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Okoto and Names

Trijhak

Entry posted by Trijhak

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Given how most of the characters of Okoto have dull names like 'Protector of FIre', with only Ekimu, Makuta, and Kulta (Skull Grinder) being the only non-Toa with names, I'm going to be assuming that names are earned on Okoto, not simply given, and that it is very disrespectful on Okoto to name yourself without consulting whoever is in the leading positions first. Ekimu and Makuta earned their names through mask-making. Kulta named themself, and dishonoured the people of Okoto by doing so. As a result, Kulta was cursed to live forever, beyond death, and is now literally a bitter skeleton of their former self. The Toa were already named because of prophecies.

 

The Protectors, on the other hand, are referred to as whatever element they're supposed to protect. Protector of Fire would be referred to as 'Fire', as it is both a title and a name, and also because saying Protector every time is a bit of a mouthful. Being a Protector is a big deal because they're the main defence for the region they inhabit when Toa aren't around to save them.

 

Names on Okoto are very sparse. To have one indicates a lot of prestige and honour, or, in the worst case, a curse and dishonour. In extremely rare cases, it can mean both, as with Makuta. Honoured for Mask-Making, dishonoured for the whole Ekimu thing.

 

At least this is my explanation for the lack of names on Okoto.

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SPIRIT

Oooooooooooooooor...
 
The names in Okoto work similar to names in the world of Earthsea, where you can only cast magic on people whose names you know.  Thus most wizards go by nicknames to avoid being the victim of other wizards' magic.  The idea of an everyday name as opposed to a secret "true" name does show up in a few cultures around the world, so if there is an explanation other than them being too cheap to copyright enough names, that could very well be it.
 
There's also an interesting parallel that can be made to the culture of the Internet, where many people go by screen names to hide their true identity so that others cannot get power over them.
 
This post brought to you by SPIRIT's anthropology degree.

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