Idalos is home to a number of languages that are used throughout every race and region. As you've noticed while looking through the knowledge base, each race has it's own language that it practices, but what about the rest of the world? Just like the real world, different languages have sprung up from areas where mortals had clustered together to form their own civilizations. Due to this, we have a number of different dialects and languages that players can begin with or learn throughout the game.

Learning Languages

Learning and leveling languages is different than learning and leveling skills. Though they both follow the same process of the point earning system, all languages are equally difficult to learn if one is immersed in a setting where that language is being spoken prolifically.

When you encounter a new language within an RP, be sure to let your reviewer know. It is up to them to reward you with the knowledge, Language: _____. Once your character has been introduced to this language, they may claim points for immersion at the point of review requests, or as knowledge. However, just because your character has been introduced to the language doesn't mean they can speak it just yet. These language-specific knowledges can either be learned as non-skill knowledge, or under the skill Linguistics, depending on the wishes of the player. But the language points awarded by reviewers are the main rubric for checking how proficient one is in the language.

If you wish to learn this language as part of the Linguistics skill, you can list request it from the reviewer as follows: Linguistics: "Lorien: Has a harsh sound to it." for instance.

In both cases, these knowledges count toward the amount of knowledges needed to learn a new language, or improve one's use of a language they already have.

Language Lists

Languages of Moderated Locations

Languages of Unmoderated Locations

Languages with no specific Locale

Racial Langauges

Broken

Broken: To level a learned language to 'Broken', you must have 1 language point in this language, awarded in a review where the player character is immersed in settings where this language is spoken.

Conversational

Conversational: To level a learned language to 'Conversational', you must have at least 6 language point in this language, awarded in reviews where the player character is immersed in settings where this language is spoken.

Fluent

Fluent: To level a learned language to 'Fluent', you must have at least 12 language points in this language, awarded in reviews where the player character is immersed in settings where this language is spoken.

Swear Words

"By the Fates.." or "...if the Fates will..." Really anything about the fates makes sense.
"Rynmere's fire!" Referring to what's called the 'white fire' of the giant beast Rynmere.
"By the Seven.." or "What the Seven..?" Refers to the Sacred Seven, the original seven lords of the noble houses. Those not familiar with Rynmere history may also interpret these expressions as talking about the seven original beings who supposedly shattered after the Immortals creation.
"Peace to the Athivel." An expression than means rest in peace.
"Rookid" A title for someone who is morally lacking. A common insult.
"Wagon Nagger" An expression for someone who 'gets around'. A common insult.
"Bogs!" An expression for 'crap'.
"Fek" or "Fark" I'm sure you all can figure this one out.
"Sard" Another expression for the term above. Also means to have intercourse.
"Syroa's bloody fury..." A phrase that mean 'oh my god' or 'what the heck'.
"Fod-sack" A good-for-nothing individual.
"Foul born" A title for an individual who's existence is less than dirt.
"Skich" Pertaining to an unpleasant situation, person, or thing.
"Wago" An individual who spends time with or has had intercourse with someone of the same gender.
"This is a fire fight..." or "Bloody fire fight!" A phrase used when regarding aggression, a complicated or hostile situation or person.
"Koyar" Pertaining to an individual who gossips, or enjoys adding to gossip, for personal gain. Can sometimes mean 'Harlet' as well.
"________'s Balls!" Another expression of 'crap!'.

Benefit of the Skill, Linguistics

Having and using the Linguistics skill goes hand in hand with languages. Therefore, characters benefit from not only learning languages but studying the rhetoric, dialect, origins, and similarities between languages. For now, this means you have a capacity for learning a certain number of languages per skill in linguistics.

Novice Linguistics: You may learn a maximum of 4 languages.

Competent Linguistics: You may learn a maximum of 8 languages.

Expert Linguistics: You may learn a maximum of 12 languages.

Master Linguistics: You may learn a maximum of 16 languages.

Languages F.A.Q

Q. With this new update, where does a 'basic' language fall?
A. 'Basic' Language = 'Broken' Language.

Q. Can players assume there are NPCs in cities to teach languages they're looking for, regardless of whether the language is listed or not with the city and/or NPC?
A. Yes, players can assume this, however, it is recommended that players send the prophets of that city a PM or post in that city's OOC forum or questions forum regarding which NPC may know the language or if it needs to be moderated.

Q. When leveling a language using methods other than the system described in Learning Languages above, do the language points still apply as a requirement
A. No. When leveling a language using another method, such individual study or moderator reward, the language point requirement is waived or bypassed.

Example 1. A PC is awarded a fluent language and a broken language of their choosing upon start. The skill points and the specific knowledge usually needed to level the languages are waived because the languages have been awarded as part of character creation. Please note, however, that only the broken-level requirements are waived for the broken language.

Example 2. A PC uses the Xypha ability Intuitive Linguist to level an easy language from broken to fluent. The 12 langauge points and usually needed to level that language to fluent are waived through the use of the Xypha ability.

Example 3. A PC is awarded fluency in a medium language in a modded thread. The skill points and specific knowledge usually needed to level that language to fluent are waived because they have been awarded fluency.

Language Bonus

In order to promote and encourage long-term involvement in a location that a PC is invested in, a PC may opt in to a "Loyalty Bonus" for the local language of their area. This reflects the PC picking up colloquialisms and other tidbits of the language in their everyday dealings in the location. The more time they spend in the area around the local language, the more they would recognise its quirks and intricacies.

If the PC spends a total of two (2) separate seasons in the area, they may take the local language of that area up to the level of "Broken" for FREE. If they spend a total of six (6) separate seasons in the area, they may take the local language of that area up to "Conversational" for FREE. If they spend a total of twelve (12) separate seasons in the area, they may take the local language of that area up to "Fluent" for FREE.

These seasons do not need to be consecutive in order to qualify for the local language "Loyalty Bonus". Each season can only be used to count towards the improvement of one local language.

Players must link each local language request in their CS. These requests can either be placed in the Wealth Submissions Thread, or in the Local Language Submissions Thread, both of which are located in the PSF. For example, a PC with a combined total of six (6) wealth requests and/or local language requests located in Scalvoris would be considered to have acquired Scalveen to a "Conversational" level.

Additionally, a PC who is "Fluent" in a local language may add a +1 WP bonus to their wage in that location. This bonus is NOT cumulative. Each season that you are in the location, you get +1 WP to your wage for that Season. For example, for a PC who is fluent in Ith'ession and works in Etzos, any Wealth Threads completed in that location would be eligible for the +1WP bonus. However, if the same PC moves to Rhakros, the +1WP bonus is lost, and the PC would have to learn Xanevic to be eligible for the +1WP bonus in Rhakros. This reflects the employers and merchants of the area looking more favourably upon those who speak the local language.

Credit: Darius Baer