"Even the simplest word of the lingua praestantia is incredibly complex."
Magick, or less frequently lingua praestantia, is the tonal language [2a] used by the Human wizards of the Imperial Colleges of Magic to enunciate their spells. Lingua praestantia is said to have been developed with and for them by none other than the High Elven Loremaster Teclis of Ulthuan himself.[1a]
Though it is said to be an even more complicated language than the tonal language of distant Grand Cathay, Magick is still only a simplified version of the High Elves' own language, Eltharin, mixed into a kind of dialect with the academic language of Old Reikspiel. Eltharin, though incredibly more complex in structure and massive in vocabulary, is fabled in High Elf culture to be a devolved and very simplified version of the language spoken by those ancient, godlike beings the High Elves remember as the Old Ones. When the High Elves enunciate their own spells of such magnificent power and breadth, they do so in their own arcane language, Anoqeyån, which is the closest surviving mortal language to the words spoken by the Old Ones.[1a]
Many blasphemous texts, written in centuries and millennia past, share vocabulary and grammar with the arcane language of the High Elves. Indeed, there are similarities between many of the oldest arcane languages, the languages of some elder races (like the Dwarfs and Elves), and the corrupt and caustic languages spoken by the shamans and sorcerers of the Dark Gods. The witch hunters would be even more concerned than they already are if they learned that the language the Empire's sanctioned Magisters use to cast their spells is related to both the language of the fey High Elves of Ulthuan and to the hellish language of sorcerers and Daemons, most commonly referred to as the Dark Tongue.[1a]
Many scholars use this example to argue that all the various tongues of the Old World are descended from the speech of the Old Ones. The "prime language" theory has many adherents -- for many are quick to point out, the various languages of the Old World are so closely related they can scarcely be defined as separate tongues, more as highly-developed dialects of a single "Old Worlder" tongue. Thus a Reiklander can make himself at least basically understood by a Bretonnian, Tilean, or even Estalian (though why he would want to is another matter). However, there is considerable debate amongst the scholars of the Colleges of Magic as to whether the prime language of the Old Ones existed at all, or even whether the Old Ones existed![1a]
The inner circle of Magister Lords at the College of Light hold the great Old Ones were the first and only beings to fully identify and quantify everything. That is, they catalogued every single thing, state, and process within the mortal universe, and almost every single thing, state, and process that was possible through the use of and in the Aethyr. In addition to this, the Magister Lords also believe that the divine tongue once spoken by the Old Ones now has a life of its own, expanding with every dream and every thought of any and all mortals and immortals.[1a]
It follows that if there was a prime arcane language, from which even Anoqeyån descended, it would supposedly have a word or phrase to express every single concept and possibility, and every combination of concepts and possibility, that exist within creation without regard for temporality.[1a]
Naturally, few outside of the White Tower of Hoeth could comment with even passing authority on these theories, and they have never chosen to. Just as Eltharin is a simplified version of the High Elves' arcane language, Anoqeyån, the arcane language of the Imperial Colleges of Magic is a devolved form of Eltharin. Yet possessing knowledge of even a simplified version of Anoqeyån would denote an ability to grasp and verbalise concepts and processes that are otherwise inexpressible through any other Human language. Magick is the pre-eminent language of spellcasting in the Empire precisely because it is exhaustively specific.[1a]
Humans find the lingua praestantia very hard to pronounce. Apprentices at the Colleges of Magic are still taught the language by High Elf masters.[4a]
Vowel Sounds[]
- 'a' - as said in 'as'.[3a]
- 'ä' - said like the 'a' in 'harm'.[3a]
- 'å' - short, said like the 'u' in 'cut'.[3a]
- 'e'- as said in 'yes'.[3a]
- 'i' - as said in 'imp'.[3a]
- 'o' - short, as said in 'hot'.[3a]
- 'ö' - said like the 'er' in 'thinker', only more stretched.[3a]
- 'ô' - very short, said like the 'oo' in 'good'.[3a]
- 'u' - short, said a bit like the 'oo' in 'too'.[3a]
- 'œ' - said like the 'ee' in 'sleep'.[3a]
Consonant Sounds[]
- 'b' - soft, as said in 'battle'.[3a]
- 'c'- said like the 'j' in 'jewel'.[3a]
- 'ç'- said like the 'ch' in 'champion'.[3a]
- 'f' - soft, as said in 'frenzy'.[3a]
- 'g'- hard, as said in 'great'.[3a]
- 'h' - as said in the word 'hate', but pronounced a bit harder and shorter.[3a]
- 'j' - said like the 's' in 'pleasure'.[3a]
- 'k' - hard, said like the 'c' in 'cut'.[3a]
- 'p' - hard, as said in 'peasant'.[3a]
- 'q' - a tricky one. A short, hard glottal sound made right at the back of the throat. The natives of northern Albion use a similar sound in their word 'loch', only the phonetic 'q' is a much more abrupt and deep sound, generated further back in the throat. If you imagine that the 'ch' sound in 'loch' is a series of harsh, breathy 'k's' strung together, the phonetic 'q' would be a bit like the very first of those 'k's'.[3a]
- 'r' - pronounced by vibrating the tongue against the roof of the mouth, just as the Tileans and Estalians say it.[3a]
- 's' - sibilant, pronounced as a double 's', like at the end of the word 'possess'.[3a]
- '§' - pronounce like the 'sh' in 'shaman'.[3a]
- 't' - hard, as said in 'tempt'.[3a]
- 'ø' - said like the 'th' in 'thought'.[3a]
- '_' - hard, said like the 'th' in 'their'.[3a]
- 'v' - hard, similar to how it is said in 'vengeance', only harsher and fractionally longer.[3a]
- 'w' - very soft, said a bit like the 'w' in 'weather', but even softer and shorter.[3a]
- 'x' - exactly like the 'ch' in 'loch'.[3a]
- 'y' - soft, as said in 'yes'.[3a]
- 'z' - hard, pronounced like the first double 's' in 'possess', or the last 's' in 'because'.[3a]
Key Terms and Their Most Basic Meanings[]
- Qeyos (Chaos / Khaos) - (lit.) spirit energy; psychical power; magic. Contextual variations - potential; 'Oversoul'; abode of the gods; the Sea of Souls; the 'Afterlife'; the Aethyr; Paradise; Hell.[3a]
- Feyos (Phaos) - (lit.) 'Soul'. Contextual variations - breath; essence; instinct; holy; the unconscious inner being; the subconscious; anima.[3a]
- Deyos (Dhaos) - (lit.) Spirit entity. Contextual variations - deity; daemon; divine messenger; of divine (or daemonic) nature or origin; immaterial or incorporeal; of the mind; consciousness; will; purpose; that which mediates between the inner realms of the mind and the outer realms of the physical world; ego; animus.[3a]
- Qär (Khar) - (lit.) Rage. Contextual variations - anger; fury; frenzy; hate; to destroy; to abominate; the will to cause and inflict violence; 'violence' itself; the need, desire and instinct to survive; the will to dominate.[3a]
- Tzœn (Tzeen) - (lit.) Change. Contextual variations - inconstancy; to alter; 'then'; the will to change; to look towards or pursue the future; the fear of stasis; the rejection of 'now'; the desire to be different; randomness; chance; hope.[3a]
- Nurg (Nurgh) - (lit.) Decay. Contextual variations - deteriorate; decompose; rot; 'now'; acceptance of the 'now'; the realisation of what 'is'; to deny the possibility of improvement; acceptance of decay; cynicism; to fall from grace; desperation; the abandonment of hope; despair.[3a]
- Slä (Slaa) - (lit.) Pleasure. Contextual variations - gratification; delight; ecstasy; rapture; exaltation; the desire to experience pleasure; sensation; the desire or need to 'feel'; the pursuit of happiness or perfection; selfishness; vanity; pride; joy.[3a]
- Leø, neø (Leth, neth) - 'Lord of'; 'Master of'; 'Ruler of'. Contextual variations - 'cause of'; 'source of'; 'embodiment of'; 'creation of'.[3a]
Considerations[]
The meaning of each Chaos God's name reflects the complexity of their divine nature. Here follow just a few examples:[3a]
- Qär'neø - 1. (lit.) Rage Lord, 2. The Source of Hate. 3. The Embodiment of Violence.[3a]
- Tzœn'neø - 1. (lit.) Change Lord. 2. The Source of Hope. 3. The Embodiment of Chance.[3a]
- Nurg'leø - 1. (lit.) Decay Lord. 2. The Source of Despair. 3. The Embodiment of Cynicism.[3a]
- Slä'neø - 1. (lit.) Pleasure Lord. 2. The Source of Sensation. 3. The Embodiment of Selfishness.[3a]
Simple Orders Statements and Questions[]
- Te§ = Yes[3a]
- Moran = Stop[3a]
- Ged = Go[3a]
- _an = No[3a]
- Geder = Continue[3a]
- Gi§ = Come[3a]
- Ase_ = Who[3a]
- Ölen = What[3a]
- Ölaren = When[3a]
- Var§ = Where[3a]
- Nelaw = Why[3a]
- Yek = Bring[3a]
- Zöx = Take[3a]
- Fiç = Give[3a]
- Cå_ = Throw / Cast[3a]
- Telån = Accept[3a]
Colours and Shades[]
- Aq§i = Red[3a]
- Orç = Orange[3a]
- Azir = Blue[3a]
- Xämon = Yellow[3a]
- Giran = Green[3a]
- Sliv = Pink[3a]
- §yi§ = Purple[3a]
- Gur = Brown[3a]
- Ulgu = Grey[3a]
- Dar = Black / Dark[3a]
- Hyi§ = White[3a]
- Qay§ = Spectrum / Iridescent / Multicoloured[3a]
Common Words and Terms[]
It would be unwise to experiment with the pronunciation of the following words out loud, for, as much as these words form part of a language and seem innocuous enough as they are written upon the page, every one of them is imbued with hidden meanings and subtle power.[3a]
To one who possesses an affinity for, and with, the Winds of Magic, and knows how to concentrate his or her mind to the task of spell-casting, these words will attract, focus and sculpt raw magic more successfully than most other tongues -- often in unforeseen ways.[3a]
A[]
- Aleri = Plains[3a]
- Alum = Light (as in luminescence)[3a]
- Alu = Deny[3a]
- Ankir = Domain[3a]
- Aq§i'oy = Bronze or copper[3a]
- Arian = Woman[3a]
- Asarmin = Keeper[3a]
- Ata = Death[3a]
- Atax = Die[3a]
- Atem = the Sun[3a]
- Avel = Heart[3a]
- Älørey = Doom[3a]
B[]
- Bäj = Oath[3a]
C[]
- Cerd = Heal[3a]
Ç[]
- Çarik = Endure[3a]
- Çeyl = Order / Law[3a]
D[]
- Dahazirek = the Sky / Celestial[3a]
- Dahqay§ = Rainbow[3a]
- Darfiik = Darkness[3a]
- Darhan = Night[3a]
- Derô = Remember/ Memory[3a]
- Deyos = Spirit[3a]
- Drahay = Dragon[3a]
E[]
- Erhan = Shadow[3a]
F[]
G[]
- Gor = Beast or animal[3a]
- Gorem = Steed, or beast of burden[3a]
H[]
- Heg = Crone or decrepit[3a]
- Hoyø = Wisdom[3a]
- Hyi§ete = Smoke[3a]
- Hyi§fäk = Whiteness[3a]
K[]
- Kadaø = Grace[3a]
- Kiøön = Knowledge[3a]
- Koyl = Tear (as in "crying")[3a]
- Kreyn = Book/Scroll[3a]
- Krimner = Warrior[3a]
- Kurnas = Hunter[3a]
L[]
- Laçey = Noble[3a]
- Laço = Glory[3a]
- Leøœn = Storm[3a]
- Lil'yeø = Arcane[3a]
- Liad = Music[3a]
- Li'gur = Mud[3a]
- Lowik = Laugh[3a]
M[]
- Manan'ek = The Ocean/Sea[3a]
- Mäj = Spell/Enchantment[3a]
- Mär = Steel[3a]
- Menli = Life[3a]
- Minaø = Skill[3a]
- Mör = End[3a]
- Möray = Fate[3a]
N[]
- Nurg = Decay[3a]
O[]
- Öriak§ = Blood[3a]
P[]
- Pä_ = Look/See[3a]
Q[]
- Qaderô = Remembering[3a]
- Qamär = Weapon[3a]
- Qasarat = Defying[3a]
- Qasinaø = Dying[3a]
- Qasoraq§i = Burn/Burning[3a]
- Qär = Rage[3a]
- Qeyin = Murder[3a]
- Qeyossaris = Magic/Chaos Moon[3a]
R[]
- Ruwun = Rune/Letter/Word[3a]
- Reyha = Nature (as in flora and fauna)[3a]
S[]
- Sarat = Defy[3a]
- Saratfäk = Defiance[3a]
- Saris = the Moon[3a]
- Saöey = Fly[3a]
- Senlayi = Swift[3a]
- Sinaö = Silence[3a]
- Sinøoiy = Loyal[3a]
- Slä = Pleasure[3a]
- Sorag§i = Fire/Flame[3a]
- Sorfäk = Heat[3a]
- Sorir = Hot[3a]
- Sorira§ = Molten[3a]
- Soroy = Eternity[3a]
- Sölka = Purify[3a]
§[]
- §alay = Mercy[3a]
- §amel = Visible[3a]
- §amelna = Invisible[3a]
- §amelna’a§ek = Body of water/lake[3a]
T[]
- Täl = Wild[3a]
- Te = And[3a]
- Tzœn = Change[3a]
Ø[]
- Øalu = Vengeance[3a]
_[]
- _alädi = Monarch[3a]
U[]
- Ulgute = Mist or Fog[3a]
- Ulrax = Savage[3a]
- Urak = Enemy[3a]
V[]
- Vlay = House or Home[3a]
- Verne = Justice[3a]
- Völ = Manufacture/Cast[3a]
X[]
- Xamön'oy = Gold/Golden[3a]
Y[]
- Yanlå = Balance[3a]
Z[]
- Zern = Plateau[3a]