NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5295713" data-attributes="member: 92511">TonguesHuman Tongues The realms of Orea communicate with a wide variety of languages. For  the most part, all civilized nations possess knowledge of and use the  Common tongue for inter-racial and international communications. Still,  there are a variety of languages used in the various regions of the  realms. <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Common:[/SIZE] The vast majority of the realms  know and utilize the "Common" tongue. Though in some parts, like Tanku  and Thelitia, Common is a second language, if it is known at all. Common  is the language of Grinlia, the Freelands, and for the most part  Mostrial as well (see below) and thus, used or at least able to be  spoken by just about everyone else (humans and humanoids as well.)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Mostralian: [/SIZE] This is the old language of  the realms of Mostrial from the days following the Godswar, through the  years of Adrigol up to the Scourge wars. Sometimes    referred to as "Old Mostralian," it is still known, taught, and used  among the people of Mostrial and the learned of Orea in general.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Thelitian:[/SIZE] The tribes of the desert empire  have a diverse array of dialects and accents. These are all part of the  Thelitian language branch, the accepted    language of the empire. Common is known and used by many, particularly  the merchants. But in the courts, temples, and among the upper class,  the Thelitian tongue is expected to be spoken.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Islander:[/SIZE] This is the "common" language of  the United Islands of Tanku. It is a combination of the various larger  island dialects into a semi-cohesive language.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Dondon:[/SIZE] Also called "Treetalk" is the base  language of the men of the O'Douhn forest. It is heavily influenced by  elvish and exhibits elements of dwarvish as well. (It can be presumed  that ranger characters choosing to originate from O'Douhn will know  Dondon.) Among the peoples of that region now, very few still use  Dondon, but the infamous Rangers of the O'Douhn wood still teach it and  use it among themselves.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]R'Hathi:[/SIZE] The magic-using peoples of R'Hath  developed their own language out of an amalgam of Tanku (from which many  of them came), Old Selurian (still in use at R'Hath's formation), and  Arcana (the language of magic), though of course the normal language  does not invoke any special powers. It is used primarily only in the  courts, the mage's guilds and among the very learned of that realm and is notoriously  intricate and difficult to learn.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Old Selurian:[/SIZE] This is the languages of the  temples of Grinlia, Mostrial, and the Freelands. It is the language of  the former empire but still viewed as the language of the gods. Clerical  magics are cast in this tongue and it is well known to those pursuing  and/or knowledgeable in the ancient histories of the Orean realms. It is  unknown if/how the language has changed in the milenia since the  Godswar and the Selurian Empire's fall. It can be presumed there is a  modern version of this tongue, but none on the continent would know how  to speak it.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Tanku:[/SIZE] This is the formal and ancient  language of the Tanku empire and the original tribe itself. While most  peoples of the United Island Kingdoms speak "Islander", it is not uncommon  to find those on/doing business with Tanku proper, conversing in this  tongue.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Gorunduun: [/SIZE]The barbarian tribes of Gorunduu  have there own root language (with obvious dwarven influences to the  trained ear). Though many of the Gorunduun are also conversant in common.  The only clan that makes use of their language in a written form (and hence, reads) is the clan of the Falcon. Barbarians of other clans will not automatically be able to read...though may certainly be taught it by a member of the Falcon clan.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Druish:[/SIZE] (a nod to Mel Brooks) Druids of the Ancient Order of  Mistwood, descending from the original Green Tribe of Men, possess a  language unto themselves. There is no known written version of the  language and its knowledge is kept from all save initiates of the Holy  Order.  Druid spellcasting is also done in this tongue and so usually  (most druids) keep their voices low for much of the spell (perhaps  raising it for a word or two throughout or near the end) to prevent  their fellows from having to hear it. It is said that those uninitiated  that hear the primeval tongue go mad.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Arcana (or Arcanic):[/SIZE] the "words of power",  language of magic and spell casting for wizards. It is not spoken save  during spellcasting nor found written for any reason save the conduction  of magic. The root of Arcana is unknown to all the sages of the world  but it is commonly held that the language was taught to the first elvin  sorcerers by the elder god Sorilorr.</li> </ul>Non-human Tongues It can be presumed that just about every sentient race has a language of  its own (orcs speak orcish, satyrs speak satyr etc. etc.). Below are  simply a few likely to be encountered by those adventuring through the  realms.    <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Elvish, proper (also called High Elvin):[/SIZE] is  the language of the elves shared by the ShiStaliiri, the ShiCynallae,  and the Miralostae. The Kantiiri and Karolostae have their own dialects,  but it is still understandable to/by other elves. Non-elves must learn  Kantiiri or Karolostae as a separate language, if you can find one  interested in teaching it. The ShiDaeiri have their own twisted separate  language.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Dwarvish: [/SIZE]All dwarves of Orea share a common tongue.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Gnomi:[/SIZE] All gnomes in Orea share a common  tongue, though there may be noticable accents from region to region. The  gnomish tongue has very convoluted grammar, long tongue-twister  vocabulary and is spoken very, very quickly. It is almost  impossible for humans or half-elves to learn and be adequately fluent in  gnomi. (Int. 16 or higher required for humans to take gnomi as a  language.) Half-orcs, Centaurs, Jerali, Minotaurs, Goblins and  Lizardmen, regardless of intelligence, simply can not learn it.  While for halflings and sprites it comes rather easily. Dwarves, Elves  and Zephari may take gnomi as a language as normal.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Halflings (Hairfoot):[/SIZE] Halflings in Orea use  the Common tongue. There is no root "Hairfoot" language. It has been  suggested by some scholars that the Common tongue of men may, in fact,  have emanated from the original language of the hairfeet. Though this is  not commonly accepted among the learned humans of Orea.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Centauran:[/SIZE] All centaurs in Orea share a common language. They do not, however, possess a written one. Centaurs do make use of pictograms.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Zephari:[/SIZE] The winged ones of Orea all share a  common language. It is very similar sounding to the high elvish  language, but with enough differences that the races can not interact  without translation. Thankfully, most zephari (and elves for that  matter) are fluent in a variety of languages.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Draconic:[/SIZE] The dragons of Orea share a common language.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Titanic a.k.a. "Giantspeak":[/SIZE] The titans and (civilized) giants of  Orea share a common root language though certain sub-secies have  distinct dialects which may be difficult for one who knows titon to  understand.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Trolog:[/SIZE] Ogres and Trolls of Orea share a common language.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">[SIZE=+1]Goblinese:[/SIZE] Goblins, Hobgoblins and Bugbears share a common root language.</li> </ul></blockquote>

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