Human Langauges
Minashtan: The most common and
widely-spoken language in the Hornlands. It is spoken, in various dialects,
in Armishan, Rhulmere, the Horn River cities, and the various other smaller
states north of the Moravian Empire and Ishlene. Many people in Ishlene can
speak it as well (particularly merchants), and it is the most widely-known
human language among nonhumans. All player characters should have at least
a passing knowledge of this, or they will have to deal with most of the
world (and their fellow adventurers) through interpreters
There is an older version of the language, said to have been spoken in the
lost realm of Annúminas. It is called, not surprisingly, Old
Minashtan, and is one of the two "classical" literary human languages, so
it is known primarily by scholars, religious people, and others with an
interest in the past. It stands in relation to modern Minashtan roughly the
way Chaucerean or Shakespearean English stands in relation to present-day
English.
Eshendi: This is the main language of
Ishlene, spoken mostly within that kingdom's borders.
Moravian: The primary language of the
Moravian Empire, once spoken throughout the Hornlands, but now mostly
within the shrunken Empire and by traders and diplomats. An older version
of the language is used by the Eshkian Church, and is also known by many
scholars (it is the other "classical" human language).
Llyrish: The language of the island of
Llyr. It is also the language of the aristocracy of Rhusk, on the east
coast of the Armishanian Peninsula.
Vischân: Spoken by the
"barbarians" of the Requaine, to the north of western Armishan. Due to the
large number of Requainish mercenaries wandering the Hornlands, this
language is heard outside of the Requaine more often than it might
otherwise be.
Nonhuman Languages
Kyrielin (West Elvish): The most common
Elven language, spoken by the Elves of Kyrielu and many outside of that
land. Also a language of scholarship and literature for Annuminas and many
cultured (or pretentious) non-Elves.
Seluin (East Elvish): A rather rare Elven language, mostly used by the Elves of Morwyn.
High Elvish: An ancient Elven language (possibly the ancient Elven language?), known by some Elves and a very few non-Elven scholars.
Makkaashju'ur: The old Goblin language, now only rarely heard. Most Goblins speak the local human language as their mother tongue. The Goblin language survives most commonly in Goblin personal and place names.
Adzûn: Spoken by most Dwarves living in their own communities, but almost never outside. Very, very few non-Dwarves know this language, and Dwarves are extremely reluctant to teach it to outsiders. There are rumors of a truly secret, "holy" language reserved for special occasions and known well by only a few; it is said that any Dwarf who dared teach this to outsiders would be marked for death by all right-thinking Dwarves....
Halflings and Gnomes speak the local human language, almost without exception. Although it would seem that Gnomes would be the perfect people to have a secret language, they apparently don't. Perhaps this is because any "secret" language that was known by enough Gnomes to be a real language wouldn't be secret enough for most Gnomes. There are, of course, various unsavory Orcish languages, and Hobgoblins are said to use debased forms of either local human languages or Makkaashju'ur (the Goblin language).
Last updated 10 May 1998.