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The World of Teréth End - Supplements |
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"A song in your heart Inscribed on steps of Paldan Conservatory  |
Book of Language Language and Script are distinct skills. A language skill allows a character to speak and understand a language while a script skill allows a character to write and read a language. These skills are very different. It is often the case that one script may apply to many languages. Following each of the Language sections to follow is a small table describing which languages are most commonly used with which scripts. Evolved along the lines of migration, Uren language on Teréth End is believed to have emerged some 18,000 years ago in ghostly Emer. Nothing is known of the Emereni, but their basalt structures are still said to stand upon the abandoned continent. Inscribed on the monoliths are characters dating to the dawn of Uren history, their meanings and people forever lost. During the earliest reported migrations, at the dawn of the Third Age, mankind moved north through south-east Lyrast. Three people emerged in this early time, the Lyran, Onno, and Vulmur. Little is known of these people or their languages. The names of these groups are based on the location of old ruins, and the belief in a single people from which all mankind on Teréth End has descended. Some Elve scholars have written of Uren appearing in Lyrast in this distant time, but few details remain. The first Uren reported by the Elve are described as primitive and animalistic, not dissimilar from some contemporary accounts. Early Dwürden accounts of Uren cast suspicion that they were akin to the Ortor, already an established race in Terèthor at the beginning of the Third Age. The Lyran: The first languages of the Lyran are believed to have been close to their Emereni roots and are classified as Pan-Lyrasti. There are no extant examples of the Pan-Lyrasti language, except the commonalities of early Lyran tongues. Pan-Lyrasti separated into Lyrasti-Asral (Onno), Lyrasti-Nazar (whose speakers settled in Zirak and Varsta), and Lyrasti-Vuldir (whose speakers settled in Vulyra and Teles Tri). Lyrasti-Asral (Onno): Most of the Lyran-Asral (Onno) settled in the southern half of Lyrast. Those that were part of later southern migrations were repelled by the impassable Anahl. A small portion of the Onno passed to the north of the Anahl however, settling the lands of Flaan, Tukumun, and Wurm. Even this migration left many behind, settling in the region of Teles Tri, where after much war they were assimiliated into the Lyran-Vuldir. The traditions and language of these Onno would resurface years later in the Lur Virid peoples of upper Acentra. The most stationary of the early peoples, the Onno established the Lyrasti calendar by which historians today mark Uren history. In fact, standing at the center of Volorin (now capital of Tolomir) stands a weathered stone obelisk believed erected in 835 LR. The Obelisk of Volorin is significant for two reasons, a) it bears the oldest Uren writing known outside Emer, b) it outlines the calendar of Lyrasti Reckoning, still in use today. The similarities between the Lyrasti and Emereni calendars suggests that Emereni teachings were still regarded at this time. The Lyrasti-Asral were populous, spawning multiple migrations from their homeland in southern Lyrast. By the middle of Third Age, the Lyrasti-Asral language had separated into hundreds of smaller tongues, known collectively as Askeral. To the East, Askeral blended with Late Nazari becoming Evir, variations of which are regarded as the most ancient spoken language to date. To the South, the languages of the newly founded Tasseran kingdoms evolved into Tasseral, and later into Early Azal and Eoyn. Table 1. Languages of the Lyrasti-Asral (Onno)
Lyrasti-Nazar (Nazari): During the earliest migrations, a hearty people ventured far away from their southern brethren. These people traveled long and hard through bleak lands and along the mountainous coasts of eastern Lyrast. The earliest settlement of the Nazari is Isidvir, now part of southern Sarask. If Nazari settlements existed south of this remote locale, none remain. Though Nazari culture was maintained over much of northern Lyrast, the people were very widespread and their language changed greatly from place to place. In the northeastern reaches of the continent lived the Lyran-Kyrim the region that now includes Harlor and Orval. Almost 6,000 years ago, the Lyran-Kyrim disappeared. These people are believed to have migrated east across the Endless Sea to Terèthor, for the people that appeared there share some linguistic artifacts with present day Varsti. Some sages believe that the Lyran-Kyrim must have crossed a Jyar land-bridge; though the existence of such causeways is suspect. Whoever the new Terèthori were, they found themselves in a hostile land. Those that could not return to their homelands pushed south along the Terèthori coast. The Na'Lir found refuge in the mountains where they met and were welcomed by the Dwürden. This sub-group of the Lyran-Kyrim underwent drastic change within a century's time due to the Great Secret (Orddorum Trodum). The Na'Lir found themselves increasingly unwelcomed, and move eastward, settling in the mountain valleys. The language of this fragmented people has evolved into hundreds of others, many of which exist to the present day. Other members of the Lyrasti-Nazar who spread westward across the frozen steppes of Lyrast, became the Nuir. The Nuir region includes areas now known as Kitalsk, Varsta, and Zirak stretches around the coast of the Sea of Odimis and into finally into Solorn. To this day the people of these areas share common traditions and similar language, though the languages become more different the further from Isidvir one travels. The language of distant Solorn for instance is heavily influenced by the Vuldir who settled nearby lands. Table 2. Languages of the Lyrasti-Nazar (Nazari)
Lyrasti-Vuldir (Vulmur): The Vulmur left Lyrast at an early time, establishing themselves in Vulmura more than 7,000 years ago (circa 841 ER). It is believed the Vulmur traveled across the continent's northern reaches, probably assisted by Elve hoping to initiate land struggles between the Uren and Dwürden. Some Uren settled for a time in northern Vulmura but upon learning of the fertile coasts beyond the mountains, they pushed southward. This migration instigated the first Dwürden-Uren War that would eventually bisect the great Dwürden kingdom (Dirune and Thirune); believed to be a great victory by Elve accounts. The Lyran-Vuldir (Vulmur) found their way to southern Vulmura during the second millennium of the Third Age. The way had been barred to earlier migrations of Onno, but passage is believed to have been brokered by the Elve when escalating Vulmuran tensions between Uren and Dwürden were noted. This migration is also credited with the development of ships to carry the people from present Kaldakul to distant Neyem, a daunting journey for primitive seamen. The descendants of these people would become the foremost shippers the world would know, settling from Neyem to Tarantis. These early Acentrans encountered another people (also of Vulmur descendant) already living around the Acentran Sea having migrated south from the northlands of Tukumun and Wurm. The people did not recognize each other as kindred however, and despite war with the Dwürden (who were watching the erosion of their lands) fought bitterly between themselves. Acentra would not be united until Braddagir was crowned High King at the end of the Third Age. Table 3. Languages of the Lyrasti-Vuldir (Vulmur)
Dekàlan: Classic Dekàlan is a hybrid language of the Uren and Dwürden tongues whose script is likewise derived from Late Panàthan and Runik. A challenging script, Dekàlan consists of hundreds of phonetic composite-glyphs, based on constructions of consonant and vowel sounds. Late Panàthan used a curvillinear script based upon Sharan heiroglyphic shorthand. Some scholars have suggested that the language also has ancient non-Humanoid roots, namely Dágul. Table 4. Languages of Dekàlas
The late Dekàlan script (High Davar) is presented here with an abridged dictionary. The evolution of the Old Empire middle languages were spurred by the isolating of entire regions following the Empire's fragmentation and a push to simplify the classic scripts to make the written language(s) more accessible to the public. Literacy s became more common in the post-Dekàlan period than at any time beforehand. Simplification of High Davar typically took the form of a lettered alphabet rather than syllabic heiroglyphics. Not only did this change result in fewer symbols, but made the printing process much more manageable and affordable. Table 5. Middles Languages of the Old Empire
Some Dekàlan languages have changed more than others. Jadthàri for instance, has not changed much since the Second Acentran-Dekàlan war. For this reason, sages do not consider there to be an "Old Jadthàri" language. Also, because modern Jadthàri (see Table 6.) still utilizes the High Davar script, readers of that language find it easier to read and translate Dekàlan. Interestingly, modern speakers of High Dekàlan each speak the language differently, depending on what region they learned it in. The differences represent changes that had begun to emerge within the Dekàlan language as early as the Middle Empire. The introduction of High Dekàlan was a concerted effort by scholars and priests of the time, to save the parent language in an increasingly growing and cosmopolitan world. Post-Dekàlan: Most eastern Teréthori languages are related to High Dekàlan, even if the people of the regions do not consider themselves inheritors of the Old Empire. Examples of these areas are Caramis, Ezmir and Olood.
Table 6. Languages of the Old Empire
Ildùan is an interesting example. It is a post-Dekàlan language that evolved by inheriting aspects of the predeceding Late Eoyn tongue, which had been kept alive within the primitive oppressed cultures of Aylyra. With the yoke of the Old Empire removed from the island, the people began to speak the old language freely, and it quickly became part of a new language (i.e. Ildùan).
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Supplements Art Languages The following abbreviations are used throughout the Othlopædia: Acen. (Acentran) |
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Ref. PHB (Player's Handbook), © Wizards of the Coast  |
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