The Dark Speech
Developed by the decadent rulers of the Evil Empire, this language harms the very soul.
Effect
Anyone hearing the Dark Speech is able to understand the speaker's ill intent and power. Depending on the listener's sense of morality, they might be terrified or inspired to loyalty. There is also a grammatical form for cursing the fabric of reality, which lets users of the Dark Speech weaken solid objects.
Side/Secondary Effects
Users of the Dark Speech become tired and frail the more they speak it. It seems that physically and mentally tough individuals can resist more than an average person.
Manifestation
It is difficult to separate any sensory effects of the Dark Speech from its power over the mind. Does it really make the room feel empty and cold, or is that just primal fear instincts at work? Some people have even said the words sound like they're repeated by a chorus of whispers.
Source
Imperial nobles said their special words were drawn from the fabric of pure, unfettered evil. However, it seems likely that it evolved with the Empire from a magical shorthand. The Dark Speech changed with the times, and many mages, rulers and popular speakers must have refined it for their own needs. It is one of the most complex languages on Tephra, requiring emotional tone shifts and a will to disregard others, as well as the difficult pronunciations.
Discovery
The Empress Catarin of the Wheel was the first great name to popularize the Dark Speech, and she eventually died from overusing it. The Dark Speech was a mark of prestige and a sign of a strong will - those who could speak it were often given preferential treatment in the brutal high society of the Empire.
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