Languages of Iourn

As stated in the Languages section of the D&D site, I have changed the rules for Languages. If you have not read my changes to the rules I would advise you to follow the previous link and acquaint yourself with the changes before going any further. In this section I look at the available languages and alphabets by race, and then (rather helpfully) bring the whole thing together into a handy table.

The following table lists many of the languages and alphabets available to players in an Iourn campaign. Obviously, there are many more but this should be more than enough to be getting on with. Details of the languages spoken by specific races follow the table. Please note there is no Iourn based equivalent for the languages Common and Undercommon. They do not exist in the game.

* Thari is the secret language of the druids, and they guard its use closely. Because the druids have no written tradition, there is no written form of Thari. However, there is evidence that certain sects that predate the druids (such as the healers) also used Thari, and that they did have had a written form of the language. Written Thari uses the Larethian alphabet, but the skill is so ancient that it is likely no-one knows of it in these latter days. Scholars believe that spoken Thari has its roots in the Sylvan language, hinting at some ancient relationship between druids and the fey.

Men

Almost all human tongues spoken in Urova have been derrived from True Hadradan (the Hadradans were masters of the continent for more than a 1000 seasons, after all). Therefore the languages of Calclafan, Eldagairé, Junos, Kerikite, Norandan, Salmayan and Tibrisé share significant commonalities. The Hadradan alphabet is used by all seven, and when spoken it is obvious that they come from a common root. Up to 800 seaons ago all seven were the same language, so a character who can speak Norandan may well be able to undrstand the general gist of someone speaking one of the other languages. It’s not enough of an understanding to have a conversation, but it’s sufficient to get across simple ideas like "We come in peace", "May name’s Bob, what’s yours?" or "There’s something hideous hanging out of your nose." The only humans on Urova whose language doesn’t derrive from Hadaradan are the Maldomori. Probably best to stay away from them.

Dwarves

Thorass, the name for the dwarven written language, is common throughout the dwarvish people. It is also used, quite ironically, by their arch-foes the goblins, orcs and other detestables. The two dwarven societies on Urova are divided by spoken language, but not by alphabet. Both Klardish and Morranish are derrived from Auld Dwarvish and a character who speaks one may be able to pick up general ideas from someone speaking the other.

Gnomes

Only the gnomes of the Pits of Walhoon speak the true gnomish tongue of Mantlar. Mantlar is an ancient language in its own right, and has only ever been spoken by gnomes. The rest of the gnomes who dwell either within the Five Colour Kingdom or Stonebark speak Gebblin and Jeppnan respectively. Both these languags are derrived from Mantlar and sound remarkably similar if you’re not a gnome. However, the gnomes of these two kingdoms do not use the written version of Mantlar. Influence from the dwarves that surround them have led these gnomes to taken up Thorass as their written language.

Hobbits

The true language of the halflings is hobbit. It is an ancient tongue that actually uses the elvish (Larethian) alphabet hinting at some relationship between elves and halflings hitherto unrealised. However, the fact is that most halflings don’t speak hobbit and most have probably never heard it spoken. Halflings will almost certainly speak the human tongue of whichever country they dwell in.

Other Languages

One would be hard-pressed to find an older or more lyrical language than Larethian. Only the elves speak it, and they tend not to teach it to anyone else. Draconic, the language of dragons, kobolds and other lizardine creatures, has also been taken as the language of magic. Almost all wizards will speak draconic in one form or another, and most spell books are written in the strange script. Celestial, Terranan, Zephran, Sharranah, Calafan and Infernal are taught to the priesthoods of Vítaeous, Terranor, Zephrye, Sharrash, Calafax and Mortis respectively.