Race determines the language your character can speak by default, and your background might give you access to one or more additional language of your choice. You are free to select these from among the languages offered in other 5e material, but there are several languages which are specific to the Wood.
The standard languages listed below are part of common life in Humblewood, and are spoken widely. The Exotic Languages like sylvan, and various dialects of Primordial (Auran, Aquan, Ignan, and Terran) are uncommon languages known only by few in the Wood, but they can prove exceptionally useful in communicating with the various fey and elemental Humblewood residents.
Each birdfolk race possesses a unique and mystical connection to the element of air, which allows them to understand Auran from birth, although they are unable to speak it naturally. Birdfolk who wish to become fluent in this dialect must take the time to learn. Because Auran is a dialect of Primordial, birdfolk innately understand Aquan, Ignan, and Terran as well, though not perfectly. Compared to Auran, the other dialects of Primordial sound stilted or broken to birdfolk. While they can understand simple concepts presented in these dialects, more complicated matters are lost in translation.
Common and Birdfolk
Birdfolk takes the place of Common in Humblewood. As the language of trade and custom, folk of the Wood take the time to learn it.
Standard Languages
| Languages |
Typical Speakers |
Script |
| Birdfolk |
Birdfolk/Humblefolk |
Birdfolk |
| Cervan |
Cervan |
- - |
| Hedge |
Hedges |
Sylvan |
| Jerbeen |
Jerbeen |
Birdfolk |
| Mapach |
Mapach |
Mapach |
| Vulpin |
Vulpin |
Vulpin |
Exotic Languages
| Languages |
Typical Speakers |
Script |
| Infernal |
Fiends |
Infernal |
| Celestial |
Celestials, Spirits |
Celestial |
| Draconic |
Dragoons |
Draconic |
| Sylvan |
Fey, Spirits |
- - |
| Primordial |
Elementals |
Primordial |
| Frogspeech |
Bullywug, Talia |
Primordial |
Birdfolk. Birdfolk is a language of clicks, caws, and whistles. Though primarily oral, a system for writing Birdfolk in pictograms was developed long before the founding of Alderheart and has since transformed into a set of abstract glyphs representing different sounds. Birdfolk can be written quickly with a quill, or scratched easily with a claw, and has been widely adopted throughout the Wood.
Cervan. Cervan is a complex language with no written script. It is seen as disrespectful to try and transcribe it using Birdfolk characters. Much of cervan history is preserved by village elders and passed down orally through the generations as stories, songs, and sayings. The adage, "What is essential to learn lies in the teaching", is often invoked to illustrate this point.
Hedge. Hedge is a language meant to be spoken softly. It confounds many who try to learn it due to the prevalence of passive voice and the deferential manners built into conversation. These are meant to ensure that everyone's feelings are heard and respected. It is written using a variation of Sylvan script.
Jerbeen. Jerbeen is a system of squeaks and clicks represented in writing by using a variant of Birdfolk alphabet. It is a polite but direct language designed to communicate information quickly and effectively between multiple listeners.
Mapach. Mapach is a very technically dense language that often incorporates rough equations and estimations of physical properties in normal conversation. Awareness of one's surroundings is key to survival, and the Mapach language emphasizes this. Mapach uses its own script of glyphs made of various lines, dashes, and dots.
Vulpin. Vulpin is a language of growls, snarls, and yips. It is written in its own flowing cursive script. Speakers are taught to switch between low and high class versions of Vulpin depending on the context. The biggest stumbling block for new speakers is learning when to use which form.
Frogspeech. Talia are very uncommon to find in Humblewood, and hearing their natural tongue is even rarer. Frogspeech is spoken in a low, seemingly wordless croaks, but through vibrations of the throat, length of the croak, and its pitch, full sentences can be conveyed with a single sound. With it, speakers of the language can speak to small frogs and understand their speech. The speech of the Frog translates using the Primordial script, which is generally a series of dots, spaces, and lines to simulate incriments of sound, just like real world Morse code.
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