#nmoc: ezra

[zoneofsmites]

Sylas Maeve has a complicated relationship with names - true names. Names make a person real, and he is not real he is a tool. He is a knife. He is the thing that stalks in the dark. He belongs to nothing but Bhaal.

His own name was ignored and forgotten for most of a century, going by titles like ‘the Dark Urge’ or giving random names to strangers in the rare cases it was needed. He did not need a name because he belonged to Bhaal, he was a knife to be used and not a person.

In the same vein he never called people by their name either. If he needed to refer to someone it was often by their title, or a descriptive nickname (short one, blondie, duster). With a slightly more personal nickname for those he is ‘closer’ with. It isn’t as if Sylas doesn’t know their name, it is just that he refuses to use it. Easier to consider them less of a person when they don’t have a name. Easier to kill those you do not consider to be real.

Even without memories he keeps up the habit, although he does not remember the original reason. The nicknames are a lot more fun loving and personal - less of a description of their appearance and more about who they are as a person and how Sylas perceives them.

Naturally I have made a list of nicknames for companions and other npc’s (as well as some mutual's ocs) which you can find below the cut:

Companions

Astarion - Starlight / Star

Astarion is a creature of the night but mostly Sylas thinks stars are pretty, and he also thinks Astarion is pretty.

Also -> a-STAR-ion

Karlach - Giggles + Boss

Karlach is cheerful but also she makes Sylas laugh.

Boss is said in reply to Karlach calling him 'Soldier'.

Shadowheart - Thorns + Orchid

Thorns because she’s pretty like a flower but more dangerous than she appears.

Then later she also earns the nickname Orchid when she tells him they’re her favorite.

Gale - Sparkles + Chef

Gale is sparkles because of the malfunctioning sparking rune he was pulled out of and just magic in general.

Chef because he is the party cook, though Sy will only refer to him as Chef when he's actively cooking.

Wyll - Waffles + Hero

Waffles as in waffling. Sylas has a hard time understanding Wyll’s speech sometimes because he can say a lot of things without actually saying anything - but it’s used affectionately.

Sometimes Sy will call him 'Hero' because of the whole Blade of Frontiers thing with his little pose.

Lae’zel - Shivs

Shivs as in a shiv, as in shivving. She is sharp like a knife in dialogue, personality, but especially in combat. She is a fellow weapon.

Halsin - Honey

No, not like that.

The substance, not the pet-name. Halsin is a sweet man and they first met when he was in bear form. Hence, honey.

Jaheira - Harper + Crone

Sylas doesn't give her a nickname at first because he's sure she'll rip his tongue out, so just Harper.

Later when she join their party he begins to call her 'Crone' jokingly when he knows she'll be a good sport about it.

Minsc - Little Guy / Tiny (Boo: Big Guy)

It's ironic. Minsc didn't get it originally but after explaining it a few times he found it hilarious (he laughs every single time now).

Important NPCs

Enver Gortash - Tyrant + Ruffles

It was always tyrant in public. However, privately Sylas called Enver 'Ruffles'. Namely because of his fancy frivolous way of dress, but also in part of his more charismatic tendencies and speech.

Gortash is also the only one Sylas would refer to by his actual name on rare occasions pre-tadpole.

Orin - Little Spawn

(derogatory)

Orin might be a bhaalspawn, but she is only a fraction of Sylas' age. Young, little, small, insignificant spawn. (emotional warfare in my shitty bhaalist family? exactly as likely as you think).

Saravok - Rust

Saravok was the leader of the Iron Throne, and he failed. A constant reminder of his lack of achievements. (emotional warfare in my bhaalist famil--)

Ketheric Thorm - Geezer + Chuckles

There aren't many people Sylas knows who are older than him, and he did not age gracefully did he?

Chuckles is ironic - lighten up dickhead. (considering Sylas wasn't a cheerful guy back then either, kind of hypocritical).

The Emperor - Daisy -> Blue Blood / Blue

When masking himself as the Guardian Sylas wanted to call him Ruffles (his guardian looks like Gortash), but it didn't fit quite right to him so he landed on Daisy. (daisy being the EA version of the guardian)

After the lovely little reveal of who the Emperor actually is he earns the name Blue Blood. Which is both a play on him being a mindflayer - with their purple-ish blood - as well as the Emperor name.

Withers - Bones / Bone man

What can I say here that you don't already know. The man is a corpse, he's bones. Bone guy.

Raphael - Kitty

"The mouse smiled brightly, it outfoxed the cat. then down came the claw, and that, love, was that." <- Sylas is letting him be the cat in this analogy in the most condescending way he can think of.

Secondly, I'm sure it would piss him off - and perhaps turn him on or wahtever, idk he is a huge bottom after all - which is mostly the goal.

Isobel - Snowglobe

The protective barrier over Last Light Inn looks like like a snowglobe. Isobel earned this nickname from Sylas so he can keep reminding himself why he shouldn't kill her.

Dame Aylin - Crackles

Crackles is in reference the the golden cracks of her marble-like Aasimar skin as well as the display of her power being quite the light-show.

Other NPCs

Zevlor - Chief

It's kind of on the nose. He is the leader/chief of the tieflings in the grove. Sylas does not change this nickname even in act 2 - he is still chief.

Roland - Twinkles

Funny little wizard twink guy who does magic tricks and wears shiny clothes.

Volo - Peacock

That goblin lady that decides to keep him as a pet had the right idea calling him a little bird that coos. If it ain't broke don't fix it. And with his stupid outfit and parading around, he's definitely very peacock-esque no?

Mol - Killer

She's his little killer! She's killing it!

Mol is also just very driven and Sylas recognizes a lot of potential in the kid, and is generally just very fond of her.

Arabella - Sticky

Out of context its a little odd but sticky as in sticky fingers, the little thief that she is <3.

Yenna - Little Chef

Yenna likes cooking, but because Gale is already 'Chef' she is the little chef!

Githyanki Egg - Eggsy

it uhh, well it is an egg? But just saying 'the egg' quickly morphed into a little nickname. Once the kid hatches it is never going to escape this nickname.

Special OC Edition

Donnie and Sylas exists together in one verse between me and my friend melon. But I also like to think of nicknames for my mutuals OCs that Sylas might give them if he knew them because its fun <3.

Donnatello Arivae (themelonlad) - Sunshine / Sunny

Donnie is not just a Paladin of Lathander (Oath of Devotion) which already makes the nickname fitting. He is also just, so sweet and bright it is almost sickening. (ironic for the half-drow to be so related to sunshine)

Kyvir (crossdressingdeath) - Birdie / Little Bird / Pretty Bird

Bards sing and chirp like birds - although Kyvir mostly plays instruments he does have a lovely singing voice. The point is that Kyvir and birds both make music. Little bird because he's short, and pretty bird because he is pretty of course!

(is it narcissistic to call kyvir pretty when they have the same face preset? eh whatever, it's true!)

Roz'zith (veilkeeper) - Broody + Glim

It is a little true isn't it? Roz might not be actually broody all the time but they do appear to be pretty broody from the outside. It's not actually meant to be a nagging nickname, Sylas and Roz are alike in being rather quiet actually so it's an attempt at being relatable. (where is that +3 charisma going to? not socialisation I can tell ya that)

Glim is apparently Faerûnian for 'eye-catching' as well as 'beautiful'. What can I say I'm projecting my love for the pretty githyanki onto Sylas.

Ezra (wilchur) - Dumbbell -> Bells

I'm sorry but all the insta-fail INT rolls are being immortalised in nickname form. It's ok this is a solidarity nickname, Sy only has 8 INT to speak off post-tadpole.

Dumbbell would just shortened to Bells at some point when they would know each other longer - just calling him Dumbbell when friends feels unnecessarily rude.