Languages

As with any world, Magnula is home to a variety of different languages and dialects. Your race indicates the languages your character can speak by default, and your background might give you access to one or more additional languages of your choice. Note these languages on your character sheet.

Below you will find three tables, each with its own rarity. Standard languages are fairly commonplace and spoken by a variety of peoples - including Dwarvish and Elvish. Rare languages are less common, perhaps only spoken by a single race or even one particular group of people. This includes Tabax and Centauri. Exotic languages are the rarest languages, understood by only a few and whose origins might be completely unknown to the living races. These languages include Old Speech and Sylvan. Practically speaking, there might be certain preconditions to knowing these languages, as they are significantly less understood than the others.

## **Language Tables**

All languages have been ordered into tables for convenience. As well as the language itself, the tables specify typical speakers and what script (or alphabet) it uses. Writing in a language that uses the same script of a language a player already knows, might be somewhat decipherable by them. For example, a player that knows Dwarvish might be able to decipher Greenskin or Arachi writings.

### **Standard Languages**

Standard languages are the most common of all the languages in Magnula. They are usually the languages used in international negotiations or trade discussions.

 Dwarvish
 Elvish
 Greenskin
 Beast-Speak
 Scaleish

### **Rare Languages**

Rare languages are less common than standard languages. They might only be spoken by one particular race or group and, as a result, are usually only used in private conversation or traditional practices.

 Carrionite
 Centauri
 Gnomish
 Tabax

### **Exotic Languages**

Exotic languages are particularly special. They might only be understood by one particular group or race. They are almost never used in interactions with other races or beings and are, more often than not, relics of a time gone by or simply a mystery to most conventional scholars.

 Old Speech
 Celestial

## **Language Lore**

As with everything, all the languages in Magnula have their own history and 'personality.' The list below provides information on each language and how it fits into the wider world.

### **Common**

The language known as Common is the typical language spoken by Imperial Humans and other citizens of the Empire of Man. It was originally an evolution of the now-forgotten dialect spoken by ancient Humans but has since then become significantly more complex. In somewhat recent history, Common has become a widely-spoken language and is the default dialect used in trading and discussion between different races. The main reason for this was the simple script and pronunciations, making it easy to learn. Unsurprisingly, most people are able to speak Common.

### **Dwarvish**

Dwarvish is the ancient language of the Dwarves. Just like the people that created it, this dialect is guttural and to the point. Consonants are particularly prevalent and its simple structure makes embellishment unnecessary. It's script is based on a runic alphabet, with a different rune corresponding with a different letter in the Common script - plus some extra (though admittedly now widely unused) ones. When the Dwarven Empire collapsed, the remnants of Dwarvish writing laid the foundation for a variety of other languages, such as Greenskin.

### **Elvish**

Elvish is the language spoken by all Elves and Elf-related races. It is an old and intricate dialect. It's words and writings are complex and graceful, just like the Elves that created it. It's script is full of curved lines and dance-like patterns, somewhat resembling are more complex version of cursive writing. Just like the Dwarvish language, Elvish laid the foundation for several other languages in the world, such as Carrionite. After the first Elven Dominion declined, the newly created races of High Elf, Wood Elf and Dark Elf changed the Elvish language to suit their own cultures. Though the language is still classified as one dialect, and members of each race can still easily understand the words and writings of the others, each Elven race has it's own unique colloquialisms and slight changes to the language.

### **Greenskin**

Created in the wake of the Dwarven Empire's collapse, the language known as Greenskin is the dialect used by the Orcs, Goblins and all other associated races. It is based on the Dwarvish language and uses the same script, although the Greenskin runes are cruder and simple to write. The spoken word, to, is often simple and not designed for complex languages. Indeed, if it was not for the less-than-enthusiastic attitude many have on the Greenskin-speaking races it is possible that Greenskin could have become the adopted trading language instead of Common - for it is allegedly even easier to learn. Evidence suggests that the Orcs and Goblins had their own unique languages before the creation and widespread adoption of Greenskin, but the specifics of these languages have been lost to history.

### **Beast-Speak**

Beast-Speak is the language spoken by the Beast-Blood races - meaning the Fauns, Satyrs and Minotaurs. It was created after the foundation of the Beast-Blood Confederacy so that the member races could more easily communicate. The language is based off of the Common script, and thus it is somewhat easy to learn Beast-Speak writings. However, it is allegedly quite complicated to learn how to speak Beast-Speak, as it uses grunts and bestial sounds that some races, such as Humans, find very difficult to replicate.

### **Scaleish**

Scaleish is a language created by the Tortles and Lizardmen. It is believed to be loosely based on the language used by their god-entity, which all Tortles are able to decipher through long periods of meditation. Scaleish is somewhat unique, for it uses a script that no other known language uses - dubbed draconic as a result of the Lizardmen's resemblance to reptilian dragons. Despite having a unique script, it is a surprisingly widely-spoken language, especially amongst nobles and the elite - something that is believed to be a result of Tekunatin's many visitors each year.

### **Arachi**

Spoken by the insectoid Arachi, the language of the Arachi is focused more on vocal sounds than written words. This is because of their environment; the darkness of the Under-Empire makes the written word impractical and inefficient when compared to the spoken word. That said, when the Arachi rose from the ground and, later on, gained their individuality they incorporated a more concrete written word, based on the Dwarvish script. Arachi is typically only spoken by the Arachi themselves, and sometimes those interested in their culture.

### **Carrionite**

Carrionite is a language that is used, unsurprisingly, by the Carrionite race. Loosely based on the Elvish language, such as using a similar script, it was created to give the first Carrion Kings an increased sense of gravitas and importance. In their minds, they required a language on their own in order to solidify their dominance over the Dead Sands. Since then, the Carrionite language is still mainly used by Carrionite royalty, but has also been adopted by several merchant organisations.

### **Centauri**

Centauri is the language of the Centaurs. Since both Humans and Centaurs hailed from the same part of the world, it is somewhat similar to the Common dialect, however it is known to be significantly more complex. Centauri is really only spoken by Roylandian nobility and is only taught in elite Roylandian academies that only the nobility have access to. Unsurprisingly, it is quite a rare language to see in the wider world.

### **Gnomish**

Believed to be a dying language by some, Gnomish is the language of the Gnomes. It has its own unique script, though its pronunciations are remarkably similar to Dwarvish. This language was originally the primary language of the Gnomes, however less and less of their race learn it as their kind adopt the Dwarvish language instead.

### **Tabax**

The language of the Tabaxi, Tabax is an uncommon language that is really only used in the remaining pockets of Tabaxi that dot Magnula. For this reason it is primarily a trading language, used when buying or selling goods to Tabaxi trading caravans. It is believed by some that this language will eventually die out as the Tabaxi integrate into other countries.

### **Sylvan**

Sylvan is a mysterious language known only to the reclusive Faeries. It is believed to be the language of ancient spirits, similar but still different to those that the Wood Elves live with. The script that this language uses is known as spirit runes as they somewhat resemble the runic language of the Dwarves. That said, they are significantly more intricate and impossible to decipher. Only a few Faeries are able to understand these writings, and no attempts have ever been successful in learning their secrets.

### **Old Speech**

Though the Tainted Ones usually speak Common, they were taught the language known as Old Speech by the beings they worship as living gods - the Great Old Ones. The Tainted Ones use this dialect to speak to their masters and is supposedly based on the language of the Old Ones themselves. This is why Old Speech only exists in the spoken word, for the theoretical script of Old Speech is based on R'Lyehian (the language of the Old Ones) and no living beings apart from the Old Ones themselves are able to comprehend it.

### **Celestial**

A strange language of unknown nature and origin. Believed by some to be the language of the gods, it has only ever been found inscribed on the walls of ancient ruins or in scrolls and tomes so old that they might even predate the world itself. Interestingly, this language's script changes in order to be readable by all who see it, however the translations are loose and confusing in many cases. Only the greatest and most dedicated scholars, wizards and sorcerers are able to decipher a microcosm of meaning from these unknowable texts. To date, it is only known in written format.