Languages

Due to the wide variety of races that coexist throughout Penastria, the idea of them having racial languages is one that is in fact not really a realistic one. In reality, the languages spoken differ depending on the nation one finds themselves in. Many languages possess common roots but through the course of history these languages have evolved to reflect the societies that practice them whether through isolation from their homelands or the effect of globalization which have in turn led to the intermingling of different cultures an intermingling which has also affected languages. The common tongue is very much a result of this intermingling but while it is commonly used many cultures still maintain their traditional languages.

Languages are divided into two major division, these being Common Languages and Exotic Languages. This division is self-explanatory, and mechanically does signify that some languages are more commonly spoken than others. And to continue to reinforce that, common languages take up one language slot during character creation whilst exotic languages (unless provided through a class feature) would require two language slots.

## Common Languages

**Astorian Roots**

It is stated that before the first demonic incursion, the northern continent of Phalos was a beautiful land known as Astoria which ruled by giants. Many of the “smaller” creatures were allowed within their massive courts, with many of them being taught the language. After the demonic invasion, many of the races were forced to travel south in fear of the chaotic tide, many of their descendants would settle within the various mountains in the north of Manaarn and in time their tongue would change, losing many of the similarities that it once held to astorian.

·        Astorian – Many of the surviving giants still speak their old tongue, holding on to what little they remember from their ancient kingdom, in addition many giant-kin and goliaths still speak this language.

·        Norse – Spoken by many of the tribes that inhabit the northern mountains, with various dialects existing between them.

**Draconic Roots**

After the doom of Azeir, the surviving refugees found themselves isolated from one another, with some of them heading inland into Devior, whilst others crossed the ocean towards the Pyrean peninsula, eventually settling in the Westerlands. This led to the rise of branching dialects as the dragonborn intermingled with various other cultures in their new homes. In time two distinct languages would arise and whilst there is some degree of overlap there are far more differences.

·        Azerath – The official language of the **Concord of New Azeir**.

·        Kaiserliche – The official language of the **Draconic Empire**.

**Dwarven Roots**

Considered to be one of the oldest languages within the world, runic as it is sometimes called is a very interesting language. As it tends to vary from one dwarven hold to another, this is mostly due to the importance that dwarves give their culture and independence. Therefore, within various mountain ranges one may find a variety of dialects, these changes do become far more noticeable the further apart these holds are. Although they still share many similarities between themselves.

·        Arvynian – The official language of the **Arvynian Empire**.

·        Mournspeech – The official language of the **Mournholds**.

·        Runespeech – The official language of the **Obsidian Holds**.

·        Vydren – The official language of the **Vydren Holds**.

**Eldari Roots**

Initially the elves were united by a single language, this being Eldar, after the betrayal of the black king and the sundering of their peoples there was little communication between the various nations and their geographical positions led to various changes in their speech and the formation of altogether new languages.

·        Asshareth – The official language of the **Dynasty of Malkoras**.

·        Idoneth – The official language of the **Egir-Vargar** and spoken to a lesser extent within the **Primortis Sovereignty**.

·        Silvaneth – The official language of **Atheluin**.

**Goblinoid Roots**

The first goblinoids entered the world alongside Orgrim’s massive legions, an invasion force made up of the majority of the tribes within their realm of Gorakan. Many goblins tribes, similar to their orcish cousins, possessed a primarily guttural tongue that varied from tribe to tribe. This still persisted after their invasion with many goblinoid tribes having settled in different areas and maintaining their old tongue.

·        Elkud – The language spoken by the various bugbears and hobgoblins that reside within the **Eastern Alliance**.

·        Grem – The language spoken by the various goblins that inhabit Asshan and live amongst **Da Golden Tuskers** and **Da Wolves**.

·        Dakkar – The language spoken by the various goblinoids that reside within the **Red Host**.

**Orcish Roots**

Much like their goblinoid kin, the orcish tongues are an amalgamation of guttural phrases, somewhat primitive and that varied greatly from one tribe to another. The resultant languages are indicative of the spread of these tribes after Orgrim’s failed invasion with many settling in the plains of Asshan, whilst others headed south into the Bronze Sea.

·        Gorkath – The language spoken by the orcs inhabiting Asshan, primarily **Da Golden Tuskers** and **Da Wolves**.

·        Mohgaran – The language spoken by the orcs that inhabit the Bronze Sea and widely used amongst **Da Boyz o’ Da Sandz** and the **Tamuran Khanate**.

·        Durnbarak – The orcish dialect that is spoken by the various greenskin tribes that inhabit the Pyrean peninsula.

**Pyrean Roots**

Pyrean is considered by most accounts to be one of the oldest languages to have ever existed. And whilst there are many historical tomes that are written in it, it is no longer spoken or rather a more accurate phrase is that it no longer has any native speakers. Most of the people that know pyrean are scholars that use it to decipher ancient records and tomes. That being said, many contemporary languages do bear a resemblance to it, especially as many of the languages along the continent of Manaarn seem to have descended from it.

·        Ducal Speech – The language spoken by many of the people that live within the Midlands.

·        Henzhar – The official language of the **Henzhau Confederacy**.

·        Khul – The language spoken by the various darakhul in the **Ghoul Warrens**.

·        Ta’Ventrian – One of the official languages of the **Eastern Alliance**.

·        Vermathian – The official language of the **Vermathis Republic**.

**Yuantican Roots**

Yuantican was the original language spoken by the old serpent worshippers of Chultan; during their many centuries of enslavement, the lizardfolk created their own version of the tongue (which was more of an amalgamation of cobbled together phrases). After their uprising, it would become the official language of the supremacy. In the case of the other serpent nations, the empire’s decline and division would lead to the creation of different versions of the language as it continued to evolve.

·        Benzoran – The official language of the **Supremacy of Benazor**.

·        Voltamar – The official language of the **Empire of the Sun**.

·        Arzan – The official language of the **Arzan Brood**.

**Other Languages**

·        Corsantic – The official language of the **Corsant League**.

·        Devoran – The language spoken by the native inhabitants of **Devior**.

·        Norvoshi – The official language of the **Free Cities of Norvosh**.

·        Primoris – The official language of the **Primortis Sovereignty**.

·        Sylvan – The language spoken by many of the fey creatures within **Atheluin**.

·        Tamuran – The language that is most commonly spoken within the **Tamuran Khanate**.

·        Zenrian – The official language of the **Aetherforged Union**.

## Exotic Languages

**Abyssal** – A strange tongue spoken by the demons of the abyss; it is as unpredictable as the demons that speak it. With lesser demons managing little more than guttural roars, whilst greater demons are capable of forming more complex, softer sounds.

**Celestial** ­– The language used by many of the celestial beings that inhabit the outer realms, like its speakers it is an elegant and orderly language. It emphasizes directness when speaking and there is something rather peculiar about the language, in that not everyone may speak it.

**Deep Speech** – An alien language spoken by many of the aberrations that dwell within the astral sea, it is mostly telepathic in nature with no actual words. Possessing no native script of its own, those that know it may project words or phrases although not all may be able to comprehend their meaning.

**Draconic –** The tongue spoken by the most ancient of dragons, it is rarely heard nowadays as very few ancient dragons remain within the mortal realm. It is a language of hard consonants and sibilants that resemble hissing when spoken. The language itself is quite a slow one and emphasizes the first syllable with various dragons expressing important ideas by stressing the beginnings and ends of words.

**Infernal** – A twisted version of celestial that is spoken primarily by the devils of Infernus. The language is described as being melodic and soothing. It seems to favour embellishment, seemingly full of obscure patterns of speech and subtle cues. Therefore, careful planning is required when speaking it. Amongst the stronger devils, it is noted that the corruption and malevolence that permeates every word could drag listeners into insanity after hearing its patterns.

**Primordial** – The language used by some of the oldest beings in existence, the elemental lords that inhabit the elemental planes. It is only commonly seen in two nations, these being the Henzhau Confederacy where auran is widely spoken and the Mournholds where ignan is commonly taught.

**Pyrean** – A dead language spoken by the old pyrean empire and the first humans that inhabited the world. As stated earlier, one can still find traces of the language within ancient artefacts and tomes, as well as some words that survived within the various languages that came from it.

**Sylvan –** The language spoken by many of the spirits that inhabit Ljosalfheim, it is also spoken by many of the elves that dwell within the forest of Atheluin and possesses many similarities to Silvaneth. It is a language that relies a lot on enunciation and body language when spoken and tends to sound very pleasant to the ears.