Spoken
and written Languages used in the Duchy
There are no so-called
"alignment" or animal languages in Clearwater. There are national
modern languages, Ancient languages and secret languages. Speaking
and literacy are separate skills, and must be learnt separately. You
learn to speak a language; you learn to read an alphabet. Several
languages share the same alphabet.
Class skills
Everybody is proficient in
speaking his native language. Spending skill points may learn other
languages. Rank 1 provides enough knowledge to get by in the language. Rank
5 to 10 gives fluency in a tongue, and provides a +2 synergy bonus to diplomacy,
innuendo and bluff checks. Rank of 10+ gives mastery and
provides a +4 synergy bonus to diplomacy, innuendo and bluff
checks,
All modern languages are
class skills for Bards. For all other classes a modern language can be
purchased as a class skill if you are living in that geographical region,
otherwise it has to be purchased as a cross-class skill.
All ancient languages are
class skills for wizards, witches, and sorcerers and priests. They are
cross-class skills for all other character classes. All secret languages
are cross-class skills everyone, unless otherwise noted in the language
description.
Modern languages
Dremish (alphabet:
Dremish) this is
the main human language for the southern part of Drem, hence it's common
name, "Dremish" spoken by an estimated 50,000 speakers. Because
it is very simple to understand and learn it has become very close to being
a common tongue throughout Clearwater, being as widespread in distribution
as the people themselves. It is most popular in human kingdoms such as
Clearwater as would be expected. The language is noted especially for it's
slow delivery - it is the slowness and careful forming of words that make
it so easy to understand.
Barbaric (no written
form) There are 2
main different barbaric tongues, and each has to be learnt as a separate
language. They are all fairly basic in structure, and easily come under the
category of simple languages. The language used in the Great Grey Plains is
most similar to the old South Coastal language, being a very primitive
version of it. The Northern one is based on Assuman (a northern Drem family
of languages) and sounds rough and tense. There is no written form for
either of them.
Darelian (alphabet:
Darelian) Spoken
language in the Kingdoms of Arlorn, Anoria, and the Fisher Princes and has
an estimated 250,000 speakers. It grew as an offshoot of the archaic Magi
tongue, but grew to keep more of the arcane tones and inflections, and so
stayed a quicker, harsher language. Since Arlorn kept it’s base with magic,
quite a few mages speak Darelian. The primary language of all the Arlorn
Empire, it was at one time the most widespread tongue in all Southern Drem
when the Arlorn Empire had conquered all of southern and western Drem. The
writing uses many of the pictograms from Magi script (which Darelian is
actually derived from). A large amount of important history and philosophy
that exists is couched in imperial pictograms to this day, so it is still
an important language as far as sages & Bards are concerned. Mastery
gives a +2 synergy bonus to Knowledge:(Ancient History).
Ancient languages
Ancient Dremish
(alphabet: Old Dremish) The language still being used by higher-classes, scholars,
sages and townsfolk in the Duchy of Clearwater. The Arlorn Empire forcibly
phased out the language when the duchy was conquered, and so use was
considered an instant death penalty. The language was turned into a secret
language to keep it alive since so many people spoke it. Today, as Dremish
started to mix in a bit of Darelian, the new Dremish is a bit faster and
harsher than the slow, soft and wilting (Quenya based) Ancient Dremish.
Draconic: (Kobold
variant): (alphabet: Kobold) Of unknown origin, this tongue was left over from the age of
darkness and although it is not spoken in the lands of men, Kobolds still
use it from even before the coming of Elves and Men during the great
migrations over 15,000 years ago. Even a few Lizardfolk use it in their
dealings with the small Kobolds
Quenya (alphabet: Quenya) This is the language and writings
of half-mythical Kornoth Forest; The deep wilting and soulful sounds of the
Elvish language makes it sound sad, as if to talk of a great fable or epic.
The language is generally spoken softly with a ‘gentle breeze’, a
beautiful, fluting, musical language that is enthralling to listen to,
supremely melodious. The written form of the language has a beautifully
cursive flowing script. Use of this language improves Bards charm ability
considerably, and gives a +2 synergy bonus to perform and Bardic class
ability checks.
Gnomish (alphabet:
Gnome Runes) This
language is a smooth runic system dealing with writing in stone, so that
the gnomes themselves are very close to the earth and underground. Being
used for over 3000 years, the gnomish language has changed very little, and
still looks pictographic in ways.
Magi (alphabet: Magi
script) This
ancient language developed and grew as the first language in southern Drem
roughly 5,000 years ago. Whereby,
magic and an understanding of it is essential to the practice and use of
wizard magic. The words are spoken quickly and quietly with harsh, rougher
tones and the writing includes script and pictograms. Should the language
be studied to mastery, (Rank 10+) by a Wizard it gives a +2 synergy bonus
to Spellcraft checks. Since so few people use it or speak it, the language
is almost considered a secret language outside of Arlorn. Realistically
only mages, and scholars use Magi anymore.
Secret Languages
Druidic (alphabet:
Druidic) This is a
slow and ritualized language that incorporates and revolves around many
natural sounds - birdcalls, snuffles, whirring wings. It does not give
itself away as conversation to those unaware of it. It is essentially for
talking to animals (not holding a conversation, but instructing animal
friends, etc.) It is held secret by Druids, who are automatically
proficient. Mastery (ranks 10+) gives +2 synergy bonus to Animal Empathy
and Animal Handling
Silentoungue (alphabet:
Thieves script) This
is a secret language that is actually a modern version of the old South
coast script. Most thief families and a few merchant families can actually
pin point their families to the ancient Barony of South Coast. When in
public the language is never spoken, although when amongst other thieves,
the language is a soft and harmonious language. It can be used undetectably
unless there are others present who know it. Most thieves use it, but it
has also been picked up and used secretly by spies and some others. It
gives a +2 synergy bonus to Innuendo.
Dead Languages
Hill Lands (alphabet:
Hill Lands) This
was a early runic tongue influenced not by elves as most languages were,
but instead influenced by gnomes. Most occasions were sighted in late cave writings
or on stone monuments in later periods. The Minaia tribes north of
Clearwater were the most active writers, and were equal powers to the
tribes at Clearwater, and so were rivals for many years. The Olgeesh tribes
were east of Clearwater and were easier prey for the aggressive warlike
Clearwater tribe. The people were fairly productive miners, and are
relatively harder working and more independent then the folk who live in
Clearwater today.
Red Rock Barrens
(alphabet: Red Rock script) This was a soft flowing tongue obviously primitive by the
pictograms, and heavily influenced by early elvish scripts. Very little is
known of these peoples who lived north of Arlorn in the Soul-death Barrens.
Secret tombs and ancient treasures are rumored to lie hidden amongst the
ruins and monuments, But nothing has ever been proven.
South Coaster
(alphabet: South Coast script) Spoken amongst all the southern villages and along the South
Coast (with slight change in tone depending on the village), it never
really moved North of the Western Highlands or East into the Great Grey
Plains. It is a softly spoken and melodic language, with vowel sounds and
intonations very similar to French. The language is really just a dialect
of Dremish, but is a bit harsher and faster to speak.
Reading Languages
Reading is categorized by
alphabets. Again, 1 rank of a skill is enough to get by, 5+ ranks gives
fluency in reading and writing a particular alphabet. Fluency in reading
and writing gives a +2 synergy bonus to forgery checks. Mastery in
reading and writing gives a +4 synergy bonus to forgery checks
The alphabets of the
region can be found HERE.
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