Common Tongues
Low Marathan
The global lingua franca. It was spread throughout the Middle Third Ages across Marathan trade routes, and is spoken as a first or second language in old-imperial territories or their neighbors. This is considered the “Common” tongue in Northern Yiegdra, where the campaign is set, and would be understood by most characters.
High Marathan
The standard written language of the Marathan Empire. It was used by scholars, clergymen, and bureaucrats of the Third Age, and has since become professional jargon for specialists in the Fourth Age.
Lagain
Lagainian
The standard language across Lagain’s territories. It was spoken widely by the Gailian tribes during the Middle to Late Third Age, and was made the official language of Lagain upon its founding two centuries ago. Its dialects include:
- Sedalic, spoken along the coast of the Lagainian Gulf and Semvar.
- Inenkinish, spoken on Lagain’s east coast and in Gwen.
- Triburgan, spoken in Lagain’s central flats, Yethselune, and Eichencourt.
- Hazani, spoken on the border of Montclaive, borrowing letters from Yansi.
Tousav
Pallasian
The official language of the Imperial crownlands. It is an evolution of the Marathan tongue and shares its alphabet, having supplanted the language’s use in central Tousav. Its dialects include:
- Low Pallasian, used in place of Low Marathan by the laypeople.
- High Pallasian, used in place of High Marathan by specialists.
Yansi
The common language of eastern Yiegdra, having evolved from Second Age settlers who built cities on Lake Yansa. It is itself a dialect of Old Marathan, which was used widely before the evolution and subsequent standardization of Low and High Marathan. Its dialects include:
- Unmaari, spoken along the mountainous eastern border of Montclaive.
- Ibrulic, spoken in the southern dunes of Montclaive.
- Nakhuzi, spoken by nomads throughout the deserts of central Montclaive.
Vasdojian
The common language of south-western Yiegdra. It is a fusion of Low Marathan and Küryol, which was spoken by the eclectic Marathan armies who conquered the region in the Middle Third Age, and contains a wider alphabet than other Tousavi languages. Its dialects include:
- Meshvostian, spoken along the Gray Marches mountain range in southern Vemaire.
- Valmyrish, spoken in the arid steppes of central Vemaire.
Choralish
The common language of north-western Yiegdra. It is an evolution of Croísang, as Aardayni settlers often mingled with the people of the Namian marshes in the Second Age. Its dialects include:
- Tousalean, the most common dialect originating from the fjords of north-western Orralune.
- Er-Eol, spoken rarely on the border with the Argalainne in secluded enclaves.
- Namian, spoken on the border with Aardayn and throughout Prisca and Ursia.
Tyric
The common language of Yiegdra’s northern coasts. Heavily influenced by interactions with Sedalic and Inenkinish settlers, it shares many similarities with Lagainian. Its dialects include:
- Eilidhese, spoken across the rivers of Littoire and on the border of Vardagh.
- Tyric-Sedalic, spoken in Semvar and throughout the northern coasts.
Aardayn
Croísang
The common language of the Aardayni lands. It has heavily influenced dialects of the northern fjords. Tyric, Sedalic, and Choralish all share attributes with Croísang.
Menehysi
Mnesis
The common language of the Assembled Islands of the Menehysi. It shares some minor similarities with Lagainian due to their proximity and interaction with Gailian seafarers.
Evvel Aytzel
Evvelese
The common language of Evvel Aytzel. It is a complex, tonal language which has evolved entirely distinct from other cultures. It uses a second alphabet for interacting with outsiders, as it is their superstition that only Evvelians must be allowed to interpret the sacred tongue.