Languages in Siluvarian Arcana
Linguistic basics
Literacy: Every character knows a base of three languages (PH, P37); While the book stipulates that you can write the language, literacy is a bit rarer in Siluvaria and requires an Intelligence score of 12. Some languages share alphabets, and the ability to recognize alphabets does not correspond to being able to speak the language, unless the character is reading a magic scroll.
For example, a drow wizard can read and use a necromantic scroll written in the esoteric and ancient alphabet Khertino, although the wizard may not understand it. They can do this because the wizard speaks and reads Theragil, a derivative of Aidriffon.
Languages and runic alphabets: Across the greater Siluvarian region, seven alphabets are used to script 14 languages, some of which are no longer spoken by living cultures or are so esoteric that they are only employed.
The spoken languages include: 1. Common (Reghed—Human, Halfling) 2. Elvish (Kaey Enil—northern elvish—uses the same alphabet as Common) 3. Draconic (Selurionin—draconians) 4. Druid (Earyfette—southern elvish—uses the same alphabet as Celestial) 5. Fay (Uelcome—Sylvan, Gnomish) 6. Ekdeg (Goblin—uses the same alphabet as Fay) 7. Drow (Theragril—Undercommon—uses the same alphabet as Aidriffon) 8. Dwarvish (Arkebaln) 9. Orc (Olthek)
Esoteric/rare languages: 1. Orsolon (Giant, Primordial) 2. Aidriffon (Abyssal)
All spells are either written or invoked in runes in the language that corresponds to their magic school: Abjuration/ Evocation (Orsolon/ Khetri alphabet); Conjuration/ Divination (Earyfette/ Kohlferen alphabet); Necromancy (Aidriffon/Khertino alphabet); Enchantment/ Illusion/ Transformation (Uelsome/ Sebdoh alphabet)
Further notes on the draconic language.
The spoken version of the draconic language is a non-syllabic language that is impossible for the anatomy of humanoid physiology to emulate. According to Yropa (great wyrm: khetri <Virmistrius>), recorded by the Silvaeren sages of Silverymoon, the name of the eldest draconic language is called Urioni. Urioni is an innate, somatic language of gestures, postures, and subtle movements of the dragon’s face and body used solely in discussing ancient matters between dragons of all creeds. All dragons’ true names are long sentences comprised of sounds found in nature, the alphabetic structure, as it is, of this most ancient of Daotyr’s languages. There is no written version of Urioni.
Several iterations of Urioni have survived modern times, and many of those versions are pronounceable and apprehendable by humanoid races. In Northern Siluvaria, the land of the Scintilliant, the ubiquitous draconic language spoken by Silvaeren sages and dragon-kind alike is called SelUrionin, commonly called wyrm-speak. Its alphabet is called Urexioni. The new-come race of draconians speak a heavily accented dialect of wyrm-speak. Only with great struggle and regular misinterpretation can the elves of the High Forest and beyond understand or communicate with them.
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