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Sep. 3rd, 2006 12:36 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beccastareyesOkay, so this is for the urban fantasy thing I'm trying to get the worldbuilding done on.
So, I have this group. They have special powers* -- most notably the ability to ward against and exorcise all kinds of spirits. They were originally organized in ancient Greece, and spread to Rome, then were absorbed into the Catholic Church when Rome fell. They were semi-divorced from the Church in the Reformation (at least in Protestant-dominated areas of Europe), and were spread through Europe's imperialist kick. Currently things are pretty loosely organized -- think like scientists**. They also are no longer exclusively Christian, though they still have the history.
I'm trying to come up with what they call themselves. Something Greek or Latin might work. A Christian term might also work. I'm currently toying with words for 'guardians' or 'warders/wardens' -- Ancient Greek for guard is 'philakas' (I think). Latin's no help here, since the root leads to 'custodian', which gives me images of mops.
* They currently believe it comes from great faith or God's favor. Others call it magic.
** By that I mean, they tend to be clumped into small groups based on where they work, but all the small groups talk to one another and share information, even if they have no formal ties and can bicker like schoolkids occasionally. And, yes, I tend to relate things to academia when I can. I'm nerdy like that.
So, I have this group. They have special powers* -- most notably the ability to ward against and exorcise all kinds of spirits. They were originally organized in ancient Greece, and spread to Rome, then were absorbed into the Catholic Church when Rome fell. They were semi-divorced from the Church in the Reformation (at least in Protestant-dominated areas of Europe), and were spread through Europe's imperialist kick. Currently things are pretty loosely organized -- think like scientists**. They also are no longer exclusively Christian, though they still have the history.
I'm trying to come up with what they call themselves. Something Greek or Latin might work. A Christian term might also work. I'm currently toying with words for 'guardians' or 'warders/wardens' -- Ancient Greek for guard is 'philakas' (I think). Latin's no help here, since the root leads to 'custodian', which gives me images of mops.
* They currently believe it comes from great faith or God's favor. Others call it magic.
** By that I mean, they tend to be clumped into small groups based on where they work, but all the small groups talk to one another and share information, even if they have no formal ties and can bicker like schoolkids occasionally. And, yes, I tend to relate things to academia when I can. I'm nerdy like that.
