Standard Languages
Though humans across Erenel are bound by a shared ancestry, their languages have evolved regionally across the world’s two major continents: Tonarian in the west and Lyrathil in the east. Each human ethnicity has shaped its own dominant dialect, often named after their culture or homeland. These Standard Languages are more than mere communication tools, they are reflections of regional pride, political power, and historical legacy. As humans expanded, their tongues became the foundation for trade and diplomacy, with non-human species frequently adopting the local human language in regions where humans hold sway.
All player characters speak The Word, Erenel's version of Common. Other inhabitants may not speak The Word, but it is the most universally spoken language in Erenel.
The Word (Common)
The popularity of the
Illuminated Church and Human ambition following the Great Sacrifice have caused “The Word” to spread far across Erenel. This language is the most spoken in the known world. While there are many different idioms and accents, all Erenel civilizations have learned to speak the language to a passable degree.
Lyrathil Continent (Root)
Osoli. Language of the Osloru
Shinsei. Language of the Senkurai
Valdrein. Language of the Thalorian
Dwarven (Root)
Cantoral. Language of the Five Dwarven Cantons of the Sundermist Tips.
Krogrun. Language of the Reclusive Dwarves of Storm's Coast.
Thommari. Language of the Forge Dwarves of Thommar.
Elvish (Root)
Awean. Language of Elves from the Southern Wildwood.
Iswan. Language of Elven Kingdom Cendelius.
Broken
Simplistic language popular below Erenel's surface.
Dragoncoil
Spoken by Dragons and the
Dragonborn.
Drom'Thar
The language shared by the
Orc thanks to the "Pulse."
Kilk-Chak
Language of the
Golganthi.
Mal'hul
Language of the
Sanguis from
Nephistrad.
Winds
A language used when navigating the open seas.
Rare Languages
Ancient Elvish (Root)
Olo'thi. Language of the Olothine from the Nevermore Expanse.
Shur'vi. Language of the Shuryon from the Thicket of Shrouds.
Tyr'ni. Language of the Tyranal from the Shimmerwood.
Xil'vi. Language of the Xil'vari of the Northern Wildwood.
Ancient Minotaur (Root)
Kenorian. Language of the Kiaris from Ulkadia.
Rinaan. Language of the Rinarian from the Everlasting Slopes.
Tuigan. Language of the Tohka from the Northlands.
Varlian. Language of the Varhul from the Haunted Lands.
Druidic (Root)
Frozen Court. Fey language of the Winter's Dream.
River Court. Fey language of the Summer's Dream.
Wyld. Fey language of the Wyld.
Firstvoice (Root)
Eidolon. Language of the Ethereal Plane.
Eternal. Language of The Above.
Forsworn. Language of The Below.
Chaos
Language of Giants and the Elemental Lords.
Glitch
Otherworldly language of the
Exile
Umbra
The reality tearing language of
The Null
Standard Language Details
Languages are presented in alphabetical order.
Arkine
Commonly spoken in the Ulkadian Empire, Arkine is an evolution of the ancient Minotaur dialect Kenorian. Its vocabulary, characterized by a balanced blend of long and short vowels, lends itself naturally to poetry and song. Arkine boasts a rich lexicon filled with arcane and scholarly terms, many of which have been adopted by scholars across various dialects due to its ancient heritage and scholarly prestige.
Awean
Awean is a language of layered meaning and graceful misdirection, evolved from the fractured remnants of Xil’vi, one of the Four Ancient Elven tongues. While spoken fluently by only a minority in the Rift Reach region and throughout the Wildwood, its influence far exceeds its population base. Renowned for its subtle innuendos, clever euphemisms, and near-endless capacity for double meanings, Awean is often considered both an art and a weapon. Nobles and courtiers favor it when diplomacy requires veiled threats or praise laced with poison.
Broken
Broken is a derivative of Ancient Elven, yet so far removed, only bits and pieces of the language remain. Unintelligible to most, Broken mainly expresses quick thoughts and is popular far below Erenel’s surface. In fact, the language is so simplistic, communication can be achieved by hitting cavern walls in different successions to cause an echo.
Cantoral
The Five Dwarven Cantons beneath the Sundermist Tips speak Cantoral, a formal and rigid dialect. Unlike the more pragmatic Thommari, Cantoral is almost musical, often spoken in a rhythmic, almost chant-like manner. This dialect is often inscribed into runes, making it the most commonly used language for magical inscriptions and historical texts.
Dragoncoil
Dragoncoil is the ancestral language of Dragonkind, spoken since the dawn of their creation and preserved with near-perfect integrity through the ages. Characterized by harsh, throaty consonants, gravel-deep resonance, and an inherently imperative tone, Dragoncoil is a language not simply spoken, but declared. Each word carries weight, often laced with intent, or dominance, and even a simple phrase can sound like a command etched in fire or thunder.
Drom'Thar
The language of the Orcs is called Drom’Thar, which translates loosely to “Voice of the Stone.” It is a low, resonant tongue, filled with rhythmic patterns, elongated vowels, and grinding consonants meant to mimic the sounds of shifting earth and drumming stone. Spoken Drom’Thar is often accompanied by gesture and breath cadence, as Orcs believe that words alone cannot carry the weight of true meaning without rhythm. Drom’Thar is traditionally passed down orally. Its written form is rarely used outside of ceremonial carvings where it is etched into stone, bone, or metal using deep-cuts. Scholars who study Drom’Thar say listening to it feels like standing at the mouth of a deep cavern just as a tremor rolls.
Igrati
The language of the Krovian Empire, Igrati, is often referred to as the language of romance. Known for its flowing cadence and expressive nature, it is a language of poets, scholars, and dreamers. Rich with literary depth, Igrati is as much an art form as it is a method of communication, often spoken in a rhythmic, almost melodic tone. Igrati’s vocabulary is vast, allowing for layers of nuance in conversation. A single phrase can carry multiple meanings depending on tone, context, and the speaker’s intent. This linguistic complexity makes Igrati an ideal language for theatrical performances, legal debates, and impassioned declarations of love or rivalry. Krovashi playwrights and poets take great pride in their ability to manipulate words, weaving intricate sonnets and ballads that stir the soul.
Iswan
Iswan is a remarkably enduring language, noted for its melodic cadence and flowing, poetic structure. Spoken primarily in the Elumian Forest and the mist-shrouded Sundermist Tips, it has remained largely unchanged since its first recordings. Elven archivists claim the language was gifted by the Foremother herself as a way to speak to the world, not just within it. Despite its elven origin, Iswan is embraced as a refined trade tongue, especially along the dense forest trade routes between Cendelius and the Five Dwarf Cantons. Its rhythmic flow makes it ideal for song, negotiation, and storytelling, and many merchants favor its clarity over the blunt precision of Common. Dwarves who speak it often carry a unique dialectal flair, adding clipped consonants to the otherwise lilting vowel structures, an audible marker of cultural mingling.
Klik-Chak
Klik-Chak is the native language of the Golganthi, a chitinous, insectoid species whose speech is composed of rapid clicks, sharp snaps, and rhythmic mandible clatters. Golganthi communicate through a blend of sound vibrations and subtle mouthpart movements that are nearly impossible to replicate without an insectoid physiology. For non-Golganthi, speaking Klik-Chak without magical aid or prosthetic enhancement is not only difficult, it’s often unintentionally offensive or nonsensical.
Krogrun
The dwarves of the Storm’s Coast Mountains speak Krogrun, a rough and layered language influenced by their seclusion and the wilds they have learned to live alongside. This dialect integrates whistles, clicks, and drawn-out consonants, allowing for quiet communication in dense jungle terrain. Unlike other dwarven dialects, Krogrun has absorbed words from the Osloru people, reflecting centuries of distant trade and observation.
Mal'hul
Widely spoken across the shadowed expanse of Nevermore, Mal’hul is the native tongue of the Sanguis, a muttering, low-toned language rooted in concepts over structure. Unlike most Human languages, Mal’hul doesn’t rely on rigid grammar but instead conveys intent and emotion through inflection, rhythm, and context. Skilled speakers are able to weave layers of meaning into a single phrase, and practiced listeners may detect echoes of The Word, a language of divine utterance, and Forsworn, the infernal dialect of the Below. Scholars speculate that Mal’hul originated as a refined derivative of Forsworn, altered by necessity for humanoid tongues but still capable of shaping perception and invoking ancient memories. In some occult traditions, it’s believed Mal’hul can stir the blood, awaken buried instincts, or grant clarity in the fog of cursed thoughts.
Narn
The Caelian speak Narn, a language as harsh and unyielding as the Northlands. It is a tongue of deep, rolling consonants and elongated vowels, carrying the weight of warriors, skalds, and the ever-present Wyrd. Narn is both complex and efficient. While it boasts an extensive alphabet with long compound words, conversation among warriors can be reduced to short, guttural phrases or quick, decisive grunts. It is said that a true Caelian warrior can express an entire sentence with a single look and a well-timed growl.
Osoli
The Osloru speak Osoli, a language shaped by their environment. Soft and rhythmic, it incorporates whistles, clicks, and gestures to communicate discreetly within the dense jungle. Many words mimic the calls of birds, the rustle of leaves, or the hissing of reptiles, allowing them to blend seamlessly with nature as they move through their homeland. Because the Osloru prioritize oral tradition over written records, Osoli has no official script. Instead, symbols and carvings are used for navigation, storytelling, and ceremonial purposes, marking important locations and history in ways that can endure the jungle’s constant renewal.
Shinsei
The Senkurai speak Shinsei. Precise and formal, it emphasizes structure and clarity, ensuring that words are never wasted. Public speech follows strict etiquette, with different levels of politeness depending on social status and context. A noble addressing a warrior, a commoner speaking to a merchant, and a warrior delivering a challenge each use distinct variations of the language. Writing in Shinsei is considered an art form, with calligraphy being a highly respected skill. Poetic verse is woven into everyday communication, from the issuing of commands to formal greetings. Senkurai proverbs and idioms often reference Bushido, reflecting their cultural ideals of duty, honor, and sacrifice.
Thommari
The dwarves of Thommar, City of Anvil, speak Thommari, a deep and resonant language built for clarity and efficiency. Words are structured to be short and precise, allowing smiths and miners to communicate over the roar of forges and the echo of tunnels. The language has a unique rhythm, often compared to the ringing of a hammer against an anvil.
Valdrein
The Thalorian speak Valdrein, a language as structured and steadfast as their people. It is a language of precision and directness, where words carry weight and promises are binding. Deception is frowned upon, and to twist one’s words is considered an act of deep dishonor. In formal settings, speech is measured and respectful, while in battle, commands are issued with unshakable authority. Valdrein has a strong oral tradition, with heroic ballads recounting the victories and sacrifices of great Thalorian warriors. Though Thalorians do not embellish their speech needlessly, their storytelling is direct yet impactful, meant to inspire and instruct rather than entertain.
Vharoti
The Ahn' Kalin speak Vharoti, a language believed to have originated before the Scabbard Wastes became a desert, from an era when lush rivers and verdant oases once thrived. The language is deeply tied to the legacy of the Pharaoh Mar-Re lineage, a dynasty that ruled in ancient times and shaped the cultural foundation. Vharoti is known for its throaty, phlegmatic pronunciation, with strident vowels and rolling consonants that give it a commanding, authoritative tone. It is often spoken with slow deliberation, as Ahn' Kalin believe that words hold power, and to speak too hastily risks inviting misfortune or dishonoring tradition.
Winds
Winds is an archaic, gesture-based language born from necessity on the high seas, where roaring waves and howling gusts made spoken commands unreliable. Composed of sharp whistles, rhythmic breathing, and fluid limb movements, Winds allows for long-distance, line-of-sight communication without the need for shouting. It remains an essential tool for navigators and lookouts sailing the Azure Bay and beyond, enabling crews to relay warnings, commands, and directions across wind-lashed decks and crow’s nests.
Rare Language Details
Languages are presented in alphabetical order.
Ancient Elvish
For more information on Ancient Elvish, refer to the
Elf article!
Ancient Minotaur
For more information on Ancient Minotaur, refer to the
Minotaur article!
Chaos
Chaos is a raw and guttural language, considered by many arcanists and historians to be the oldest tongue in Erenel, a vocal residue of creation from the shaping hand of the Architect. Spoken across the
Elemental Planes and by ancient creatures like the giants and elemental lords, Chaos is a language of instinct over structure, where sound and emotion intermingle to command primal forces.
Eidolon
Eidolon is the quiet tongue of the Ethereal Plane, a soft-spoken, breathy language used exclusively by souls awaiting Bedoma’s final judgment. It is not learned in life but granted upon death, a universal language woven directly into the soul by the Deliverer herself. Whether the departed were nobles, beasts, or beings of no tongue at all, all who enter the Ethereal find they can speak and understand Eidolon with ease. The language is almost never spoken aloud in the living world, as its whispers seem to bend through the veil between realms. Listeners describe it as gentle exhalations, half-heard in dreams or graveyards, often mistaken for wind or memory.
Eternal
Eternal is the sacred tongue of the angelic races, a language of flowing vowels, soft resonance, and minimal consonants that echoes like wind over crystal. Spoken in The Above and by divine emissaries on the mortal plane, it carries a soothing, melodic cadence, often described by mortals as hearing a memory of peace. Even simple greetings in Eternal hold emotional weight, capable of calming aggression or stirring awe.
Forsworn
This language is a warped evolution of the four Ancient Elven dialects, shattered and reassembled through dark intent and infernal influence. The result is a speech pattern both elegant and cruel, known for its precision and its peril. In Forsworn, many words sound similar but carry vastly different meanings, an intentional complexity that makes deception effortless for devils and dangerously easy to misinterpret for outsiders.
Frozen Court
Frozen Court evolved from necessity, as the fey of the Winter’s Dream adapted to a realm where beauty is fleeting, and survival demands cleverness cloaked in cruelty. As a result, Frozen Court is less about artful expression and more about dominance, manipulation, and enduring hardship. These qualities make it especially appealing to Hags, who relish the language’s built-in capacity for deceit and hexcraft.
Glitch
Glitch is a language commonly spoken by Exile which consists of a set of beeps, buzzes, whines, and whistles strung together into what resembles sentences. Those not affluent in Glitch have come to understand that a whistle ascending in pitch means yes or positive while one descending in pitch was no or negative.
River Court
Known for its ornate phrasing and rhythmic cadence, River Court favors embellishment and emphasis, often layering multiple synonyms into a single sentence for flair, persuasion, or poetic effect. To speak River Court well is to turn conversation into performance, each phrase a dance of sound and intention. Despite its decorative vocabulary, River Court is quick and percussive, spoken with tempo and breath control that mirrors the lively music and theatricals of the Summer’s Dream. Speakers often string together parallel words or phrases to amplify meaning, such as saying, “brilliant, shining, glorious light” instead of simply “light.” It is considered rude, even suspicious, to speak too plainly.
Umbra
Spoken only by beings tied to
The Null and the realms beyond the Architect’s reach, Umbra is not meant for humanoid mouths, and even hearing it properly articulated can disturb the listener's sense of self. Its syllables are made of shifting tones, silences, and discordant frequencies that defy repetition. Unlike other languages in Erenel, Umbra carries no consistent structure or translation. Instead, it pulls at the seams of reality, unraveling the laws of existence and replacing them with entropy. When spoken correctly, even by accident, Umbra extracts essence from listeners, not in flesh or soul, but in definition, weakening their place in the ordered world.
Wyld
Also called Common Fey, Wyld is the most widely spoken tongue within the
Trance, Plane of Dreams, the dreamlike realm where nature, emotion, and magic blur. Unlike the intricate dialects of Frozen Court or River Court, Wyld is a simplified, yet expressive language known for its whimsical bravado and dramatic flair. With a smaller vocabulary and flexible grammar, speakers of Wyld often rely on exaggerated tone, gestures, and emotion to convey meaning.
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