Surname

Surname registries are located in every city to create, register, and share a surname (or last name).

Requirements

Level

Characters who are creating a new name or changing to an unregistered name must be at least level 20. Characters under level 20 can still take on a name being shared by the leader of a group, or take on their spouse's name.

Fees

Creating a surname is FREE of charge. Changing a surname will cost 50,000 silvers to Basic subscribers and can be performed once every 30 days, and cost 5,000 silvers for Premium subscribers, who can change every 7 days. Registration will still cost 100,000 to Basic and 10,000 to Premium.

Grammar

When creating or changing a name, make sure to type it EXACTLY as you wish it to appear. The system is somewhat flexible with regard to mixed capitalization. Limited use of apostrophes and hyphens is permitted.

Elven Cultural Surnames

Members of the Elven Houses can include their House name as part of their surname. They must show their chosen surname first, then use the Profile and/or FLAG/SET commands. Example of such a name: Rondarr Myconhart Ardenai. Rondarr is evidently of the Ardenai culture or House.

Surname Registry Options

CREATE

• Ask clerk about create

The clerk replies, "If you wish to declare a surname for yourself, we will help you.  If we determine after searching our records that the name you request is appropriate and available, it will be granted to you.  Only names that have not been registered or reserved by someone else are available."

• Ask clerk to create <name>

Example: Ask clerk to create Ta'Illistonian

This will create a new surname.

CHANGE

• Ask clerk about change

After a pause, the clerk continues, "If it's your name you're looking to change, just say so!  You can ask me to CHANGE NAME TO whatever you had in mind.  If it's your spouse's name you'd like to share, you can ask me to CHANGE NAME TO SPOUSE.  You can also elect to take on a name that has just been shared with you."

• Ask clerk to change name to <name>

Example: Ask clerk to change name to Ta'Vaalorian

This will change a character's surname from what it was previously to a different one.

REGISTER

• Ask clerk about register

The clerk says, "If you'd like to keep your present surname for your own use, you can ask me to REGISTER it.  If you'd like to allow those in your group to share your surname, you can ask me to SHARE your name.  They will then be able to CHANGE their surname to yours, should they so choose."

The clerk continues, "Once your surname is registered, it cannot be claimed by others without your permission.  Registration lasts a year, and you will be notified when that time period is within a month of expiring, so that you can RENEW it.  The cost is 10000 silvers."

• Ask clerk to register <name>

Example: Ask clerk to register Ta'Vaalorian

This will register a surname you created so that no other character in GemStone IV can have this name, unless it is shared with them.

RENEW

• Ask clerk about renew

The clerk says, "Renewal lasts for one year starting from today and costs 10000 silvers."
The clerk says, "It is wonderful that you wish to renew for your surname again Person, but you have already paid enough in advance!  You have 225 days before your renewal is due."

The clerk says, "If you wish to renew anyway, please ask me again and CONFIRM your renewal."

• Ask clerk to renew <name>

Example: Ask clerk to renew Ta'Vaalorian

This will renew your registered name for another year and must be done yearly in order to prevent others from choosing the same name without your permission.

RESERVE

• Ask clerk about reserve

Not a currently available feature

The clerk says, "Reserving your surname will prevent it from being shared, either by you or by others to whom you've given it in the past.  It will, however, still be open to other characters on your account.  Although this service is not yet available, we will be offering it in the future."

SHARE

• Ask clerk about share

The clerk says, "If you'd like to bequeath your name to others in your current group, you can ask me to SHARE MY NAME.  Well, your name, but pretend that was you speaking.  Anyway, that will give your current group members a chance to ask me to CHANGE their name to yours, though the option expires after thirty seconds."

• Ask clerk to share <name>

Example: Ask clerk to share Ta'Vaalorian

This gives others in your group permission to change their surname to yours. Permission ends after 30 seconds, and you will have to share it again if they run out of time.

CANCEL

• Ask clerk about cancel

The clerk blinks and says, "Cancel what?  I didn't know you wanted something."

• Ask clerk to cancel <option>

Example: Ask clerk to cancel share

If you change your mind about a request, you can cancel it.

HELP

• Ask clerk about help

The clerk says, "If you would like to create a surname for the first time I can assist you.  Ask me about how to CREATE a new name for details."

The clerk continues, "You can register your existing surname, which will prevent others from registering it for themselves.  For more information about that, ask me about REGISTER.  In the future, you will be able to RESERVE your surname, which I'll explain in greater detail if you ask me about it."

The clerk adds, "If you'd like to share your surname with the others in your current group, you can ask me to SHARE your name.  If you'd like to take on a new surname, you can ask me to CHANGE NAME to something new, although this will only work for taking on the name of your spouse, or on names that have just been shared by someone in your group."

The clerk concludes, "If you are married, you can ask me to CHANGE NAME TO SPOUSE and if both of you are present, I will record your spouse's last name as yours."

The CHANGE NAME TO SPOUSE option is only available for those who have had a Cathedral Wedding. If the characters were married civilly, one character would share the name so that the other can take the same name.

Flag Settings

• FLAG showlastname on

This flag setting will enable a character's last name to be shown on his/her profile as well as when someone LOOKs at them.

Locations

Surname offices may be found at:

Town	Room/Building	Portal Description
Wehnimer's Landing	Moot Hall, Upstairs Corridor	a wide archway
Icemule Trace	Clovertooth Hall, Clerks Suite	an arched oaken door
Kharam Dzu	Golvern and Dragonstail	a dark cave
Solhaven	North Market Pier	a salt-stained shack
River's Rest	River Road	a small wooden cottage
Zul Logoth	Crystalline Cavern	a rusty metal door
Ta'Illistim	BriarStone Keep	a small stone cottage
Ta'Vaalor	Wyvern Keep, Lobby	a glass-paned door
Cysaegir	Copse	a low stone gate
Mist Harbor	Honeysuckle Avenue	a green-shuttered cottage

Resources

• Surname system (saved posts)