ALL ABOUT DRAGONS
CHAPTER 1:
620_17668_DraconomiconA.qxd 9/5/03 4:41 PM Page 30
The Draconic script is also used when a written form is needed for the elemental languages Auran and Ignan. However, this use of the written form does not make it any easier for someone who knows Draconic to learn the languages of air and fire creatures. Slight variations exist in the language used by the various kinds of chromatic dragons. These differences are similar to regional accents, with some slight differences in pronunciation from one version to the next. The accents do not hamper communication, but they are sufficiently obvious for a native speaker to know whether someone learned to speak Draconic from (for instance) a red dragon or a green dragon. The various metallic dragons have similar accents, but without any differences in pronunciation. The Draconic language has not changed significantly for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. The spoken form of the language sounds harsh to most other creatures and includes numerous hard consonants and sibilants. It includes sounds that humans generally describe as hissing (sj, ss, and sv), as well as a noise that sounds a great deal like a beast clearing its throat (ach). Words that modify other words are placed before and after the word they modify. The most important modifier is always placed before the word, and it might be placed directly after the word as well if additional emphasis is desired. A speaker of Draconic who wanted to say a big, black, evil dragon was approaching and doubly emphasize its evil nature would say, “Malsvir darastrix turalisj vutha gethrisj leirith” or even “Malsvir darastrix turalisj vutha malsvir gethrisj leirith.” Most Draconic words are spoken with emphasis on the first syllable. Important ideas are often expressed in spoken Draconic by emphasizing the beginning and the end of the word. In the written form, important words are marked with a special symbol of five lines radiating outward, similar to an asterisk (*). This form of emphasis is most often used by dragons when referring to themselves. The dragon Karajix, for example, might pronounce his name Ka-raj-ix and write it as *Karajix*. This form of emphasis is also sometimes used when commanding, threatening, warning, or making a point. Draconic has no specific word for “my” or “mine,” instead using several prefixes depending on the exact meaning. The name of a physical object claimed as a possession by a dragon speaker would begin with “veth” or “vethi”; the name of an individual with a relationship to the dragon (such as a friend or relative) is expressed by the prefix “er” or “ethe”; and all other forms of possessiveness are represented by putting “ar” or “ari” before a word. Thus, for a dragon to say “my sword” or “the sword is mine” he need only say “vethicaex” (“vethi” plus “caex,” the word for sword), and “arirlym” translates as “my enemy” (“ar” plus “irlym,” the word for enemy). When indicating possession by another, the name of the possessor is combined with the object possessed into a single word that starts with “ar” or “ari.”
PIDGIN DRACONIC Here are some sample sentences and their translations into Draconic.
30
Mialee, talk to the ugly elf. Mialee, ukris vaecaesin nurh. The elf says the magic sword we want is in the lich’s tomb. Vaecaesin ner levex caex levex yth tuor persvek arikaegrowaere. He’ll take us to the mountain of the tomb if we pay him. Vaecaesin tuor aurix clax yth ekess ariloexokarthel verthicha. The cave is evil and dangerous. We should go. Sauriv waere korth. Yth *gethrisj*. Shut up you stupid coward! Get in there! Thric ner, *pothoc* wux faessi! *Gethrisj* persvek! Tordek, hit the orc with your axe. Tordek, vargach ghik mrith aritordekgarunt. A red dragon! Scram! Charir *darastrix*! *Osvith*! Krusk is dead. He died with much bravery. Krusk loex. Loreat mrith *sveargith*. Yeah, bad luck for him. Axun malsvir arikruskhaurach. Check out all this gold! Tomorrow we’ll be kings! Ocuir throden *aurix*! Earenk yth *maekrix*! I am not a thief! *Thric* virlym! The secrets of the dragon’s treasure are on this scroll. Ardarastrixrasvim irthos shafaer sjir. Dragon’s blood flows in a sorcerer. Aridarastrixiejir gethrisj persvek vorastrix. Please don’t disembowel the dwarf. Martivir thric gixustratt tundar.
RELIGION The dragon deities are all children of Io, the Ninefold Dragon who encompasses all the opposites and extremes of dragonkind. Creatures other than dragons can worship one of the deities described here. Just as a human weaponsmith might venerate Moradin, or an elf archer pay homage to Ehlonna, so too could a dwarf, half-orc, or kobold worship a god or goddess otherwise associated with dragons. In fact, such worship is particularly common among the various reptilian (and Draconicspeaking) races, such as kobolds, lizardfolk, and troglodytes.
READING THE DEITY ENTRIES The first section of text in each deity description contains basic information about the deity.
