Sections

Main Page

Geography

History

Religion

Languages

Calendar

Characters

Races

Languages

There is no common language spoken throughout the world. The distances are too far and the journeys too long for a common language to have developed. Traders often learn the language of their trading partners, but most traders only deal with one or two different regions beyond their home port, so no common trading language has developed. Traders going to new places often invest in a translator to help them communicate and pick up the language.

Generally, languages are region-bound. They do not necessarily follow the borders of kingdoms, but they often do, although many kingdoms in the same geographical region often share one language.

Racial languages do not exist. There used to be an elven language a long time ago, and ancient written items that are found may be in this language, but very few elves know how to read this today, and even fewer know how to speak it. It is more the realm of sages (human or elven) interested in history, rather than a thing for the common elf living today. The dwarven language shares a similar fate. Also note that the ancient versions of these languages also varied by region, although less than today's languages, so even someone versed in one of the old languages may have severe trouble when encountering something from far away.

Note that the lack of common languages holds true with monstrous tongues as well, in particular those that are not supernatural in origin. So for example, there is no goblin tongue that all goblins across the globe speak.

Known Languages

  • Banegian - This is the language spoken (and written) on the entire kingdom of the Windclaw Isles. The language is actually named after the second-largest of the Isles, but the name is far older than the kingdom. This probably indicates that the language had its roots on Banega, and that it spread from there, although it is quite possible that in reality, only the name survived and the language is more of a hybrid of the original languages of the different islands. In any case, when the kingdom of the Windclaw Isles were founded, the king realized the importance of having everyone in the kingdom being able to speak to each other, so he put a huge effort into getting rid of all the other languages spoken on the islands. Banegian was at that time clearly the largest language, at that time spoken by about 80% of the populace, so the king's efforts met with rather quick and efficient success. Even today, a few people around the isles know one of the old languages, but everyone on the isles today learns Banegian as their primary language. This languages is not well know outside the Windclaw Isles, although sailors traveling to the isles usually know it, as well as merchants and other business people in the larger cities on Kambaria.
  • Asalian - This is one of the languages spoken on the continent of Kambaria. It is mainly spoken in the kingdom of Asalia, but it is generally easy to find someone who knows the language in the neighboring countries of Girecia and Thaon too, especially in the cities, although the average peasant population cannot be expected to know it.
  • Girec - This is the language of the kingdom of Girecia, located to the south of Asalia. It is fairly well known in Asalia, especially in the larger cities.
  • Thaonian - This language is spoken in Thaon, the kingdom to the east of Asalia. It is not quite as well known in Asalia as Girec, mostly because of longer travel times and a slightly more "uncivilized" travel route.
  • Ancient Dwarvish - This is the languages spoken by the dwarves of the isles in the old times. Today, nobody speaks this language any more, but some historians may know it, and it is also encountered in written form in old dwarven ruins
  • Ancient Elvish - This is the old language of the elves of the islands. This language is no longer spoken, but can be encountered in written form in old elven ruins, and sufficient old elves and historians may know it.