A Note on the Naming of Bastards in Aethe

Consider an illegitimate child named Randall, whose father was Jordan Fletcher and whose mother was Nyssa Simmons. These people all reside in the village of Thorpton. The question at hand is: what is Randall's last name, probably?

In Prendor, an illegitimate child's last name, if the father is known, is the father's last name prefixed by Bal-. So Randall's name would be Randall Balfletcher. If the father is not known, then the mother's last name is prefixed by Bel-. Randall's name would be Randall Belsimmons. There is one exception. When the father is of the royal bloodline, the child's last name is Balroy. So if Jordan Fletcher were the third grandson of the fourth son of the previous king, for example, Randall's name would be Randall Balroy.

If the child's namesake has only one name -- which is to say Jordan Fletcher was really named simply "Jordan" -- then Bal- or Bel- is prefixed to that name. Randall's name would be Randall Baljordan or Randall Belnyssa, or would have no last name himself and be simply "Randall".

In the Prendorian Duchy of Courbonne, however, as well as in the Kingdom of Hathaine, an illegitimate child simply takes the mother's family name. Randall would be Randall Simmons.

In Altara, Randall would take that town's name as a last name and be Randall of Thorpton. Or he would simply be known as Randall the Bastard.

In most other lands of the Long Sea, an illegitimate child takes the father's last name or the town's name. Randall would be Randall Fletcher or Randall Thorpton.

Questions?