So some of these languages I understand, who speaks them and why, but not all of them, any help?
Common- Universal language, 9,999/10,000 know it. Vedalken- what is this language? who speaks it? why Abyssal- Demon Language Celestial- Angel Language Daelkyr- What is this language? who speaks it? why Deep Speech what is this language? who speaks it? why Draconic- Dragon language Dwarvish- Dwarf Language Elvish- Elf language Giant- Language of the Giants Gith- What is this language? who speaks it? why Gnomish- Gnomes speaks it Goblin- Goblins language Halfing- Hobbit language Infernal- Devil Language Kraul- what is this language? who speaks it? why Loxodon- What is this language? who speaks it? why Minotaur- Minotaur Language? Orc- Orc Language Primordial- This is like elemental language? Quori- what is this language? who speaks it? why Riedran- what is this language? who speaks it? why
Sylvan- the language of the Fey? Undercommon- this is the underdark language?
A lot of the ones you can't identify are from Eberron and The Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica. Gith features heavily in the Rrakkma adventure and is spoken by the Gith race.
So some of these languages I understand, who speaks them and why, but not all of them, any help?
Vedalken- what is this language? who speaks it? why Daelkyr- What is this language? who speaks it? why Deep Speech what is this language? who speaks it? why Gith- What is this language? who speaks it? why Kraul- what is this language? who speaks it? why Loxodon- What is this language? who speaks it? why Minotaur- Minotaur Language? Primordial- This is like elemental language? Quori- what is this language? who speaks it? why Riedran- what is this language? who speaks it? why
Sylvan- the language of the Fey? Undercommon- this is the underdark language?
First for the forgotten realms languages you don't know (which to be fair the core rules and even forgotten real setting books never talk about languages):
Deep speech: language from the far realms. An alien language spoken by aberrations and great old ones. Think cthulhu language.
Gith: the language of the gith. A race of humanoids once slaved by mind flayers. Now half the race are space pirates and the other half are Jedi.
Primordial: yes the language of the elementals (often broken into 4 dialects: auran, aquan, ignan, and terran) but also of ancient beings that inhabited the world before the gods reformed it (like krakens)
Sylvan: yep, fey. And elven is derived from it. I think there is some old lore that it is the language of the natural world and beasts and plants can understand it, but that certainly isn't in the rulebooks, so...
Undercommon: basically the common language of monstrous humanoids and races that don't interact with the common speaking races.
Vedalken, kraul, Loxodon, and minotaur are languages from GGtR and are spoken by races of the same name.
The remaining languages are from Eberron:
Daelkyr is the eberron equivalent of deep speech.
Quori: language of aliens by the same name from the dream dimension.
Riedran: is a native language of a specific continent
Don't you want to know why Common language is so widely spoken?
My favorite theory is that it evolved as a "trade language" that propagated throughout races that had frequent dealings among the other denizens of the material plane, and only Humans adopted it as their primary (and sometimes only) language - possibly heavily based on the Human's original language now long lost.
I think that the above theory probably comes from the lore that Undercommon is a trade language between monstrous peoples, most commonly used in the Underdark.
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Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider. My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong. I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲 “It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
More information about languages can be found under Languages in Chapter 4 of Basic Rules / Player's Handbook.. (clicky).
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Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond. Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ thisFAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
There are also other Languages, but some of them are illegible to other races without magic. Illithids use a type of tactile writing imbued with psionic impressions. (One outside source suggested that they read and write Qualith with their faces - face tentacles actually. Kind of silly to visualize but not all the impossible to believe.) It is rare to need to use Qualith, but a colony of an Elder Brain could come across some messages left behind from another colony of another Elder Brain. A warning of a strong Gith or Kuo-toa presence or a final request for revenge against some foe that defeated a colony or other reasons...
Undercommon appears to have roots in Elvish through the Drow, the primary source of trade in the Underdark. Whenever the Underdark races can tolerate each other enough for commerce, Undercommon is what they use... including Illithids (whose name is an Underdark word for "Mind Rulers" or "Mind Flayers"). One can expect to find some Common down there but only for the races that could have some non-violent dealings with the surface world.
Funny thing about Common: It's whatever the players' use for their game. Italian is Common when people play in Italian. Russian is Common when people play in Russian. Korean is Common when people play in Korean. So, it is a misconception that Common is English. It is English only if played in English.
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Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider. My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong. I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲 “It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
Is vampirc language the same as abyssal? Or is it a different language on the languages choice list.
Vampires don't have their own language.
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Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond. Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ thisFAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
I figure undead that retain intelligence would use the languages they knew upon transforming/dying/returning/whatevering, unless they had experiences during the transition that would give them knowledge of another language, but I don't think Vampires have that opportunity. Their long life gives them opportunity to learn more languages, but as far as known 5e lore, they have not developed their own specific Vampiric language.
A matter of possession could have the language of the possessor, the vessel, or both if the knowledge is being shared between them, but Vampires are not possessed by another.
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Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider. My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong. I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲 “It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
As I understand it, daelkyr = Deep Speech? So if my character can speak both, one language "slot" is wasted (Since I can assign both in the character builder here). Is that correct?
In the Eberron Wiki it says that "The daelkyr language is the root language for Deep Speech.". But I have not discovered anything in the monsters-section that speaks daelkyr - in fact, every daelkyr entity only speaks Deep Speech (Belashyrra and Dyrrn for example). Also there, it says that with fourth edition, daelkyr merged with Deep Speech. So I guess I'm answering my own question here - just wanted to make sure I'm not missing something... I guess I'm just confused as to why I can choose both languages in the character builder.
Because Daelkyr is a language exclusive to Eberron and is only spoken there by the abberations. It would be a waste of a slot in literally any other setting where the Daelkyr do not exist, but on Eberron? On Eberron, if you don't speak Daelkyr, you cannot understand the Daelkyr.
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Formerly Devan Avalon.
Trying to get your physical content on Beyond is like going to Microsoft and saying "I have a physical Playstation disk, give me a digital Xbox version!"
As I understand it, daelkyr = Deep Speech? So if my character can speak both, one language "slot" is wasted (Since I can assign both in the character builder here). Is that correct?
In the Eberron Wiki it says that "The daelkyr language is the root language for Deep Speech.". But I have not discovered anything in the monsters-section that speaks daelkyr - in fact, every daelkyr entity only speaks Deep Speech (Belashyrra and Dyrrn for example). Also there, it says that with fourth edition, daelkyr merged with Deep Speech. So I guess I'm answering my own question here - just wanted to make sure I'm not missing something... I guess I'm just confused as to why I can choose both languages in the character builder.
Basically, the distinction doesn't matter unless you are playing a spelljammer campaign. On eberron, there is no deep speech, everything that would know it knows daelkyr instead. The opposite is true for forgotten realms.
As I understand it, daelkyr = Deep Speech? So if my character can speak both, one language "slot" is wasted (Since I can assign both in the character builder here). Is that correct?
In the Eberron Wiki it says that "The daelkyr language is the root language for Deep Speech.". But I have not discovered anything in the monsters-section that speaks daelkyr - in fact, every daelkyr entity only speaks Deep Speech (Belashyrra and Dyrrn for example). Also there, it says that with fourth edition, daelkyr merged with Deep Speech. So I guess I'm answering my own question here - just wanted to make sure I'm not missing something... I guess I'm just confused as to why I can choose both languages in the character builder.
Basically, the distinction doesn't matter unless you are playing a spelljammer campaign. On eberron, there is no deep speech, everything that would know it knows daelkyr instead. The opposite is true for forgotten realms.
Lore-wise, I'm 100% in agreement, but the daelkyr statblocks in E:RftLW all have Deep Speech as a language and not Daelkyr.
If Daelkyr is the root of Deep Speech, then Deep Speech is to Daelkyr what Aquan, Auran, etc are to Primordial. If you know Primordial, any of the 4 dialects would mostly understand you. But from one dialect to another, while you'd be able to get some things across, you wouldn't be able to others.
That said, do we know of any other dialects of Daelkyr besides Deep? If there are none, then yes it is a distinction without a difference.
In 3.5, daelkyr was the language spoken on Xoriat, and mainly used by the "true" daelkyr, along with some aberrations. But then, that edition also had languages for each of the planes (Irial, Kythric, etc)
If I had to guess, I would say that Daelkyr was added as a language in anticipation of it being needed when the monsters were being set in the official Eberron book, but then it wasn't needed. Wayfinder's did not have Daelkyr monsters in it when it came out, and Daelkyr was not a language option at that time. (I know because I had a long running 3.5 Eberron campaign going, and my players converted to 5e when Wayfinder's released.)
Long story short, if you're playing in an Eberron campaign, check with your DM as to whether or not it's even a language in their version of the world. If they are going by old lore, they probably have it as a language, but if they're just using 5e lore, it probably will never come up. (Since none of the 5e monsters have it.)
So some of these languages I understand, who speaks them and why, but not all of them, any help?
Common- Universal language, 9,999/10,000 know it. Vedalken- what is this language? who speaks it? why Abyssal- Demon Language Celestial- Angel Language Daelkyr- What is this language? who speaks it? why Deep Speech what is this language? who speaks it? why Draconic- Dragon language Dwarvish- Dwarf Language Elvish- Elf language Giant- Language of the Giants Gith- What is this language? who speaks it? why Gnomish- Gnomes speaks it Goblin- Goblins language Halfing- Hobbit language Infernal- Devil Language Kraul- what is this language? who speaks it? why Loxodon- What is this language? who speaks it? why Minotaur- Minotaur Language? Orc- Orc Language Primordial- This is like elemental language? Quori- what is this language? who speaks it? why Riedran- what is this language? who speaks it? why
Sylvan- the language of the Fey? Undercommon- this is the underdark language?
In addition to the OP, why do all these languages show up as options when I filter out Eberron, Critical Role & Ravnica?
In addition to the OP, why do all these languages show up as options when I filter out Eberron, Critical Role & Ravnica?
The languages list does not have source tags. The way it is stored on the server isn't set up that way. I'm pretty sure this is on their to-do list. They didn't future proof for setting dependent languages.
So some of these languages I understand, who speaks them and why, but not all of them, any help?
Common- Universal language, 9,999/10,000 know it.
Vedalken- what is this language? who speaks it? why
Abyssal- Demon Language
Celestial- Angel Language
Daelkyr- What is this language? who speaks it? why
Deep Speech what is this language? who speaks it? why
Draconic- Dragon language
Dwarvish- Dwarf Language
Elvish- Elf language
Giant- Language of the Giants
Gith- What is this language? who speaks it? why
Gnomish- Gnomes speaks it
Goblin- Goblins language
Halfing- Hobbit language
Infernal- Devil Language
Kraul- what is this language? who speaks it? why
Loxodon- What is this language? who speaks it? why
Minotaur- Minotaur Language?
Orc- Orc Language
Primordial- This is like elemental language?
Quori- what is this language? who speaks it? why
Riedran- what is this language? who speaks it? why
Sylvan- the language of the Fey?
Undercommon- this is the underdark language?
A lot of the ones you can't identify are from Eberron and The Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica. Gith features heavily in the Rrakkma adventure and is spoken by the Gith race.
First for the forgotten realms languages you don't know (which to be fair the core rules and even forgotten real setting books never talk about languages):
Vedalken, kraul, Loxodon, and minotaur are languages from GGtR and are spoken by races of the same name.
The remaining languages are from Eberron:
Don't you want to know why Common language is so widely spoken?
My favorite theory is that it evolved as a "trade language" that propagated throughout races that had frequent dealings among the other denizens of the material plane, and only Humans adopted it as their primary (and sometimes only) language - possibly heavily based on the Human's original language now long lost.
I think that the above theory probably comes from the lore that Undercommon is a trade language between monstrous peoples, most commonly used in the Underdark.
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider.
My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong.
I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲
“It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
More information about languages can be found under Languages in Chapter 4 of Basic Rules / Player's Handbook.. (clicky).
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
There are also other Languages, but some of them are illegible to other races without magic. Illithids use a type of tactile writing imbued with psionic impressions. (One outside source suggested that they read and write Qualith with their faces - face tentacles actually. Kind of silly to visualize but not all the impossible to believe.) It is rare to need to use Qualith, but a colony of an Elder Brain could come across some messages left behind from another colony of another Elder Brain. A warning of a strong Gith or Kuo-toa presence or a final request for revenge against some foe that defeated a colony or other reasons...
Undercommon appears to have roots in Elvish through the Drow, the primary source of trade in the Underdark. Whenever the Underdark races can tolerate each other enough for commerce, Undercommon is what they use... including Illithids (whose name is an Underdark word for "Mind Rulers" or "Mind Flayers"). One can expect to find some Common down there but only for the races that could have some non-violent dealings with the surface world.
Funny thing about Common: It's whatever the players' use for their game. Italian is Common when people play in Italian. Russian is Common when people play in Russian. Korean is Common when people play in Korean. So, it is a misconception that Common is English. It is English only if played in English.
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider.
My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong.
I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲
“It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
Is vampirc language the same as abyssal? Or is it a different language on the languages choice list.
Vampires don't have their own language.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
I figure undead that retain intelligence would use the languages they knew upon transforming/dying/returning/whatevering, unless they had experiences during the transition that would give them knowledge of another language, but I don't think Vampires have that opportunity. Their long life gives them opportunity to learn more languages, but as far as known 5e lore, they have not developed their own specific Vampiric language.
A matter of possession could have the language of the possessor, the vessel, or both if the knowledge is being shared between them, but Vampires are not possessed by another.
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider.
My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong.
I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲
“It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
Quick question... sorry for the late post...
As I understand it, daelkyr = Deep Speech? So if my character can speak both, one language "slot" is wasted (Since I can assign both in the character builder here). Is that correct?
In the Eberron Wiki it says that "The daelkyr language is the root language for Deep Speech.". But I have not discovered anything in the monsters-section that speaks daelkyr - in fact, every daelkyr entity only speaks Deep Speech (Belashyrra and Dyrrn for example). Also there, it says that with fourth edition, daelkyr merged with Deep Speech. So I guess I'm answering my own question here - just wanted to make sure I'm not missing something... I guess I'm just confused as to why I can choose both languages in the character builder.
Because Daelkyr is a language exclusive to Eberron and is only spoken there by the abberations. It would be a waste of a slot in literally any other setting where the Daelkyr do not exist, but on Eberron? On Eberron, if you don't speak Daelkyr, you cannot understand the Daelkyr.
Formerly Devan Avalon.
Trying to get your physical content on Beyond is like going to Microsoft and saying "I have a physical Playstation disk, give me a digital Xbox version!"
Basically, the distinction doesn't matter unless you are playing a spelljammer campaign. On eberron, there is no deep speech, everything that would know it knows daelkyr instead. The opposite is true for forgotten realms.
Lore-wise, I'm 100% in agreement, but the daelkyr statblocks in E:RftLW all have Deep Speech as a language and not Daelkyr.
If Daelkyr is the root of Deep Speech, then Deep Speech is to Daelkyr what Aquan, Auran, etc are to Primordial. If you know Primordial, any of the 4 dialects would mostly understand you. But from one dialect to another, while you'd be able to get some things across, you wouldn't be able to others.
That said, do we know of any other dialects of Daelkyr besides Deep? If there are none, then yes it is a distinction without a difference.
In 3.5, daelkyr was the language spoken on Xoriat, and mainly used by the "true" daelkyr, along with some aberrations. But then, that edition also had languages for each of the planes (Irial, Kythric, etc)
If I had to guess, I would say that Daelkyr was added as a language in anticipation of it being needed when the monsters were being set in the official Eberron book, but then it wasn't needed. Wayfinder's did not have Daelkyr monsters in it when it came out, and Daelkyr was not a language option at that time. (I know because I had a long running 3.5 Eberron campaign going, and my players converted to 5e when Wayfinder's released.)
Long story short, if you're playing in an Eberron campaign, check with your DM as to whether or not it's even a language in their version of the world. If they are going by old lore, they probably have it as a language, but if they're just using 5e lore, it probably will never come up. (Since none of the 5e monsters have it.)
In addition to the OP, why do all these languages show up as options when I filter out Eberron, Critical Role & Ravnica?
The languages list does not have source tags. The way it is stored on the server isn't set up that way. I'm pretty sure this is on their to-do list. They didn't future proof for setting dependent languages.
OP didn't list these languages, but these also appear on dndbeyond. they're from the Wildemount setting:
Marquesian: the language of the country of Marquet. French sailor vibes.
Naush- the language of the Ki'Nau islanders on the east coast of Wildemount. Hawaiian/Polynesian vibes.
Zemnian- the language of the people who used to live in the Zemni Fields, but now have been conquered by the Dwendalian Empire. German vibes.