burkina[20] |
| UMJ ("UMJ," Umoja) | Unity | Mualani[21] | Tupac[3] |
| UDG ("UDG," Undugu) | Kinship | Tlazolli[22] | |
| UTBT ("UTBT," Uthabiti) | Resilience | Kachina[1] | |
| UWZ ("UWZ," Uwezo) | Power | Iansan[23][24] | Wanjiru[13] |
| VK ("VK," Vuka) | Transcension | Chasca[13] | Menilek[13] |
| unknown | To Seek | none[25] | Vichama[9] |
The following individuals are known to be Ancient Name bearers, but which Ancient Names they bear are unknown:
Trivia[]
- The feather-like appearance of Ancient Name stones may be a reference to the bird-like designs of Wayob Manifestations.
- According to Xilonen, the usage of an Ancient Name to commit a crime was unheard of, and after Tlazolli was caught doing so, it was unsure how the Children of Echoes would proceed with her punishment.[22]
Etymology[]
- The Nahuatl word tōcāitl means "name," "fame," or "reputation." It is the source of the Spanish term tocayo "person with the same name as one's self."
- The known Ancient Names originate from Swahili language:
- Baraka "blessing, benediction"
- Bidii "hard work, diligence"
- Kiongozi "the leader"
- Malipo "payment"
- Mwongozo "guideline"
- Umoja "unity"
- Undugu "kinship"
- Uthabiti "resilience"
- Uwezo "ability, power"
- Vuka "cross over"
Other Languages[]
| Language | Official Name | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Ancient Name | — |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 古名 Gǔmíng | Ancient Name |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 古名 Gǔmíng | |
| Japanese | 古名 Komei[29] | Ancient Name |
| Korean | 고대 이름 Godae Ireum | Ancient Name |
| Spanish | Nombre antiguo | Ancient Name |
| French | Antique nom | Ancient Name |
| Russian | Древнее имя Drevneye imya | Ancient Name |
| Thai | นามโบราณ | |
| Vietnamese | Tên Cổ | Ancient Name |
| German | Alter Name | Ancient Name |
| Indonesian | Marga Kuno | Ancient Surname |
| Portuguese | Nome Antigo | |
| Turkish | Kadim Adı | |
| Italian | Nome antico | Ancient Name |
Change History[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act I - Flowers Resplendent on the Sun-Scorched Sojourn, Part 1: Natlan! A New Adventure
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Serenitea Pot, Companion Dialogue: Xilonen
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act II - Black Stone Under a White Stone, Part 5: Past and Future
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act IV - The Rainbow Destined to Burn, Part 2: As One We Watch the Setting Sun
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act III - Beyond the Smoke and Mirrors, Part 1: All Names are Noble
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act II - Black Stone Under a White Stone, Part 3: Echoes of Life
- ↑ Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act I - Flowers Resplendent on the Sun-Scorched Sojourn, Part 3: Home of the Hot Springs
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 NPC Dialogue: Tizoc
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act II - Black Stone Under a White Stone, Part 2: To Reclaim an Ancient Name
- ↑ Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act IV - The Rainbow Destined to Burn, Part 6: A Fuel Named "Fate"
- ↑ Tribal Chronicles, A Prayer for Blessings, Told to Crested Peaks, Act I: Tepetli Dissonance
- ↑ Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act IV - The Rainbow Destined to Burn, Part 2: As One We Watch the Setting Sun
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act IV - The Rainbow Destined to Burn, Part 4: Despair Engulfs the Heavens
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act IV - The Rainbow Destined to Burn, Part 1: Beneath the Secret Source
- ↑ Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act IV - The Rainbow Destined to Burn, Part 6: A Fuel Named "Fate"
- ↑ HoYoLab: The Brightest, Most Splendid, Most Resplendent Flame Reborn
- ↑ Quest Item: Pilgrim's Chronicle (Pyro symbol)
"The primal flame illuminates the world. Under the banner of "Kiongozi," humanity takes its first steps towards the future."
The usage of the name here implies that this is the ancient name used by the Pyro Archon. - ↑ YouTube: Character Teaser - "Xilonen: The Duty of Name Forging"
- ↑ Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act II - Black Stone Under a White Stone, Part 1: A Decision
- ↑ Tribal Chronicles, Yupanqui's Turnfire, Act II: A Hero's Rite
- ↑ Mualani's Character Story: Vision
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Tribal Chronicles, A Prayer for Blessings, Told to Crested Peaks, Act III - Melodious Chant, Part 3: Wailing Cacophony
- ↑ Archon Quest Act, Chapter V, Act Interlude: All Fires Fuel the Flame
- ↑ Quest Item: Pilgrim's Chronicle ("Uwezo"'s symbol)
"The hand of "Uwezo," filled with strength and power, is extended to all who are lonely and sorrowful." - ↑ Interactable: Record Penned by All
Vichama died during the events of the Archon Quest, and no new bearer has yet been named. - ↑ NPC Dialogue: Cauich
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act I - Flowers Resplendent on the Sun-Scorched Sojourn, Part 2: Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame
- ↑ Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act I - Flowers Resplendent on the Sun-Scorched Sojourn, Part 3: Home of the Hot Springs
It is strongly implied that Atea has passed away after the events of this quest. - ↑ Archon Quest Act, Chapter V, Act I: Flowers Resplendent on the Sun-Scorched Sojourn (Japanese Voice-Over)
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