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I don't see why you would have to name someone if your not talking about/of them, however if they are "important" characters then I would think you would at least mention them once...then it woud depend in what context you are mentioning them.

For example: Her mom, the ice goddess, would appear in her dreams at night, guiding her in her new powers.

She doesn't know her mom's name so how would you or the reader. Thus the name is left out, only the feeling that this is her mom that is helping her is conveyed to the reader. Hopefully, you understand that a little...

As for names, whew, that's a big task to ask of someone else. Usually my characters arrive shouting their names but when I don't get the name along with the character I tend to glance through baby name books at the checkout line or look through "Behind the Name" online until one of them just seems right or my character gets all excited about the name. Okay that was one long suggestion lol..hope it helps a little on the names.

Ok, now I have a lot of questions running through my head.

Why would her clan die (or disappear) without her presence in the city of the gods? Apparently her not being there until now has been ok, so what is so special about this particular time? Why do members of her clan die when she dies? Did this happen when other members of her family died or just because there is something special about her? Is she the last surviving member of her family?

If you have thought about all the background needed for this reason sounds reasonable, I guess. I think I would have to read it in context to be sure. Is it possible you can use a simple reason? Like, oh her mom is dying or in a period of her life where she wants to make up for not being there for her daughter's whole childhood so she has contacted the guardian to bring her home. Or, you talk of her not wanting revenge so whoever has done her wrong may not know that and now that she has come into her powers is scared so he/she sends for her to make amends. Conflict potential maybe there, also some drama if you don't let on right away that she really doesn't want revenge.

The easiest way to go may be that she just wants to see where she comes from, who her people are, and perhaps meet others like herself. When your an orphan, or adopted, you tend to have these questions about yourself anyway and if you get the chance to find out the answers you may lean towards going to the ends of the earth to complete your sense of self, no matter the consequences.

Oh, well now that answers some questions. lol, you'll have to forgive me I'm not real good at remembering stuff so if you mentioned it before my brain didn't really think it was important enough to store. Happens with my stories too if I put em down and don't re-read them before starting to write again. I'll find myself saying stuff I already have or skipping so far ahead in the story that it doesn't make any sense at all.

grr...my explorer shut down just as I had 4 sites up but before I could post. Let's try this again.

Google "19th Century Europe" as you will know best what your looking for from the links that pop-up

18th and 19th century europe

Internet Morden History Sourcebook

19th century socialism

Map Room

gl