True Name

A **True Name** is one of Three Names an individual can have. A person's True Name is said to be the name of their spiritual self, a word, or words, representing the sum of their existence. Unlike the other Two Names one can possess, a person's True Name is applied to all of their lifetimes. As such, each reincarnation of the same being will have the same True Name, even though their Given and Taken Names may change with each life they live. A mage who has learned their True Name possesses immense magical power, bordering on the divine, with some even evolving into gods or other kinds of Higher Beings.

## Description

### Overview

The True Name is the oldest and most important of all a person's Names. It is the one that transcends reincarnation, being applicable to each and every one of an individual's lifetimes, regardless of whether or not their other names change. It is, in some ways, the name of one's very own soul. Most beings, including all humans and many other lifeforms, have a True Name, but they will often experience differing effects upon learning of them, if they ever should. This process is known as the Awakening.

When an ordinary mortal discovers what their True Name is, then they will usually ascend to a Higher Plane of existence. The primary difference between an Awakened mage and an awakened mortal, is that the mage can still affect the physical plane, while the mortal cannot interfere with the affairs of their former kind. Awakened magi experience astonishing power increases. They effectively become living gods, though some are more powerful than others.

When an individual awakens, their True Name will often manifest as a separate personality referred to as an Avatar. While this is commonly treated as its own distinct entity independent of the awakened, this is not true. The Avatar is indeed an aspect of the awakened one's soul. Mages are usually the only ones who have Avatars, as it is effectively the personification of their own magic, but a mortal simply transcends the material realm and their consciousness ends up in another plane.

Gods are some of the beings that do not possess True Names of their own. Angels and Demons don't have them either, but those of human origin did.

### Control

Should a person's True Name be discovered by another before they have a chance to learn it themselves, then they will fall under the complete control of that person. Not only will they be forced to obey their every verbal command, but their very bodies and souls are under their absolute influence as well.

### Change

Despite common belief, it is possible, though almost impossible, for a person to change their True Name. Should an Awakened mortal change their True Name, they will lose their powers and return to their point of origin, though they may develop supernatural abilities, particularly psychic abilities, though this is not always the case. If a person whose True Name was uncovered by another and forced to be their slave, then they will be freed of all external influence upon altering their name. When they do change their True Name, a person develops extraordinary abilities that far surpass the ones they possessed before their awakening.

### Sealing

A person's True Name can be sealed away. This is an extremely dangerous procedure, usually both physical, mental and spiritual. It is incredibly painful and can result in either madness or death. If a True Name is sealed away, then the awakened one's Avatar is rendered dormant. This has only ever been seen once, with Chance Mikaelson, whose True Name, Quintessan, was forcibly sealed by his paternal aunt, Freya, with the help of the Seraphim, Castiel.