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Languages
Each character begins with a number of languages based on his IQ at creation. Your character's inital IQ divided by 10 results in the number of Language Points you have to spend on languages (rounded down). Most languages has a spoken and written portion with their own individual cost (e.g., it would cost 2 LP to both Speak and Read Elven). Languages that are more difficult to learn—due to their rarity or to being guarded by their users—cost more Language Points to learn.
Language Points may be saved for later use. However, the rules for learning a new language apply to any languages taken after Creation of your character.
Choosing Languages
* Free: (S) Common
* Free for Druids: (S and R) Druid Ritual Tongue
* Free for Priests and Paladins: (S and R) High Tongue
* Free for Druids: (S and R) Druid Ritual Tongue
* Free for Priests and Paladins: (S and R) High Tongue
* Common Abbreviations: (S) = Speak, (R) = Read, (Z) = Hand sign
(S or R) AEsir Old Chant, (S or R) Black Tongue, (R) Common, (S or R) Elven, (S or R) Dwarven, (S or R) High Tongue, (S or R) Zephyr, Other (Specify).
Languages used by less sociable or more rare cultures or guarded languages (2 LPs):
(Z) Burglar Sign, (S or R) Druidic Ritual Tongue*, (S or R) Jotun, (Z) Underdark Sign, Other (Specify).
Languages that are dead, alien, or largely unknown outside of very select groups. Often these are mystical languages or ones that have been long dead (3 LPs):
(R or S) Archaic Common, (R or S) Druas, Other (Specify).
Note: Reading is a prerequisite for all extinct languages.
Specific Languages
AEsir Old Chant
The ritualistic language of the AEsir that is used by the nomadic clans of the Northern Wastes. Spoken only by a few of the AEsir clans that still reside there, most having converted to common.
Black Tongue
The gutteral and small language of Orcs, Goblins and their kin. It is widely known by Kobolds, Bugbears and other creatures who trace their lineages to goblins, and is sometimes used as a mercenary tongue. With regional dialects that are too innumerable to number, a native speaker can easily distinguish a different clan from their speech pattern alone. They do not possess a written alphabet, but record their stories and mark warnings with pictographs and symbols.
Common
The language of humanity. It is the native language spoken by most of the Duchy and most of its surrounding lands. Other human languages persist in parts of the Twelve Kingdoms, among the Northmen and the eastern barbarians, and in Ihoshi and Ardashir, but knowledge of Common is widespread (at least among the educated).
Druidic
The language used in the secret rituals of the Druids. A character must have friendly relations with a druidic circle in order to begin with this language (e.g., Rangers, woodsmen, beastmasters. It is unlikely that an Elementalist would gain access to this language).
High Tongue
The language of priests and the educated. It is an evolution of an ancient human language that has become specialized for use by the educated and used in religious ceremonies. A character must have been raised in a civilized region and studied in a large city to start with knowledge of this language.
Jotun
The language of giants. It is an ancient language with origins as old as the Elves. However, over the ages it has been shattered into many dialects as has the bloodline of the first Giants. The dialects are similiar enough for a speaker to understand them all with a little effort. This tongue is spoken by such creatures as Ogres, Trolls, Cyclopeans, and Giants. Only the civilized races of giants maintain the alphabet.
Sign
Sign languages use the hand to convey meaning. It is a way for individuals to communicate silently when such caution is necessary.
Archaic Common, Druas
These are ancient languages dating back several Ages. There are nearly none who speak these languages left alive, if at all, and what is known of the languages is taken from ancient texts and carvings found in lost ruins.
Other
Other languages may be taken by permission of the GMs. A 1-LP language is one spoken by cultures commonly encountered by Humans (such as the native languages of Ihoshi or Ardashir). A 2-LP language is one spoken by humanoid cultures or groups that negotiate and interact with Humans less frequently (such as Duergr). A 3-LP language is one that is spoken by non-humanoid creatures, extinct languages, or mystic languages of secretive groups.
Other 1-LP Human Languages
- Ardasi (spoken in Ardashir)
- Ihoshan (spoken in Ihoshi)
- Pelosan (spoken in Pelos in the Holy Empire Aridoc)
- Uskal (spoken among the Uskalim in the Twelve Kingdoms)
- Thaegen (spoken among the Thanemen in the Twelve Kingdoms)
- (to be continued)
Learning New Languages
New languages can be learned by raising the character's IQ by enough points to provide the necessary Language Points (e.g., IQ must be raised 20 points to learn to read a 2 LP language) and purchasing a Language skill.
Language (Speak or Read - Culture)
Type: General, Openable: No, Stat at Purchase: N/A, DP Ratio: N/A, Purchase Price: 500 ss.
This skill allows a character to gain the ability to speak or read an additional language beyond those taken at creation. The character must have raised its IQ by enough points to earn enough new Language Points to learn the desired language. See Languages.
This skill can be taught by one character to another character for no cost beyond what the teacher charges, assuming the IQ requirement has been met.
LP Calculation
The table below displays the number of LPs that each race-class combination receives at creation. Cross reference your race and class upon the chart below to determine the number of Language points you have to spend for your character.
| Class/Race | AEsir | Andaman | Dwarf | Elf | Half-Elf | Half-Orc | Halfling | Human | Zephyr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bard | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Beastmaster | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Brigand | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Druid | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Elementalist | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Enchanter | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Illusionist | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Monk | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Mystic | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Necromancer | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Nightblade | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Paladin | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Priest | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Rogue | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Scout | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Sorcerer | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Warrior | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
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