Honest Language?

[jaker2003]

I read Eragon and its sequel, Eldest; It got me to thinking about a language that prevents you from lying when you speak it. So I came up with an idea for an artifact, probably placed far to the north of the campaign world, called the Speaking Stone.

I see it as a large polished sphere on a stand. It could have every word of an archaic language engraved on its surface. The artifact would generate a zone of truth effect for the whole or most of the campaign world, limited to the language engraved on it. Anyone who touches the stone can read the language as comprehend langauge.

What do you all think?

 

[SteelDraco]

In my campaign, it's not possible to lie in Celestial.

As to your idea... who would build such a thing, and why?

 

[ValhallaGH]

In my campaign, it's not possible to lie in Celestial.

Out of curiosity, is it possible to leave things out?

 

[SteelDraco]

Sure. But a direct, conscious lie just won't come out.

 

[GreatLemur]

Just for the record--and because I like saying it--the Eragon kid stole that concept and his whole magic system from Ursula K. LeGuin.

As to your idea... who would build such a thing, and why?

Pretty handy place to make diplomatic agreements and business deals, I'd say.

 

[Nifft]

I see it is time once more to pimp my language rules.

BTW: the "no lying in Celestial" thing works really well in game.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Cheiromancer]

Really cool language rules, Nifft.

How do you enforce the "oaths sworn in infernal are binding" rule?

 

[Nifft]

How do you enforce the "oaths sworn in infernal are binding" rule?

Heavy-handed plot trickery... as horribly and literally as possible, if someone tries to weasel out of one. (Of course, fulfilling the letter while screwing over the intent is looked upon with pleasure by the agency of enforcement, so there is some room to wiggle.)

But so far, the players have been very, very careful. Only three infernal oaths so far, and no willful neglect. I do plan on using an infernal oath as a plot point soon. I'll report back how it went when the episode is concluded.

Cheers, -- N

 

[jaker2003]

Just for the record--and because I like saying it--the Eragon kid stole that concept and his whole magic system from Ursula K. LeGuin.

Are you refering to Wizard of Earthsea and related books? I remember reading some in grade school and hihg school, I believe that magic was done in the ancient language of dragons, names had power, you couldn't lie in the language, and some underlying hint that dragons reshape the world when they try to lie.
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Really cool language rules, Nifft.

I agree; tasteful, flavorful rules that help make the campaign world memorable.
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As to your idea... who would build such a thing, and why?

Well, I was just going to say some extinct humanoid civilization that has ruins and wondrous magical items littered throughout the campaign world.
Do you have another suggestion?

What I don't know is . . . Should the language be discovered by the PCs when they stumble upon the Speaking Stone or should the language already be widespread at the time?

 

[Celebrim]

But so far, the players have been very, very careful. Only three infernal oaths so far, and no willful neglect. I do plan on using an infernal oath as a plot point soon. I'll report back how it went when the episode is concluded.

I'm curious about your system and its underlying reasoning.

Is it the case than an infernal oath is binding because infernal powers will force the oathmaker to keep its oath, or does the infernal language itself so bend the will and nature of the speaker that they cannot help but keep the oath?

Must you understand what you are saying in order to be bound by the oath? Is ignorance considered an defense? If not, it seems to me that making a pass phrase through a magical door be an oath in infernal would make for a nasty bit of business.

Similarly, is it impossible to lie in Celestial because some celestial power stops ones tongue, or is it because nothing which is false can be properly phrased in the syntax of Celestial.

Again, can one speak a falsehood unwittingly in Celestial? Can one write down a falsehood in Celestial? Suppose I write something down in Celestial, and then cut the paper into peices such that each word is on a different peice. Can I toss these peices in the air and then wait for them to come down in the erroneous order, or will they always come down in the order that is true? Can I use this as a method of divination if I don't know what the truth is?