Ze Talkkekoz'a: The Ancient Dwarven Language
The Oldest Rune System and Epic Language of Dwarven Lands
The Ancient Dwarven language, used exclusively for Epic Tales, Songs, and Runic Magic, was known as ze Talkkekoz'a (simply, in translation, "the gods' language"). It consists of jagged, angular alphabetic runes, which can be sounded phonetically or in themselves.
A second set of Runes--a more stylized set of Runic markings, these taking shape by the influience of the deific signs--could be used (and perhaps still is used by some of the ancient wise) in charms and spells. Those who still use the Talkkekoz'a in this way usually do so out of the spotlight, perhaps in secret grottos or homesteads deep in the mountians. Finding such a person could be well worthwhile, if care is taken to find them.
The oldest creation story, called Ze Harkemm is the by no means the only--but definitely the best known--extant Talkkekoz verse. It is also probably the Oldest of them all. The poem is still read, and in its original form, at certain ceremonies, especially those related to the Gratitudes, or to the One True Eye.
Other poems are scattered throughout Dwarven lands, kept safe in tomes of goat parchment, copied sometimes by scribes or bards for their own wealth or performance. As a rule, Talkkekoz'in poems are both short and concise, with a directness and bluntness to its poetry. What might in Elven be a 5000 word epic would be in this Dwarven tongue perhaps 2000 words, saying the same thing. The language is concise, and torturously so to outsiders who learn it. For Dwarves, and those who appreciate the depth of Dwarven history, it is magical--a language that matches precise semantics with stark, gothic visual style.
The language was not used outside of sacred or artistic contexts. The vernacular language was much closer to the current Dwarven tongue, but the Dwarves of deepest history had no other written language. Thus were all Dwarven works of written language held sacred, and only recorded in that context. In current times, the spoken and written language are employed for both secular and some sacred purposes. And of course there is a set of magical runes as well. (This latter alphabet is based loosely on the magical Talkkekoz'a symbols, but extreme traditionalists say it does not hold their power.)
A second set of Runes--a more stylized set of Runic markings, these taking shape by the influience of the deific signs--could be used (and perhaps still is used by some of the ancient wise) in charms and spells. Those who still use the Talkkekoz'a in this way usually do so out of the spotlight, perhaps in secret grottos or homesteads deep in the mountians. Finding such a person could be well worthwhile, if care is taken to find them.
The oldest creation story, called Ze Harkemm is the by no means the only--but definitely the best known--extant Talkkekoz verse. It is also probably the Oldest of them all. The poem is still read, and in its original form, at certain ceremonies, especially those related to the Gratitudes, or to the One True Eye.
Other poems are scattered throughout Dwarven lands, kept safe in tomes of goat parchment, copied sometimes by scribes or bards for their own wealth or performance. As a rule, Talkkekoz'in poems are both short and concise, with a directness and bluntness to its poetry. What might in Elven be a 5000 word epic would be in this Dwarven tongue perhaps 2000 words, saying the same thing. The language is concise, and torturously so to outsiders who learn it. For Dwarves, and those who appreciate the depth of Dwarven history, it is magical--a language that matches precise semantics with stark, gothic visual style.
The language was not used outside of sacred or artistic contexts. The vernacular language was much closer to the current Dwarven tongue, but the Dwarves of deepest history had no other written language. Thus were all Dwarven works of written language held sacred, and only recorded in that context. In current times, the spoken and written language are employed for both secular and some sacred purposes. And of course there is a set of magical runes as well. (This latter alphabet is based loosely on the magical Talkkekoz'a symbols, but extreme traditionalists say it does not hold their power.)
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