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THE TONGUES OF THE WORLD

Languages

Speech in this world is more than communication — it is power, law, memory, and sometimes heresy.

Major Languages

Arcanum (High Formula)

The Magi’s Precision Tongue

Arcanum is the measured cadence and sigil-names that tell power what shape to take. Each clause carries breath-marks and operator words (bind, carry, invert, ground). It is both spellcraft and legal instrument — within a noble oath-lattice it stabilizes Mana; outside it, it risks tearing the Flux and inviting demons.

Common Speakers:
Imperial Magi • Church Flameward Prelates • Noble Arcane Scribes
Mispronouncing a vowel or mistiming a pause can change the entire working.
Unsworn use of Arcanum is considered extremely dangerous and often heretical.

Nightglass Tongue

Elven Archival Code

Nightglass Tongue is etched into dark, mirror-smooth glass. Every revision becomes a new phoneme — the full meaning only reveals itself under specific moonlight or through Thalrienic lenses. Written Nightglass changes appearance at dusk, midnight, and dawn. Spoken form is a rare hush of silences and soft clicks used to query records.

Common Speakers:
Elven Archivists • Thalrienic Clerics • Deep Nobility
Tampering cannot be hidden — at the new moon, falsified strokes appear as pale scars.

Grave-Chant

Field Necromancy & Battlefield Rites

A low, droning language used to calm and handle the dead. Rhythm matters more than specific words. It keeps spirits from rising and gives the living courage when moving bodies. Used by soldiers, chaplains, undertakers, and anyone who must deal with the fallen on campaign.

Common Speakers:
Imperial Legions • Orc War-Hosts • Church Acolytes • Caravan Guards • Undertakers
Simple glyphs mark cairns and pyres so even mixed companies can perform the rites correctly.

Chainhand Tongue

The Language of Oaths & Binding

Chainhand is the ritual tongue of contracts that bind the soul. It carries three layers: Literal, Intentive, and Reflective (how higher powers interpret the vow). It is used for fealty oaths, indentures, priestly vows, and arcane bindings. The script resembles braided chains and knots.

Common Speakers:
Nobility & Knights • Church Clergy • Imperial Magi • Inferni (both feared and revered)
Speaking Chainhand falsely can cause physical backlash — burning tongue, voice loss, or soul-marking.
Breaking a properly witnessed Chainhand vow invokes divine or arcane punishment.

Shattercant

The Heretical Tongue of Unbinding

The forbidden mirror of Chainhand. Where Chainhand binds through law and light, Shattercant unbinds through shadow and deceit. It is used to fracture oaths, invert pacts, and defy divine order. The Church considers its very utterance a crime worthy of soul-flaying.

Common Speakers:
Umbral Path Heretics • Some Rogue Magi & Spies • Certain Inferni Revolutionaries
Possession or use of Shattercant is punishable by execution. Known side effects include Echo Fever and Soul Splintering.

Languages by Race

Every character begins with certain languages based on their race. You also choose one additional language at creation. All other languages must be learned in-game through teachers or self-study.

Humans

Starting Languages:
  • Imperial Common (50%)
Creation Choice (pick one):
  • Valcoric (Human Nobility)
  • Aureonic (Holy Tongue)

Dark Elves

Starting Languages:
  • Kyra’Tel (Basic Elven)
  • Vel’kyran (Elven Nobility)
Creation Choice (pick one):
  • Common (50%)
  • Syl’Thalen (Forest Elven)
  • Veal’Serin (High Elven)
  • Nightglass Tongue
  • Khuralic

High Elves

Starting Languages:
  • Kyra’Tel (Basic Elven)
  • Veal’Serin (High Elven)
  • Common (50%)
  • Imperial
Creation Choice (pick one):
  • Syl’Thalen (Forest Elven)
  • Vel’kyran (Elven Nobility)
  • Khuralic

Forest Elves

Starting Languages:
  • Kyra’Tel (Basic Elven)
  • Syl’Thalen (Forest Elven)
  • Common (50%)
  • Khuralic
Creation Choice (pick one):
  • Veal’Serin (High Elven)
  • Vel’kyran (Elven Nobility)
  • Imperial

Orcs

Starting Languages:
  • Khuralic
  • Common (50%)
Creation Choice (pick one):
  • Rink’tek
  • Grave-Chant

Inferni

Starting Languages:
  • Cinderine
  • Imperial Common (50%)
Creation Choice (pick one):
  • Ash Cant
  • Valcoric
  • Rink’tek
  • Khuralic
  • Vek’shaar

Goblins

Starting Languages:
  • Rink’Tek
  • Common (50%)
  • Khuralic
Creation Choice (pick one):
  • Ash Cant
  • Cinderine
  • Imperial Common (100%)
  • Vek’shaar
Language is power. Speak carefully.