Calligraphy

Calligraphy is the art of artisitc penmanship. It can be used to write in alphabets or in pictographs (or logograms). Each character (as a single written pictograph is commonly called) represents a single word or part of a word. Often, great scholarly organizations, such as universities, libraries, churches, monasteries, or wizard's guilds will use pictographs to create and maintain records or histories. Many scribes are skilled in the arts of calligraphy.

Originally, the character was like a small painting of the thing it represented, but time has simplified and stylized these characters so that they have only a slight resemblance to the thing anymore. Instead they have meanings that can be added to or changed when used with other characters. Each word has a different character or combination of characters, and thousands of different characters are needed to write books. Great precision is needed to write clearly and correctly.

Thus a character's style and artistic ability with the ink-brush is an important measure of his social worth in the monastic world. The first impression a stranger forms of a character may well be based on how graceful and beautiful his calligraphy style is. Indeed, how well one writes can often be more important than what the writing actually says.

The calligraphy proficiency has many uses. It is needed to inscribe magical scrolls, prepare reports to one's lord, impress officials, and curry favor from powerful NPCs. It shows the rank of the writer, and good writing can be used to add prestige to those of lower birth. A poetry contest at a court can also be a contest in calligraphy. A brilliant poem written in a crude and unformed hand can be less appealing than a good poem with fine calligraphy. Every time a character writes an important document, a die roll must be made to find the quality of the character's calligraphy. The DM can modify the reaction of any NPC to the message based on the qual- ity of the calligraphy. Good calligraphy gives a more favorable reaction; bad calligraphy has the opposite effect.

Calligraphy requires the use of a writing brush, an inkwell, and an inking stone. These are normally carried as a set, but characters can improvise these items when they must.