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Title: Ravnica guild names
Date Posted: Sun Aug/05/12 at 6:47pm

theotherguy
Posts: 346
Joined: 04-Feb-11

So I was thinking about Return to Ravnica when I decided to try to come up with the origin of the guild and leader names in the original. I need a bit of help, so if anyone knows anything, please step in. Also, this is almost entirely guesswork, so don't take it too seriously.
Azorius: possibly some connection to azure, but heavy Latin influence. This is reinforced by the names Justinian, who I believe was a Roman emperor, and Isperia, which is a modification of esperer or esperar, which means waiting.
Dimir: shortening of the name Vladimir. Szadek has a very eastern Europran sound and spelling, and I'm not sure about Circu.
Rakdos: the word rictus made harsher. Lyzolda comes from Isolde, a witch.
Gruul: growl, grunt, drool. Borborygmos is stomach growling (seriously!) and Ulasht is just a snarly word, possibly based of the word lash.
Selesnya: not sure, but a graceful word, long and no hard consonants.Reminds me of J.R.R. Tolkien's Elvish. (I'm not so big a nerd that I speak Elvish, but I've seen the movies.) I don't know about the leaders.
Simic: simulate? Simian? Mimic? As far as I can tell, Momir Vig and Kraj are just weird words.
Orzhova: Along with Teysa, very Russian sounding- think Russian Mafiya. I'm not sure if there is a translation.
Izzet-Obvious connection to Niv-Mizzet. My best guess is imitating a Jacob's Ladder or other electrical lab equipment. Lumia is light, don't know Tibor.
Golgari: no idea. Sisters of Stone Death are based off Medusa, but that's easy.
Boros: from Zoltan Boros, one of the artists? Agrus Kos is aggressive, and Razia razes things.
If I just bored you, kindly keep your boring comments to yourself. Thanks! If I didn't bore you, please reply if you have any information.
Date Posted: Sun Aug/05/12 at 6:49pm

theotherguy
Posts: 346
Joined: 04-Feb-11

Sorry, this wasn't supposed to be listed as a combo. My bad.
Date Posted: Mon Aug/06/12 at 8:24pm

Boyachi
Posts: 1553
Joined: 02-Nov-11

I personally enjoyed reading it. I'm just curious as to whether or not the ones with no explanation are due to an inside joke about a person (perhaps like Wyluli Wolf or Phelddagrif).
Date Posted: Tue Aug/07/12 at 9:51am

theotherguy
Posts: 346
Joined: 04-Feb-11

Thanks for letting me know you liked it. As for the references to people, that is very possible. Good thought!
Date Posted: Tue Aug/07/12 at 4:05pm

rav514
Posts: 329
Joined: 02-Dec-10

Medusa was one of 3 sisters called .... gorgons. I believe this is where golgari came from; but it's just a guess.
Date Posted: Tue Aug/07/12 at 5:12pm

Boyachi
Posts: 1553
Joined: 02-Nov-11

Selesnya is close to Selena, which means moon goddess.
Ouro[boros] refers to the two snakes eating each other.
Momir Vig, Simic Visionary makes me think of More-Sea (Mer) VIGor(ous) Systemic Visionary
Date Posted: Tue Aug/07/12 at 10:04pm

theotherguy
Posts: 346
Joined: 04-Feb-11

Good input! Another possible origin for Izzet: Izzet possible? Izzet a new discovery? If you don't get it, read it aloud.
Date Posted: Tue Aug/07/12 at 10:28pm

Boyachi
Posts: 1553
Joined: 02-Nov-11

Having never read any of the books that include Niv-Mizzet, I have come to imagine that he sounds like Snoop Dogg with the Diction of Stephen Hawking.

"Hark, Jace, my Wizzet from another Plizzet. How doth your timeline advance?"


[Edited by Boyachi on 7/Aug/12 at 10:28PM]
Date Posted: Wed Aug/08/12 at 4:03pm

rav514
Posts: 329
Joined: 02-Dec-10

HAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's going to be my new tag line!!!!!!!!!!!!!