| Site Index > Rules > Character > Skills > Knowledge > Languages (Uncommon) |
| Languages (Uncommon) | |
  |
These are languages actively spoken in the world, but difficult to find a teacher for.
Description
Uncommon languages represent languages either actively spoken by a species without a homeland in the modern era, or a language that is no longer in active use.
These languages can only be acquired through being a member of a particular species or roleplaying skills (typically Scholar).
| Skill Name | Skill Tree | Prerequisite(s) | Skill Point Cost | Description
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andaranian Language | Knowledge | Scholar Roleplay Skill or Vargainen PC Creation | - | Speak the language of Vargainen and ancient Novitas.
|
| Apian Language
| Knowledge | Scholar Roleplay Skill or Verduran PC Creation | - | Speak the language of Insects.
|
| Canine Language
| Knowledge | Scholar Roleplay Skill | - | Speak the language of Kazvaks and some Lycanthropes.
|
| Diabolic Language
| Knowledge | Scholar Roleplay Skill or Faekin PC Creation | - | Speak the language of the Dark Fae.
|
| Draconic Language
| Knowledge | Scholar Roleplay Skill or Drake PC Creation | - | Speak the language of piscenes, reptilians and drakes.
|
| Sylvan Language
| Knowledge | Scholar Roleplay Skill or Faekin PC Creation | - | Speak the language of the Light Fae. |
Uncommon Language Details
Andaranian
This is a dead language, no longer actively spoken in Novitas by any one who lives there. Most often it is found in texts from days long past. It is not unheard of for creatures so disconnected from mortality to assume that this language is still in active use, and as such these creatures will sometimes attempt to communicate using it and be very confused when those present have no idea what they are saying.
After the continent of Varganien made contact with the Novitas in 1600, it was discovered that this was their primary language. Characters from Vargainen get this as a free language.
Documents written in Andaranian are represented by this font: https://www.dafont.com/clavat-script.font
Apian
The language of intelligent insectoid creatures of Novitas. Different species have different levels of proficiency with the language, with Ettercaps being generally the most proficient of all the insectoid species. Most speakers of this language do not read or write it, again with Buzzer Queens and Ettercaps being the most notable exceptions.
Verdurans get this language for free.
Documents written in Apian are represented by this font: https://www.dafont.com/rigidia.font
Canine
The language of Kazvaks, a species that blends characteristics of humans and dogs. Written Kazvak documents exist but are relatively rare as most Kazvaks don't know how to read or write. Typically written Kazvak is incredibly simplistic, single words to pass along warnings or markings of territory. Most often full documents written in Canine were produced by other speakers who wish to use Canine as a way to pass hidden messages to one another.
Documents written in Canine are represented by this font: https://www.dafont.com/maras-eye.font
Diabolic
This is the language of the Dark Fae. Often learned by their Faekin descendants as part of their heritage. In the past this has been considered a dangerous language to learn because the Dark Fae aren't the most reliable of teachers.
Faekin with dark fae lineage can gain this as a free language at character creation. Should the character be an earthkin or an elf, they may elect to take Terran or Elvish instead. The language that not taken at character creation can still be obtained using skill points (in the case of Terran and Elvish) or the scholar roleplay skill (in the case of Diabolic).
Documents written in Diabolic are represented by this font: https://www.dafont.com/beth-david.font
Draconic:
Originally spoken by the Dragons who have faded from the land of Novitas. It is still used to this day by Drakes, Pisceans, and many Reptilian creatures. No present-day nations actively speak this language, though there are a significant number of sentient creatures who use it as their primary language.
Drakes gain this as a free language.
Documents written in Draconic are typically represented by the Daedric language from the Elder Scrolls franchise.
Two examples of this font can be found at: https://www.dafont.com/runes-the-elder-scroll.font and https://www.dafont.com/skyrim-daedra.font
Sylvan
This is the language of the Light Fae. Often learned by their Faekin descendants as part of their heritage.
Faekin with light fae lineage can gain this as a free language at character creation. Should the character be an earthkin or an elf, they may elect to take Terran or Elvish instead. The language not taken at character creation can still be obtained using skill points (in the case of Terran and Elvish) or the scholar roleplay skill (in the case of Sylvan).
Documents written in Sylvan are represented by this font: https://www.dafont.com/elvish.font
References
Speaking Foreign Languages
Characters who know languages other than Common can speak them at any time. To do this announce what language you are speaking and then proceed to say what you want to say.
It is a common misconception that you must use a hand signal while speaking another language but this not an actual rule, just a common practice. It is easier to use a hand signal than say 'In Draconic' repeatedly, but it isn't always possible if your hands are full or you are otherwise unable to make a hand signal. |
Literacy
If your character has a language skill to speak a language they can automatically read and write in that language. Should you desire your character be illiterate that is perfectly acceptable and you can roleplay that however you desire as long as you are consistent. Learning to read and write could be a very interesting arc for character development. Just don't suddenly regress and spontaneously cease to be literate without cause.
Different languages are all represented by different fonts for in-game documents. For simplicity sake these fonts are simple replacements of English letters with characters that don't look like English. This means that someone could treat foreign languages as a cipher, and translate them back into English. Don't do this. Other languages have different grammar structures, different words, different structure. They don't follow the rules of English. Translating an unknown language is a painstaking process that could take years to figure out one document. We use alternative fonts for simplicity sake to create interesting looking props, they are not designed to be solvable puzzles.
Documents of any importance that are written in other languages should always include a translation in normal English fonts. These can be read by anyone who speaks the corresponding language in-game. These translations will note at the top what language is needed to read it, saying something like '<In Elvish>'. When you see this, only read the translation if you speak the language.
The fonts are available for players to download so they can make their own props using them. A simple prop like a bow that says "Pew Pew Pew" in Elvish on it, looks cool, and adds to the setting while carefully concealing a joke so that it's subtle. No one needs to know what the bow says. Characters who want to be able to translate this kind of prop can get a translation guide from the logistics desk for any language they can speak. This is the one time where translating alternative fonts back to English is appropriate... to see the inconsequential, but fun little details people have added to enrich the game.
Savant Title
A character earns the Savant title after obtaining all 20 production points and learning the following skills:
- Alchemy Mastery
- Brew Potion
- Scribe Scroll
- Estimate Value
- First Aid
- Herbalism
- Read Magic
- At least one language that was not inherited at the character's creation.
- Note that every character gains the Common language at creation, even if you choose to roleplay that you don't know it, so does not count towards this title.
Savants gain 5 production points that break cap. When producing potions or scrolls Savants, instead of being limited to only spells they know, may also copy potions and scrolls they have on hand to determine which they can make. This cannot be used to copy scarce items.
Only Savants can use an Alchemist's Laboratory.
Scholar Roleplaying Skill
Unlike other roleplaying skills Scholar may be taken by any player regardless of what role-playing skills they may possess. Though the name might imply someone who spends all day studying books and learning through formal teaching, it doesn't have to be that. Scholars can be shamans of a Dellan tribe, wise people, craft people well trained in the arts, explorers who have met many different cultures, or any number of other learned individuals.
| Skill Name
| Skill Tree | Prerequisite(s) | Skill Point Cost | Description
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scholar 1 (Beginner)
| Role-Playing | Plot Marshal Permission | 4 | Learn lore of the world between events. Speak an uncommon language. Learn one ritual skill.
|
| Scholar 2 (Trained)
| Role-Playing | Plot Marshal Permission and Scholar 1 (Beginner) | 4 | Speak one more uncommon language. Learn two new ritual skills. Substitute basic ritual components 1/event/scholar level.
|
| Scholar 3 (Proficient)
| Role-Playing | Plot Marshal Permission and Scholar | 4 | Speak two more uncommon languages. Learn two new ritual skills. May craft tomes.
|
| Scholar 4 (Expert)
| Role-Playing | Plot Marshal Permission and Scholar | 4 | Learn one uncommon language and a rare language. Learn two more ritual skills. Learn a signature spell.
|
| Scholar 5 (Master)
| Role-Playing | Plot Marshal Permission and Scholar | 4 | Work with Rules Staff to create a custom ability. |
Categories: Skills | Knowledge Skills | Languages
| Site Index | About Us | Event Calendar | Novitas Linktree | Contact Us |
 |