Special Sub-Topic: Names in Tortall Click Here To Play: Names in Tortall

Okay, I'll start off with the members of the royal family - the children of King Jonathan IV and Queen Thayet. Their first son's name is Roald. Who is he named after?

Jonathan's father. Roald is named after his grandfather, a peacekeeping King who committed suicide after his wife died. He jumped off a gorge.

Jonathan and Thayet's first daughter is named Kalasin. Who is she named after?

Thayet's mother. Kalasin is named after her grandmother, who was known to be the most beautiful woman in the world. She tried to make the warlord stop treating her people, the K'miri, badly and pleaded for him to stop but he didn't. So, she sang a death chant and committed suicide after sending her daughter to a faraway convent.

Jonathan and Thayet's second son is named Liam. Who is he named after?

The Shang Dragon. Liam is named for Liam Ironarm - the Shang Dragon. He was a good friend and lover of Alanna the Lioness, and became friends with Jonathan too. He was a master of hand-to-hand combat and died for Jonathan by taking the arrows meant for him.

One of Jonathan and Thayet's daughters is named Lianne. Who is she named after?

Jonathan's mother. Lianne is named after her grandmother. She withered away after Roger of Conte tried to kill her with his magic. She was never the same again and eventually died.

The last child of Jonathan and Thayet's named in the books is a son named Jasson. Who is he named after?

Jonathan's grandfather. Jasson is named after his great-grandfather. He was known as "the Old King".

Okay, well that's it for the royal family. How about Alanna the Lioness and George's kids. Their eldest son is Thom. Who is he named after?

Alanna's twin. Thom is named after Alanna's twin brother. He was a very powerful mage who brought Roger of Conte back from the dead after being taunted about it. His life was eventually drained away by Roger's power.

Alanna and George then had twins. The girl is named Alianne, which seems to be an original name - no other characters have that name. The boy is named Alan. Who does he share a name with?

Alanna's father. Alan shares a name with his grandfather. He was a stiff man much unlike Alanna, and he didn't care about his kids too much, he was too busy doing paperwork and the like. Also, Alan is the name that Alanna went by while going for her knighthood, since she had to pretend to be a boy.

Alright. Next we'll talk about Daine and Numair's children. Their first child is named Sarralyn. Her name is original, but who does it seem she is named after?

Daine's mother Sarra. Sarralyn seems to be named after her grandmother, Sarra. Since she had Daine with a god, Weiryn, when she died she was able to become a goddess instead of going to the Black God's domain. She became the Green Lady who was a minor goddess. She is able to come and visit Daine only on holidays.

Daine and Numair also had a son named Rikash. Who is he named after?

A stormwing. Rikash is named after a stormwing. Although his kind was known to be evil and vulgar, Rikash was actually quite nice and he and Daine became good friends. It was at the moment of his death that Daine realised how much she really liked him.

What are Sarai and Zaimid going to name their first child if it is a son?

Mequen. They are going to name their first child Mequen if it is a son, after Sarai's father. He was a good man who was good to his servants and slaves and was good to the raka too, who were discriminated against. He was killed by Sarai's lover, Bronau, who Sarai tried to kill after her father was stabbed, but in the end Sarai's sister, Dove, shot Bronau with arrows and killed him.