Varanthari

The Varanthari Language at a Glance

When designing languages, I have two strong rules. The first rule is that languages "speciate" - that is, become something new, with distance and isolation.

The second is that you should steal a real-world language every time. You can use an online translator to create phrases for roleplay, and I'm no one's linguist. I can barely manage English.

That said, Varanthari - the tongue of the Seaxe - is Welsh. Enjoy!

While in the Southern Coastal Plains region of the continent the Thari, Eluthari, and Eluric tongues are spoken, in the Central Plateau, settled for centuries by the Seaxe, the primary language is Varanthari. Earthier and more rustic than its southern cousins, Varanthari is a rich language, well suited to heroic verse, ornate boasts and mellifluent song.

Varanthari is a difficult language for outsiders to learn. The trills and throatiness are difficult to master, so those who are not native speakers invariably have an accent or tell indicating that fact. Because of its fluidity and lyricism it is often employed in bardic (or skaldic) pursuits, with or without an accent. It's questionable as to whether that is for practical reasons or simply tradition.

Written Varanthari

In early days a basic form of uncial was used to record information. Dwarven influence over the last century and a half has introduced an angular esthetic inspired by runes. This fusion is referred to as Gothic style, and its ornate appearance makes it appropriate for formal documents, and is somewhat more difficult to forge (increase DC by 1 to avoid smears or smudges).

Root Languages

• Thari

Spoken by

• The Saxon Kingdoms of the Seaxe

Common Phrases

• Dwi eisiau bwyd.
  (I am hungry.)
• Pa mor hir y bydd hynny'n ei gymryd?
  (How long will that take?)
• Allwch chi ddangos y ffordd i mi?
  (Can you show me the way?)