a name for necromancers

[vindemiatrix]

...that isn't "necromancers", please. These people can walk in the world halfway between life and death and push souls from one side to the other, basically -- they can kill at a touch, or save at a touch, and send those who are trying to stay in the world into death, and those that have crossed over when they shouldn't have back into death. They have a colloquial term, "blackfingers", for the fact that their fingers, hands and eventually forearms turn completely black, but they as yet have no official term and "necromancers" is so over-used -- especially considering that they don't use magic. At all.

*grin* Anyone? Who can get in before AXJ does?

[AXJ]

Who can get in before AXJ does?

Nobody. :P

I can't think of an official term, but, brainstorming:

- spirit walkers
- edglings
- keepers of the veil
- Charons (named after the storied boatman)
- Orpheans

[vindemiatrix]

Latter two would not work as it is not set in our world, and I try not to borrow anything from our mythology if I can help it. Edglings is interesting though, definitely a possible; the other two are a bit too unofficial. In the world magic-users with the ability to use magic naturally are Talents, whereas those who study and study and force it upon themselves are usually called Wizards, but that term has extended to include any magic-user from Spire whereas those who study their way into magic outside Spire are sometimes now lumped in with the Talents anyway. Witches and Priestesses serve either side of a dual goddess, and usually have only small amounts of the inborn talent. Also, anyone, Talents or Wizards, who use their magic in conjunction with technology, are possibly called Shriners. So I need something along those lines -- a snappy one-word sort of thing.

I'm considering calling the bit between life and death the between, or something; it's basically our world in a sort of cloudy black and white, and time runs a bit slower, and you can see everything that you would in the normal world except as again, it's cloudy and grey and the only colour is people's souls, which may look like fire if I decide that isn't too cliché. There's a constant sense of colour behind you, at the edges of your vision, and a sense of darkness just ahead that moves with you as you walk around.

So if that proves helpful to anyone... *grin* Excuse the ramble, I'm at work.

[AXJ]

Mmkay, that makes sense. I'll think on it some.

One note, though:

Also, anyone, Talents or Wizards, who use their magic in conjunction with technology, are possibly called Shriners.

I'm not sure if it matters, but in the US that term is STRONGLY associated with an organization of (mostly older) men- they sort of have that secret rites sort of thing going on, most of it based on middle eastern stuff, but mostly they just drink a lot, look funny, and do a lot of charity work. They're known for the distinctive red fez they wear:

http://www.columbuschildrens.com/gd/applications/news/mediafiles/shriner/Shriner_lr.jpg

These guys collect money outside of shopping centers and whatnot, and operate a couple of not-for-profit hospitals.

Don't know if that matters at all, but if you say 'shriner' in many parts of the US, this is the first thing people will think of.

[vindemiatrix]

Hence the possibly -- I knew I'd seen it somewhere before! ACK. Thanks for pointing that one out and I will change it immediately! It already bothered me -- I knew I'd seen it somewhere -- but now it will just bug the hell out of me. Oh well, I bet I can think of something new pretty quick, it's these necromancers I have trouble with...

[AXJ]

Oh, I meant to tell you earlier: you're laying down some seriously awesome concepts, here. Like, big-time. I'm kinda hoping you'll need a beta reader. :)

[vindemiatrix]

:D I am flattered right down to the tips of my tiny little toes, and would love to take you up on that offer -- assuming it was an offer and not just a glitch in the Matrix. However I'm afraid you may be severely disappointed as in practice I believe my writing to be very boring. *coughs*

[Sulis]

Wow, I second AXJ on the beta offer... That sounds muchly cool.

And for your necromancers:

Necrites
harmonians

And you could call the space between life and death The Verge, and people who spend a lot of time there... *ducks*

[Aimless]

Shrouders? ;)

I decided to use "necromancers" for my equivalent precisely because it's such a conventional term, but your aren't really necromancers at all so your desire to have another name is perfectly justified.

If "Blackfingers" is the colloquial name then I'm thinking the formal name should be somewhat more complicated than a single short common word. Back later with more ideas ;)

[vindemiatrix]

Wow, I second AXJ on the beta offer... That sounds muchly cool.

And for your necromancers:

Necrites
harmonians

And you could call the space between life and death The Verge, and people who spend a lot of time there... *ducks*

*falls over giggling*

I am a sucker for awful puns. *grin*

If "Blackfingers" is the colloquial name then I'm thinking the formal name should be somewhat more complicated than a single short common word.

Why so?

[Ariella]

Oooh, wow....this does sound like an AWESOME concept. (post whatever you write of it plz!)

I'd say just Walkers?
Edgewalkers, if you needed a longer term.

[Emperor]

well, vinde. i also offer myself as a beta reader but instantly i know i am of no function so yeah

. ofcourse if anyone i spoke to regular ask me to read there work i would, as i know how hard it is to get my stuff read even once :D

anyway, let dabble with words

ok, necro referes to death and mancer is to manipulation of a state

so we have nether twisters
soul reapers
life trader
mortalitists
netheric
spirters
death wardens

also so hummours versions

apperintice necrophilic
corspe lovers
coffin robbers
and that all i come with this late

[vindemiatrix]

Oooh, wow....this does sound like an AWESOME concept. (post whatever you write of it plz!)

I think I will have to now, although I know it'll disappoint. It's slow-starting and it's not really about any of these concepts, merely about a chick from a backwards village who is one of these necrothingies and ends up ending a war. It sounds incredibly cliché, and it is in places, I guess, but I like it anyway!

I'd say just Walkers?
Edgewalkers, if you needed a longer term.

I love you like whoa. <3 Perfect perfect perfect. Walkers is great. I don't know if I'll find better.

Emperor -- I won't need much beta-reading in grammar, but if you want to read it as I go and tell me what you think that would be brilliant! I value your opinion a HELL of a lot. Also, I think I need to use some of your names as well -- corpse lovers made me grin, and death wardens is great! I may use Wardens, even, for this or something else.

[girlunquestioned]

Just because I can, I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and offer my editing services! They are at your command.

You'd think I have no life, but the funny thing is, I do.

[Emperor]

always the pleasure vinde