Arcane Languages¶
The arcane languages are the written forms in which spells are stored and learned. "Because Arcane Spells are so complex, the medium in which they are stored can modify their behavior considerably" (S304), so each tongue gives its spells a character of its own: compressed, efficient, enduring, ciphered. Nine are recorded, each made by one people, god or order. They are languages of spellcraft, not of speech; the spoken tongues are on Languages, and the magic itself on Arcane Magic. The rules for learning them are Mechanics material (Arcane Colleges).
| Language | Made by or for | How common |
|---|---|---|
| Antusil | Arcantus, for the first archwizards | "One of the most common" |
| Lathanos | The High Elves, the Avi-Lothim | "One of the most commonly found and used" |
| Acadian | The Wizards of Acadia | "Fairly common" |
| Sylvir | The Wood Elves | "Common" |
| Ghezzic | The Dark Elves and the Orcs | "Somewhat uncommon" |
| Drakkas | The Draconians | "Uncommon" |
| Salonas | The Sun Elves, the Maridan-Lothim | "Rare" |
| Runik | Khardas, for the dwarves | "Rare" |
| Nyxian | Secretive mages | "Rare" |
Antusil¶
"One of the most common Arcane Languages, developed by Arcantus and taught to the first Arch-wizards" (S304). Its formulas are efficient, spending less of the caster's energy than other tongues.
Lathanos¶
"One of the most commonly found and used languages developed by the High Elves (Avi'Lothim)" (S304). Its spells let the energy of one casting cascade into the next.
Acadian¶
"A fairly common Arcane language, developed and used by the Wizards of Acadia" (S304). Its formulas are compressed, so that Acadian spells are easier to hold in memory.
Sylvir¶
"A common language used by Wood Elves" (S304). Its spells draw on several domains of magic at once.
Earlier accounts: the 2016 draft says Sylvir is "used by Gnomes and Wood Elves" (S303). The newer document names the wood elves only, so the gnomes' use of it is not current. See Gnomes.
Ghezzic¶
"A somewhat uncommon language developed and used by Dark Elves and Orcs" (S304). Its spells cost more energy and strike harder.
Drakkas¶
"An uncommon language developed exclusively by and for the Draconians" (S304). Its spells are fast to cast, at some cost in power. The Draconians' spoken tongue, Draconian, is on Languages.
Salonas¶
"A rare language developed and used by the Sun Elves (Maridan'Lothim)" (S304). Its enchantments last longer. The earlier draft adds that the Maridan-Lothim "were Arcane Warriors that wore Medium Armor", and that their language reduced spell failure for that reason (S303). The Maridan-Lothim are described on High Elves.
Runik¶
"A rare language developed by Khardas to allow the non-magical Dwarven race to practice magic through Rune Magic" (S304). Runik is "designed specifically to be engraved or written": the spell lives in the traced rune rather than the caster's memory, and once spent it must be retraced. The rune traditions that grew from it are on Rune Magic, and the dwarves on Dwarves.
Nyxian¶
"A rare language used by mages wanting to keep their magical secrets" (S304). Nyxian spells "are encrypted and cannot be read, learned or cast unless you know the correct Cypher to unlock them", and are harder to identify, dispel and counter. The Arbiter Wardens of Proturas, who handle magical crimes, are "Nyxian arcane warrior[s]" (S106); see Proturan Arbiters.
Gap
No source gives the script, appearance or a sample of any arcane language, says whether any is also spoken, or records when the elven, draconian or orcish tongues were made.