Page 114 - D&D - Player's Handbook

OPTION: HUMAN LANGUAGES HUMANS' DEITIES
Many human ethnicities and nations in FaerOn have their
own language, in addition to Common. Most human The breadth and variety of the human race in Faerfm
languages are written in Thorass, the alphabet of Old is never more evident than in the diverse collection of
deities that humans worship. The Faerfinian pantheon
I Common , derived from the Chondathan language that (detailed in chapter 1) includes gods of every stripe,
traders used as their common tongue. A few human lan-
guages use other alphabets, including Draconic, Dethek, and a number of deities whose spheres of influence
and Espruar. The languages of the ethnicities described in overlap and compete, which seems to be just how hu-
the Player's Handbook and this book are as follows: mans like it.
Arkaiun: Dambrathan (written in Espruar) Along the Sword Coast, most human communities
Bedine: Midani have temples and shrines tended by prjests who are
Calishite: Alzhedo devoted to various Faerilnian gods. In some of these
Chondathan: Chondathan places, the faithful of deities revered by rulers and other
Damaran: Damaran (written in Dethek) powerful individuals play a greater role in local politics
Ffolk: Waelan than those not so favored. In the extreme, worship that
Cur: Gu ran (a patois of Roushoum and Rashemi) is deemed heretical or dangerous is outlawed- for exam-
Halruaan: Halruaan (written in Draconic) ple, in a region where followers of Shar hold authority
llluskan: llluskan and power, the worship of her good twin and nemesis
lmaskari: Roushoum Selilne might be against the law.
Mulan: Chessentan, Mulhorandi, Untheric, orThayan
Nar: Damaran DRAGO NB ORN
Rashemi: Rashemi
Shaaran: Shaaran (written in Dethek) Draconic humanoids from another world, the dragon-
Shou:Shou born of Faeriln are proud, honorable, and relatively rare.
Tethyrian: Chondathan Slaves to dragons on their world of origin, they are now
Tuigan: Tuigan a free people looking for a place and purpose in their
Turami: Turmic new world.
Ulutiun: Uluik
UNCERTAIN ORIGINS
If your Dungeon Master allows this option, then any hu-
man from an ethnic group that has its own language is
As with all stories of the ancient past, tales of the origins
assumed to know that language as well as Common. This
of the dragon born are hazy and sometimes contradic-
ethn ic language is treated as a free add itional language for
tory. Each reveals something about the dragonborn in
such individuals.
its telling, however.
One story relates that the dragonborn were shaped by
being defeated by a coalition of armies. Since those
the ancient dragon-god Io at the same time that Io cre-
days, Tuigans are sometimes seen on the Sword Coast
ated the dragons. In the beginning of days, Io fused bril-
and in other nearby regions, but not in great numbers.
liant astral spirits with the unchecked fury of the ele-
The Tuigans resemble the Shou, with a bronze or
ments. The greater spirits became dragons- creatures
golden cast to their skin and dark hair, but they tend to
so powerful, proud, and willful that they were lords of
have darker skin and broader features. Each has only a
the newborn world. The lesser spirits became the drag-
single name (sometimes handed down from one's par-
onborn. Although smaller in stature, they were no less
ent); Tuigans don't use surnames. No strangers to travel,
draconic in nature. This tale stresses the close kinship
Tuigan traders and adventurers are often familiar with
between dragons and dragonborn, while reinforcing
many languages and cultures.
the natural order of things- dragons rule and dragon-
Tuigan Names: (Male) Atlan, Bayar, Chingis, Chinua, born serve, at least according to the dragonborn's for-
Mongke, Temur; (female) Bolormaa, Bortai, mer masters.
Erdene, Naran Another legend asserts that Io created the dragons
at the birth of the world, but dragonborn did not yet
ULUTIUN exist. Then, during the Dawn War, Io was killed by the
The Ulutiuns are short, dark-haired, golden-skinned primordial known as Erek-Hus, the King of Terror. With
people who originated in northern Kara-Tur and migrat- a rough-hewn axe of adamantine, the behemoth split Io
ed westward to Icewind Dale and other cold lands near from head to tail, cleaving the dragon-god into two equal
the Endless Ice Sea. Hunters and gatherers, Ulutiuns halves, which rose up as new gods- Bahamut and Tia-
live in small tribes that have managed to survive in one mat. Droplets of Io's blood, spattered across the world,
of the harshest environments in the world. Each has became the first dragonborn. For some who believe it,
only a single name (sometimes handed down from one's this origin story supports the view that dragonborn are
parent); Ulutiuns don't use surnames. clearly inferior to the dragons that were made by Io's lov-
Ulutiun Names: (Male) Amak, Chu, Imnek, Kanut, Siku; ing hand, while others emphasize that the dragonborn
(female) Akna, Chena, Kaya, Sedna, Ublereak arose from Io's own blood- just as two draconic deities
arose from the god's severed body. So are the dragon-
born not, therefore, like the gods themselves?
A third origin story posits that dragonborn were the
firstborn of the world, created by Io before the existence
CHAPTER 3 I RACES OF THE REALMS