Auran

Auran is the dialect of the elemental tongue spoken by creatures native to the Elemental Plane of Air. It is descended from Primordial, the ancient root language of the elements, but has developed its own identity over time. Auran is shaped by the nature of its environment. It is a language of motion, rhythm, and sound carried on the wind. Where other languages press against the air, Auran rides with it.   The spoken form of Auran is light, breathy, and often difficult for non-native speakers to reproduce correctly. It relies on long, soft consonants, airy syllables, and short bursts of high-pitched tone. The language favors exhaled sounds, whispered inflections, and subtle shifts in volume. It carries well over long distances, especially through open spaces or elevated terrain. Native speakers can communicate without strain in strong winds or thin air. To an outsider, Auran may sound like wind through tall grass, the rush of wings, or the whistling of a distant storm.   Its grammar is built around motion and intent. Auran gives priority to action, position, and direction rather than ownership or permanence. Verbs are central to sentence structure. Nouns are often implied rather than stated outright, especially when the context is understood between speakers. Adjectives are few. Instead, meaning is changed by altering tone, pitch, and rhythm. A soft rising phrase might indicate a greeting. A clipped descending tone might indicate a warning.   Because of this reliance on sound quality, the same word spoken differently can mean something entirely different. A single root term might refer to air, breath, wind, or soul depending on the pitch and inflection. This makes Auran highly expressive but also difficult to learn. Mortal speakers often lack the vocal control or lung capacity to master it. Most learn simplified versions or use magic to approximate the correct sound patterns.   Auran has little tradition of writing. Among air elementals and similar creatures, speech and song are sufficient for all needs. When written, Auran uses looping symbols that curve and spiral, resembling clouds, gusts, or the flow of wind. These markings are usually carved into stone or pressed into metal, as parchment and paper do not endure well in high-altitude regions. Even among those who write it, Auran is rarely used for long texts. Most written examples are short messages, wind-direction markers, or magical notations.   Auran is spoken primarily by air elementals, djinn, and other beings native to high skies, floating cities, or cloud-bound regions. Some avian races or planar travelers may speak it as a second language, particularly those who navigate or dwell in elevated or wind-driven environments. Scholars of elemental magic may study Auran to communicate more effectively with planar entities or to cast certain types of wind or flight-based spells.   The language reflects the traits of the plane from which it came. It is light but persistent. It moves freely but can shift without warning. It does not anchor itself to formality or permanence. Instead, it captures the essence of something felt rather than seen. To speak Auran fluently is to understand the motion of air and the space between sound and silence.