View source for Continuity/Viamont versus Viamonter versus Viamontian

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''Viamont'', ''Viamonter'', and ''Viamontian'' have all been used as the adjective to people and things from or related to Viamont. In this article we will evaluate each word that has been used based on the following criteria:
# The number of sources.
# The in-universe sources.
# The in-universe dates.
# The real-world dates.

== Viamont ==
In the text  ''[[The Reign of Alfrega]]'', written by the Aluvian scholar [[Midistaff the Learned]], ''Viamont'' is used an adjective to describe things from Viamont, e.g. ''Viamont lace''. ''Viamont'' also appears to be used as adjective to describe things related to people of Viamont, e.g. ''The Viamont invasion'' and '' Viamont Royal Governor''.<ref name=TheReignOfAlfrega>1999/11 [[Release]] - [[The Reign of Alfrega]]</ref> This text also uses ''Viamontian'' as an adjective to describe the people of Viamont.<ref name=TheReignOfAlfrega /> It is unknown when this text was written, but given that Midistaff wrote, "[Alfrega] was succeeded by her son, Osric, who would come to be known as the Wise,"<ref name=TheReignOfAlfrega /> it had to be written during or after the reign of Osric - 810 RC (-711 PY) or later.<ref name=TheReignOfAlfrega />
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In the text ''[[Aluvian Cookbook]]'', there is a recipe for Viamont Toast, an Aluvian delicacy. This is another example of ''Viamont'' being used as an adjective to describe something from Viamont.<ref>1999/11 [[Release]] - [[Aluvian Cookbook]]</ref> This text was written in [[Portal Year 10]].
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In the historical overview titled ''[[The History of Auberean]]'', an Isparian scholar known as [[A Learned Sage]] used ''Viamont'' as an adjective describing things of Viamont (''overlord of Viamont'', ''Viamont invasion'', and ''Viamont lords'').<ref name=HistoryOfAubereanVol4>2003/03 [[The History of Auberean/Volume IV: Shifting Ways (-888 to -574)]]</ref> This historical overview was written in [[Portal Year 14]].
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The Aluvian heritage mask ''[[Alfric's Bull]]'', created by the Aluvian craftsman [[Alexander the Deft]], is described as being an ornate representation of the heraldic bull of Viamont Royal Governor Alfric. This mask was first created in [[Portal Year 14]].<ref name=AlfricsBull>2003/10 [[Reign of Terror]] - [[Alfric's Bull]]</ref>
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In [[Portal Year 16]], captains [[Captain Nyino|Nyino]], [[Captain Sovano|Sovano]], and [[Captain Anrayl|Anrayl]] all used the phrases, "''Viamont Portal Platforms''," and, "''prevent the Viamonts from reinforcing''."<ref>2005/12 [[Through Sacrifice, Strength]] - [[Glenden Wood Invasion (Low)#Dialog|Glenden Wood Invasion (Low): Dialog]]</ref>

== Viamonter ==
In the text ''[[To Be A Shadow]]'', written by the Gharu'rndim historical figure [[Mansur al-Rajan]], ''Viamonter'' is used as an adjective to describe the people of Viamont.<ref name=ToBeAShadow>1999/11 [[Release]] - [[To Be A Shadow]]</ref> This text written around 1022 RC (-393 PY).
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In the Aluvian heritage book ''[[The D00dz]]'', Vexorg of Thistledown used ''Viamonter'' to describe the people of Viamont.<ref name=TheD00dz>2000/09 [[Twilight's Gleaming]] - [[The D00dz]]</ref> This text was written in [[Portal Year 11]].
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In an [[Zogblaster Archive/Heritage Groups/Aluvian|introduction to Aluvian history]], ''Viamonter'' is used as an adjective to describe the people of Viamont.<ref name=ZogblasterAluvianIntro>1999/11 [[Release]] - [[Zogblaster Archive/Heritage Groups/Aluvian|Zogblaster Archive: Aluvian Introduction]]</ref> This text could either be considered to be written in an in-universe third-person, or by an Isparian scholar on Dereth. If it was written by an Isparian, it was likely written between -15 PY and 10 PY.
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In an [[Zogblaster Archive/Heritage Groups/Gharu'ndim|introduction to Gharu'ndim history]], ''Viamonter'' is used as an adjective to describe the people of Viamont.<ref name=ZogblasterGharundimIntro>1999/11 [[Release]] - [[Zogblaster Archive/Heritage Groups/Gharu'ndim|Zogblaster Archive: Gharu'ndim Introduction]]</ref> This text could either be considered to be written in an in-universe third-person, or by an Isparian scholar on Dereth. If it was written by an Isparian, it was likely written between -15 PY and 10 PY.

== Viamontian ==
The term ''Viamontian'' first appears in the text  ''[[The Reign of Alfrega]]'', written by the Aluvian scholar [[Midistaff the Learned]]. In this text ''Viamontian'' is used as an adjective to describe the people of Viamont. The term ''Viamont'' is also used in this text an adjective to describe things from Viamont, e.g. ''Viamont lace''. ''Viamont'' also appears to be used as adjective to describe things related to people of Viamont, e.g. ''The Viamont invasion'' and '' Viamont Royal Governor''.<ref name=TheReignOfAlfrega>1999/11 [[Release]] - [[The Reign of Alfrega]]</ref> As stated above, this text had to be written during or after the reign of Osric - 810 RC (-711 PY) or later.<ref name=TheReignOfAlfrega />
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The use of the term ''Viamontian'' spiked greatly with the release of Thone of Destiny. There are too many sources to list here, but it is used in character creation, the lore articles released prior to ToD, in new NPC dialog, and in the names of places, creatures, and items.

== Analysis ==
# The number of sources - ''Viamontian'' is the most commonly used term.
# The in-universe sources - ''Viamontian'' is used by the people of Viamont to describe themselves.
# The in-universe dates - ''Viamontian'' is our most recently used term. 
# The real-world dates - ''Viamontian'' has been used most recently by the developers.

== Conclusion ==
''Viamontian'' appears to be the proper term, although occasionally Aluvians and Gharu'ndim have used ''Viamonter'' and ''Viamont'' as an adjective.
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''Viamonter'' was a term used in the early development of the game. When writing for Throne of Destiny, developers went with the term ''Viamontian'' from The Reign of Alfrega. Although ''Viamont'' was still used as an adjective, it doesn't follow the same pattern as it did in earlier work, and was possibly an error.

== References ==
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