| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Herkles |
Posted - 11 Jul 2009 : 03:07:46
greetings fellow scribes,
I come seeking lore on Languages in religions. I am wondering if there is any language that religions of the Fearunian pantheon would normally speak in. Or is it just the language that is used in the local area?
I am wondering, since I know that Latin is sometimes used by the roman Catholic church and I was wondering if anything similar was for certain religions.
Thanks for the help
~herkles~ |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 13 Jul 2009 : 00:52:20
For what its worth, I'm thinking Celestial works (for the good side of things). Its even an available language for 3.5 clerics beyond those available for race. |
| Nerfed2Hell |
Posted - 13 Jul 2009 : 00:13:45
I thought Thorass was a trader's language. Seems inappropriate for a religious thing... except maybe for a diety involved with trade, such as maybe Waukeen. |
| Kajehase |
Posted - 12 Jul 2009 : 12:00:26
It could be possibble that some of the stuffier religions might use Old Thorass as a ceremonial language. |
| Nerfed2Hell |
Posted - 12 Jul 2009 : 01:54:20
Maybe there's very little to say about it because its supposed to be a secret language.  |
| The Sage |
Posted - 12 Jul 2009 : 01:20:39
Ed likely has notes on Druidic, so it's probably worth checking with him.
As for what little what was included on the language in the 2e Complete Druid's Handbook though, as well as the one or two [very brief] tidbits in the 1e/2e FR boxed sets, Druidic has never received much attention in the source material.
Tom Costa also had a little to say on Druidic too, in his "Speaking in Tongues" article from DRAGON Magazine Annual 4.
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| Markustay |
Posted - 11 Jul 2009 : 22:37:25
Well, I wasn't quite sure about Druidic...
I know a lot of languages got nerfed in 3e, like Drow and the alignment-specific ones (which was probably a good idea), but I wasn't certain about Druidic.
I have no idea what, if any, were lost in 4e, but going by everything else, I would assume that languages took a hit as well. If there were any religion-specific languages before, I'm sure they are gone now.
Still, its your game, and you can do whatever you want.  |
| Nerfed2Hell |
Posted - 11 Jul 2009 : 21:17:26
Anyhow... I'd say use planar tongues as appropriate to the diety. Celestial for good gods, one of the two fiendish languages for gods, elemental where appropriate (Aquan for Istishia, Ignan for Kossuth, etc) and so on.
The thing about religion in the Realms is that the religions aren't based on archaic, ancient texts that each successive generation of faithful must learn the language of to become enlightened. The gods are alive and communicate regularly with their faithful... thus, new information is recorded in current languages.
Ancient languages are still a good idea for old texts that the faithful might have to go back to and research, but the modern faiths shouldn't be rooted in the oldest of old texts... unless it is a newly reawakened faith, in which case I suggest whatever regional language is appropriate for the time and place where the religion was last prominent. |
| Nerfed2Hell |
Posted - 11 Jul 2009 : 21:10:29
Really? I thought Druidic did make it to 3e. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 11 Jul 2009 : 15:30:06
Druidic used to be part of D&D, but I don't think it made it as far as 3e (and certainly not 4e). That would be the only one I could think of off-hand, and it's kinda cool in that it is religion-specific, but not god-specific.
I would assume followers of Mask use Thieves Cant quite a bit, but I have no idea if religous ceremonies would be held in it.
And, of course, Drow is spoken by worshippers of the anti-Seldarine, but I'm not sure that counts, and I'm not sure if that made it as far as 3rd edition either (IIRC, Drow speak a distinctive dialect of Elvish in 3e, rather then their own tongue). There is a Drow 'High Tongue' (can't think of the name ATM, or even if it has one) that is used specifically by Drow Priestesses of Lolth. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 11 Jul 2009 : 15:18:38
The only examples that immediately come to mind at the moment, are those used by the faithful of both Savras and Gargauth in Bloodwalk. |
| Herkles |
Posted - 11 Jul 2009 : 13:52:47
Oh, I know that. However I suppose what I am looking for are ancient languages that would be used similar to Latin. Since I am hoping to create a feel of an ancient language that is mostly used by the clergy alongside the common language of the area. |
| Ergdusch |
Posted - 11 Jul 2009 : 13:30:45
I've never heard of anything like a religious language, aside from celestrial and demonic languages.
Moreover, in the case of latin being widely used in catholic church this comes from the fact that when this religion developed latin was the predominant laguage for any writings per se. So the major religious book - the bible - was only available in latin.
Given that, I could imagine that some faiths in the Realms with major centers of worship use fraises in certain ceremonies that are based on the language that is used in that place major center of worship, as the development and guidelines may come from that part of the Realms.
However, most religions in the Realms are not that centralized and well organized as is the catholic church with the Holy Seat at the Vatican.
Just a thought.... |
